Study type: Medical/biological study (observational study)

Magnetic field exposure and arrythmic risk: evaluation in railway drivers med./bio.

By: Santangelo L, Di Grazia M, Liotti F, De Maria E, Calabro R, Sannolo N
Published in: Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2005; 78 (4): 337-341
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To verify the presence of some predictive indexes of arrhythmia risk in 28 railway drivers exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields.

Background/further details

The test persons wore a portable ECG-monitor for 12 hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) during work exposure. The same workers underwent a control monitoring after a mean of 10 days (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). The control was performed after a mean of 12 h since the last exposure. During the control recordings, the workers were at home.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 16.66 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 12 h during work (8-20 h)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 16.66 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 12 h during work (8-20 h)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • five different train locomotives (E656, E646, E424, E444R, E636)
Setup measurements were taken in the control booth of the locomotives at 0.1 m, 0.8 m, 1.3 m above the floor
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.14 µT minimum measured - -
magnetic flux density 3.16 µT maximum measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant differences in the ECGs between test person in exposure or control environment were found.
The data suggest the absence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field influence on cardiac arrhythmia risk.

Study character:

Study funded by

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