| Variability and consistency of electric and magnetic field occupational exposure measurements. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 8889954 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
There is widespread scientific and public interest in possible health effects from exposure to electric and magnetic fields at frequencies associated with electricity use. Electric and magnetic field exposure assessment presents specific problems, among which are the inherent variability in exposure, the lack of robust statistical summary measures, and the lack of an accepted metric based on biological response. These pose challenges in defining distinct exposure groups, a basic goal for exposure assessments used in epidemiological studies. This paper explores the extent to which distinct electric and magnetic field exposure groups can be defined, by examining the variability and consistency of occupational electric and magnetic field exposure measurements among studies and within individual studies. Principal analyses are made by job titles because they are the most frequently used descriptors for stratifying occupational exposures to electric and magnetic fields. Methodological issues affecting the degree of consistency in measured electric and magnetic field exposures among occupational environments are also examined. Exposures by job title reported from electric and magnetic field measurement studies are summarized by general job category and industry. Analyses are performed both within and between job categories. Distributions of daily measured exposures for job categories taken from three large studies in the U.S. electric utility industry are compared to investigate consistency of exposures at a more detailed level. Analyses of reported personal exposure measurements from many studies and countries are consistent with less rigorous observations made heretofore on the basis of individual studies. In these studies, significantly elevated electric and magnetic field exposures are found in the electrician, lineworker, and substation worker categories; significantly elevated magnetic field exposures are also noted in the generation worker category; and magnetic field exposures in these groups are consistent across countries. Analyses within and among the elevated exposure job categories indicate that there are no significant differences between them. Among the studies, it is not possible to distinguish between exposures for well-defined groups within the categories, such as between transmission lineworkers and distribution lineworkers in the lineworker category; between generation operators and generation mechanics; or between substation operators and substation maintenance workers. This information provides a context for past studies and will help future efforts to define distinct occupational exposure groups exposed to electric and magnetic fields. Compilations of measured personal exposure data by industry and job title have been prepared as appendices (available from the author upon request). |
| | |
Authors:
|
T D Bracken; R M Patterson |
Related Documents
:
|
11816614 - Magnetic resonance imaging safety: implications for cardiovascular patients. 20855064 - Remote magnetic control of a wireless capsule endoscope in the esophagus is safe and fe... 19001544 - Mr imaging detection of cerebral microbleeds: effect of susceptibility-weighted imaging... 11565404 - Discrepancy between claimed field flux density of some commercially available magnets a... 12427634 - Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3d contrast-enhan... 7778644 - Pulsatile pelvic masses: options for evaluation and management of pelvic arteriovenous ... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology Volume: 6 ISSN: 1053-4245 ISO Abbreviation: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol Publication Date: 1996 Jul-Sep |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 1997-02-07 Completed Date: 1997-02-07 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9111438 Medline TA: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 355-74 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Dan Bracken, Inc., Portland, OR 97202, USA. dan@tdb.com |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Analysis of Variance Electromagnetic Fields / adverse effects* Humans Industry Occupational Exposure / analysis* Occupations Research / methods* Research Design |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Erratum In:
|
J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 1996 Oct-Dec;6(4):527 J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 1997 Oct-Dec;7(4):553 |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Applications and limitations of air dispersion modeling in environmental epidemiology.
Next Document: Association between indoor residential contamination with methyl parathion and urinary para-nitrophe...