Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France

Maxime Turuban; Hans Kromhout; Javier Vila; Miquel Vallbona-Vistós; Isabelle Baldi; Michelle C Turner

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108156

Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France

Maxime Turuban
, Hans Kromhout
, Javier Vila
, Miquel Vallbona-Vistós
, Isabelle Baldi
, Michelle C Turner^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France.

METHODS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT™ (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment.

RESULTS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2% and 77.2% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields.

CONCLUSION: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 % ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100% observed among workers in some occupations.

Original language	English
Article number	108156
Number of pages	11
Journal	Environment International
Volume	180
Early online date	18 Aug 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108156
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding for the OccRF Health Study is provided by ANSES No. EST-2018 RF-35 . MCT is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship ( RYC-2017-01892 ) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and co-funded by the European Social Fund . ISGlobal acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

Funding

Funding for the OccRF Health Study is provided by ANSES No. EST-2018 RF-35 . MCT is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship ( RYC-2017-01892 ) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and co-funded by the European Social Fund . ISGlobal acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program .

Funders	Funder number
Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023	CEX2018-000806-S
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Generalitat de Catalunya
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
European Social Fund

Keywords

RF-EMF
Occupational exposure
Personal measurements
Job-exposure matrix

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10.1016/j.envint.2023.108156Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S0160412023004294-mainFinal published version, 1.32 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France.METHODS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT{\texttrademark} (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment.RESULTS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99\% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1\% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2\% and 77.2\% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100\% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields.CONCLUSION: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 \% ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100\% observed among workers in some occupations.",

keywords = "RF-EMF, Occupational exposure, Personal measurements, Job-exposure matrix",

author = "Maxime Turuban and Hans Kromhout and Javier Vila and Miquel Vallbona-Vist{\'o}s and Isabelle Baldi and Turner, \{Michelle C\}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding for the OccRF Health Study is provided by ANSES No. EST-2018 RF-35 . MCT is funded by a Ram{\'o}n y Cajal fellowship ( RYC-2017-01892 ) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and co-funded by the European Social Fund . ISGlobal acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s)",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2023.108156",

language = "English",

volume = "180",

journal = "Environment International",

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publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

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T1 - Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France

AU - Turuban, Maxime

AU - Kromhout, Hans

AU - Vila, Javier

AU - Vallbona-Vistós, Miquel

AU - Baldi, Isabelle

AU - Turner, Michelle C

N1 - Funding Information: Funding for the OccRF Health Study is provided by ANSES No. EST-2018 RF-35 . MCT is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship ( RYC-2017-01892 ) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and co-funded by the European Social Fund . ISGlobal acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France.METHODS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT™ (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment.RESULTS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2% and 77.2% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields.CONCLUSION: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 % ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100% observed among workers in some occupations.

AB - BACKGROUND: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France.METHODS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT™ (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment.RESULTS: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2% and 77.2% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields.CONCLUSION: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 % ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100% observed among workers in some occupations.

KW - RF-EMF

KW - Occupational exposure

KW - Personal measurements

KW - Job-exposure matrix

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DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108156

M3 - Article

C2 - 37722304

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 180

JO - Environment International

JF - Environment International

M1 - 108156

ER -

Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

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