Exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields. A review of open questions on exposure assessment techniques (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In the European Union, health surveillance (HS) of electromagnetic fields (EMF)-exposed workers is mandatory according to the Directive 2013/35/EU, aimed at the prevention of known direct biophysical effects and indirect EMF’s effects. Long-term effects are not addressed in the Directive as the evidence of a causal relationship is considered inadequate. Objectives of HS are the prevention or early detection of EMF adverse effects, but scant evidence is hitherto available on the specific procedures. A first issue is that no specific laboratory tests or medical investigations have been demonstrated as useful for exposure monitoring and/or prevention of the effects. Another problem is the existence of workers at particular risk (WPR), i.e., subjects with specific conditions inducing an increased susceptibility to the EMF-related risk (e.g., workers with active medical devices or other conditions); exposures within the occupational exposure limit values (ELVs) are usually adequately pro...
2018
RF-EMF exposure assessment carried out in an observatory open for general public visits, where there are multiple RF sources in the surrounding area. Fields at some points of interest have exceeded the ICNIRP exposure limits for the general public and, to comply with normative limits, relevant stations reduced their radiated power. Nevertheless, the total electric field strength in the vicinity of the observatory's metallic parapet still exceeds exposure limits due to re-radiation. Thus, the main broadcast stations reduced even more their transmitted power to comply with the regulatory limits throughout the observatory area. A detailed evaluation is carried out close to metallic objects to assess the re-radiation phenomenon. Additionally, laboratory experiments were carried out to confirm the influence of re-radiation from the metallic parapet.
Occupational exposure assessment for power frequency electromagnetic fields
Electric Power Systems Research, 1999
Exposure assessment is the determination or estimate of the magnitude, frequency of occurrence, and rate of exposure of an individual or a group to an environmental agent. The agents of interest in this case are the electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in the extreme low-frequency range that includes the power frequency of 50/60 Hz. There are an increasing concern that exposure to EMF may be associated with biological and health effects. This concern has prompted numerous measurement projects and the development of instrumentation, methodologies, and exposure models and simulations. This paper identifies the status of EMF exposure assessment research related to occupational exposures. It draws the recent results to emphasize the unique aspects of EMF exposures in the home and utilities environments, and highlights the research needs. The intensities of electromagnetic fields have been measured under power transmission and distribution lines, at substations and industrial plants and near various electric devices including domestic electrical equipment. The field intensities have been related to the exposure time (duration of staying) in the different areas and have been compared with the internationally established standards. The data presented are useful for understanding the levels of electromagnetic fields that can be encountered in various places and also for estimating possible occupational and residential exposure levels.
Frontiers in Public Health
Workers in occupational settings are usually exposed to numerous sources of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and to different physical agents. Risk assessment for industrial workplaces concerning EMF is not only relevant to operators of devices or machinery emitting EMF, but also to support-workers, bystanders, service and maintenance personnel, and even visitors. Radiofrequency EMF guidelines published in 2020 by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) may also be indirectly applied to assess risks emerging from EMF sources at workplaces by technical standards or legislation. To review the applicability and adequacy to assess exposure to EMF in occupational settings in the European Union, the most current ICNIRP guidelines on radiofrequency EMF are reviewed. Relevant ICNIRP fundamentals and principles are introduced, followed by practical aspects of exposure assessment. To conclude, open questions are formulated pointing out gaps between the guideline...
2019
Purpose: The assessment of occupational electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure currently falls under the legislative framework of the Directive 2013/35/EU. However, this framework has difficulties in many practical aspects, which were not dealt by the released practical guides. Material and Methods: For the vast majority of occupational exposures there is no need for the execution of in situ measurements since they are not expected to be high. Nevertheless, whenever needed, the appropriate measurements remain always the most reliable approach. Expanding the general EMF exposure assessment approach, the standard EN 50499 proposes certain exposure zones (0, 1 and 2); moreover, for the low frequencies an extra exposure zone (3) as well as a number of handy flowcharts have been proposed in the literature, in order to clarify and facilitate the EMF protection scheme. Results: The need to clarify the occupational EMF exposure management framework as a whole, including: i) the low, intermedi...
2011 XXXth URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, 2011
A project is described that is developing procedures and instrumentation to demonstrate compliance with EU Directive 2004/40/EC. In 2012, the directive will pose new requirements on employers in the European Union to evaluate the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Implementation of these requirements is a significant challenge to employers, many of whom lack the resources and expertise required to demonstrate compliance with EMF limits. Some industries that use high-current or high-voltage equipment in the workplace are particularly affected, such as the automotive, railway and metal fabrication industries. Simple and reliable tools are necessary for employers in these industries.
1 Occupational EMF exposure measurements in different work environments
Electromagnetic field exposures vary substantially between industries, occupations and individuals. In factories and large commercial buildings with huge number of office equipments like computers, photocopies, fax machines, and video display units, the occupants are exposed to 50-Hz magnetic fields (MF) and radiofrequency (RF) fields. The objective of this EMF occupational exposure measurement study was to characterize occupational MF personal exposure among operators using office equipments and/or industrial workstations at least 8 hours per day. Measurements were performed in two national banks, one gasoline injection factory and one international satellite and cable operator. This survey was designed to measure the mean and maximum MF magnitudes at extremely-low frequency (ELF) with a Narda EFA-300 meter and its isotropic probes. Based on our findings, it is strongly recommended that periodic EMF exposure measurements should be done to obtain more detailed understanding of workplace exposures and their sources. And the results should be considered in the evaluation of risk assessment that would help to minimize the possibility of workers being harmed by work-related exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic sources. Occupational exposure standards considering the precautionary principle approach relating to adverse health effects should promptly be legislated in Turkey and throughout the world.
2012 International Conference and Exposition on Electrical and Power Engineering, 2012
Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields is regulated by exposure standards by setting exposure limits that ca not be exceeded and reference levels for fast testing of compliance. In the case of multiple frequency fields, contribution of each spectral component is evaluated by comparing its level with the reference level at that frequency. Given the frequency dependence of reference levels, compliance of the total electromagnetic field level is evaluated by several summation formulae for specific cases. The authors present the standard summation formulae as well as simplified summation formulae to be applied in practical situations.
Assessment of Exposure to Magnetic Fields in Occupational Settings
Journal of Occupational Health, 2003
Objective-It is important to have data about occupational magnetic field intensity to consider the contribution of occupational magnetic field exposure on the human body. We conducted research on exposure to occupational magnetic fields and tried to qualify data on the distribution of magnetic field' intensity in certain general working environments with individual measurements. Subjects and Methods-We performed sample research on the exposure to lowfrequency magnetic fields of workers in certain occupations and in the working environment. We also assessed the relationship between working environmental magnetic field distribution and individual exposure. Results-Some occupations were found to be exposed to high magnetic fields. We observed that some workspaces, such as the transformer substation, generally had a uniform and high magnetic field measurement but employees were exposed to a lower intensity. We also found that welders were exposed to high magnetic fields at about 600 µT in a very short time but with a geometrical value of 0.08 µT. Conclusion-The determination of administrative levels and control levels, not only of the time weighted average of threshold limits or short term exposure limits, but also ceiling limits should be considered. More systematic research is necessary to determine variables such as operating conditions, measuring position, and frequency bands. Also, further studies will be needed to make a job-exposure matrix for the magnetic fields for each occupation type and to combine it with exposure in non-occupational settings