Analysis of personal and bedroom exposure to ELF-MFs in children in Italy and Switzerland

Abstract

Little is known about the real everyday exposure of children in Europe to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs). The aims of this study are to (i) assess personal ELF-MF exposure in children; (ii) to identify factors determining personal and bedroom ELF-MF exposure measurements in children; (iii) to evaluate the reproducibility of exposure summary measures; and (iv) to compare personal with bedroom measurements. In Switzerland and Italy, 172 children aged between 5 and 13 years were equipped with ELF-MF measurement devices (EMDEX II, measuring 40-800 Hz) during 24-72 h twice, in the warm and the cold season. In addition, 24-h measurements were taken in the bedroom of children. In our study, sample geometric mean ELF-MF exposure was 0.04 μT for personal and 0.05 μT for bedroom measurements. Living within 100 m of a highest voltage power line increased geometric mean personal exposure by a factor of 3.3, and bedroom measurements by a factor 6.8 compared to a control group. Repeated measurements within the same subject showed high reproducibility for the geometric mean (Spearman's correlation 0.78 for personal and 0.86 for bedroom measurements) but less for the 95th and 99th percentile of the personal measurements (≤0.42). Spearman's correlation between bedroom and personal exposure was 0.86 for the geometric mean but considerably lower for the 95th and 99th percentiles (≤0.60). Most previous studies on ELF-MF childhood leukaemia used mean bedroom exposure. Our study demonstrates that geometric mean bedroom measurements is well correlated with personal geometric mean exposure, and has high temporal reproducibility.

Extremely low‐frequency magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia: A risk assessment by the ARIMMORA consortium

“…An association between ELF‐MF and childhood leukemia risk has been observed mainly at daily mean levels >0.3 μT [Schüz, ]. New measurements of ELF‐MF exposure of children in Italy and Switzerland within ARIMMORA confirmed those typical exposure levels of earlier studies, but highlighted the importance of child's behavior as a modifier of daily mean exposure levels, particularly for children living close to power lines [Struchen et al, ]. Nevertheless, measurements show good agreement between daily mean exposure levels from the child's bedroom and personal measurements, confirming that stationary bedroom measurements in epidemiological studies are good proxies of personal exposure.…”

Review of Studies Concerning Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Assessment in Europe: Low Frequency Fields (50 Hz–100 kHz)

“…In the framework of the FP7 European Project ARIMMORA, personal measurement campaigns have been implemented in Italy and Switzerland, as a means of better describing the everyday exposure of children to ELF-MF [ 39 ]. In the two countries, 172 children aged between 5 and 13 years were equipped for 48 h with personal measurement devices (EMDEX II) to record ELF-MF exposure during their regular activity.…”

Evaluation of Radiofrequency and Extremely Low‐Frequency Field Levels at Children's Playground Sites in Greece From 2013 to 2018

“…Published literature includes, among others, in‐situ indoor and outdoor measurements in schools and/or playgrounds with or without personal dosimeters for the evaluation of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) and/or extremely low‐frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields [Juhász et al, ; Vermeeren et al, ; Verloock et al, , ; Liorni et al, ; Struchen et al, ; Gallastegi et al, ; Birks et al, ]. In Greece, a specific legislative framework for children's playgrounds was established in 2009 in order to ensure compliance with the established exposure limits to RF EMF and extremely low‐frequency (ELF) fields [International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), ].…”