Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in physiotherapy departments.
Maccà I, Scapellato ML, Carrieri M, Pasqua di Bisceglie A, Saia B, Bartolucci GB · 2008
View Original AbstractPhysiotherapy workers face EMF exposures exceeding European safety limits when operating therapeutic devices, revealing gaps in occupational protection.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers measured electromagnetic field exposure for physiotherapy workers using microwave therapy, diathermy, and magnetic therapy equipment across eight clinics. They found that workers operating these devices were exposed to EMF levels that exceeded European safety limits, particularly when standing within about 50 centimeters of the equipment. The study reveals that healthcare workers using EMF-based therapies may face occupational health risks that aren't being properly managed.
Why This Matters
This research highlights a troubling blind spot in occupational health protection. While we debate EMF exposure from cell phones and WiFi, healthcare workers are routinely exposed to much higher levels during their daily work with therapeutic devices. The science demonstrates that these exposures exceed established safety limits, yet most physiotherapy departments lack adequate monitoring or protection protocols. What makes this particularly concerning is that these are trained medical professionals who should be protected by rigorous workplace safety standards. The reality is that if therapeutic EMF devices can exceed safety limits for operators, we need to take EMF exposure seriously across all settings. This study underscores that EMF isn't just a consumer issue - it's a legitimate occupational health concern that demands immediate attention from healthcare administrators and regulatory bodies.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To analyze occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in physiotherapy departments.
To assess occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields, 11 microwave (MW), 4 short-wave diathermy...
Levels in front of MW therapy applicators decreased rapidly with distance and reduction in power; th...
Our results reveal that although most areas show substantially low levels of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in physiotherapy units, certain cases of over-occupational exposure limits do exist
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2008_occupational_exposure_to_electromagnetic_2403,
author = {Maccà I and Scapellato ML and Carrieri M and Pasqua di Bisceglie A and Saia B and Bartolucci GB},
title = {Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in physiotherapy departments.},
year = {2008},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17562660/},
}