Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in radio and TV broadcasting stations workers.
Bortkiewicz A, Gadzicka E, Szymczak W, Zmyślony M. · 2012
View Original AbstractBroadcasting workers exposed to radiofrequency EMF for decades showed disrupted heart rhythm control, suggesting chronic stress on the cardiovascular system.
Plain English Summary
Polish researchers studied heart rate patterns in 71 radio and TV broadcasting workers exposed to radiofrequency EMF for an average of 13-19 years. They found that exposed workers had faster heart rates and altered heart rhythm variability compared to unexposed controls, indicating their nervous systems were stuck in a stressed, fight-or-flight state. This suggests that long-term RF exposure may disrupt the body's ability to regulate heart function through the nervous system.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how radiofrequency EMF affects the cardiovascular system through nervous system disruption. The researchers found that broadcasting workers showed clear signs of autonomic nervous system imbalance, with their sympathetic (stress response) system dominating over their parasympathetic (rest and digest) system. What makes this research particularly significant is that it examined real-world occupational exposures over many years, not just short-term laboratory conditions. The altered heart rate variability patterns observed here mirror findings in other EMF studies and suggest that chronic RF exposure may keep the body in a persistent state of physiological stress. While the exposure levels in broadcasting stations are typically higher than what most people experience from cell phones or WiFi, the duration of exposure (decades) and the clear biological effects raise important questions about cumulative EMF impacts on heart health.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of the study was to assess the mechanism of cardiovascular impairments in workers exposed to UHF-VHF radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF).
Heart rate variability (HRV) was analysed using 512 normal heart beats registered at rest. The analy...
In the exposed groups, the heart rate was higher than in the control one. Standard deviation of R-R ...
The results indicate that exposure to radiofrequency EMF may affect the neurovegetative regulation.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2012_heart_rate_variability_hrv_1923,
author = {Bortkiewicz A and Gadzicka E and Szymczak W and Zmyślony M.},
title = {Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in radio and TV broadcasting stations workers.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23224733/},
}