Sleep quality and general health status of employees exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in a petrochemical complex.
Monazzam MR, Hosseini M, Matin LF, Aghaei HA, Khosroabadi H, Hesami A. · 2014
View Original AbstractWorkers exposed to 'safe' levels of magnetic fields showed 61% sleep disorder rates versus 4.5% in unexposed workers.
Plain English Summary
Researchers studied 40 workers at an Iranian petrochemical plant to see if extremely low frequency magnetic fields from electrical substations affected their sleep and general health. They found that 61% of workers exposed to these fields had sleep disorders and 28% had poor health, compared to only 4.5% sleep problems in unexposed workers. Even though the magnetic field levels were below safety standards, the exposed workers showed significantly worse sleep quality and health outcomes.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how workplace EMF exposure affects human health, particularly sleep patterns. What makes this research particularly relevant is that the magnetic field levels were below current safety standards, yet workers still experienced significant health impacts. The 61% rate of sleep disorders among exposed workers compared to just 4.5% in controls represents a thirteen-fold increase that cannot be dismissed as coincidental. The reality is that current safety standards focus primarily on preventing tissue heating from high-intensity exposures, not the biological effects that can occur at much lower levels over extended periods. This study demonstrates that even 'safe' levels of ELF magnetic fields may disrupt fundamental biological processes like sleep regulation, which has cascading effects on overall health and wellbeing.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
This study was performed to determine possible correlation between Extremely Low Frequency Electro-Magnetic Fields (ELF EMFs) and sleep quality and public health of those working in substation units of a petrochemical complex in southern Iran.
To begin with, magnetic flux density was measured at different parts of a Control Building and two s...
The obtained results revealed that 28% of those in case group suffered from poor health status and 6...
In spite of a significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of sleep quality and general health, no significant relationship was found between the exposure level and sleep quality and general health. It is worth noting that the measured EMF values were lower than the standard limits recommended by American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). However, given the uncertainties about the pathogenic effects caused by exposure to ELF EMFs, further epidemiological studies and periodic testing of personnel working in high voltage substations are of utmost importance.
Show BibTeX
@article{mr_2014_sleep_quality_and_general_1764,
author = {Monazzam MR and Hosseini M and Matin LF and Aghaei HA and Khosroabadi H and Hesami A.},
title = {Sleep quality and general health status of employees exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in a petrochemical complex.},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1186/2052-336X-12-78},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2052-336X-12-78},
}