Study type: Medical/biological study (observational study)

Occupational exposure to static, ELF, VF and VLF magnetic fields and immune parameters med./bio.

By: Tuschl H, Neubauer G, Schmid G, Weber E, Winker N
Published in: Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2000; 13 (1): 39-50
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of occupational exposure on hospital personnel operating magnetic resonance tomographs and on industrial workers at induction heaters.

Background/further details

In both categories of workplaces, magnetic flux densities exceeding Austrian exposure standards have been registered.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure 2: 50 Hz–21.3 kHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h/day (worst case scenerio)

General information

Occupational exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Subjects seated in the rooms adjecent to MRI room
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 500 µT - measured - in the adjecent room
magnetic flux density 3 T maximum measured - 1.5 T, 1.0 T and 0.2 T; in the center of the coil

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz–21.3 kHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 8 h/day (worst case scenerio)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 10 nT minimum measured - -
magnetic flux density 2,000 nT maximum measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The study did not confirm any substantial suppressive effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the immune system of the exposed subjects. A decrease in radical production (oxidative burst) of monocytes in the group working at induction heaters seems to be compensated by an increased number of active cells. The only parameter deviating from control values was a high number of natural killer cells (found in some subjects at induction heaters).

Study character:

Study funded by

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