Health of workers exposed to electric fields.

Abstract

Knave et aP5-have found no similar problems associated with electric field exposure in either switchyard workers or linesmen.Nevertheless, if there is one general criticism that might be made of all studies so far carried out it is that exposures to electric fields have been in varying degrees estimated rather than measured directly. In the present study we have attempted to remedy this deficiency by including individual exposure measurements for the whole study population. Our aim has been to relate these exposure measurements (together with estimates of exposure produced by local management) to several possible indicators of Received 30 January-1984 Accepted 20 February 1984 ill health as elicited by a questionnaire interview.The groups chosen for study consisted of the non-clerical staff of three Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) transmission districts in the south west of England and South Wales, together with a group of similar staff of the South Wales Electricity Board (SWaEB). The CEGB staff o,prated and maintained transmission lines and substations running at 132, 275, and 400 kV. The SWaEB staff worked with distribution systems running at 11, 33, 66, and 132 kV; the geographical area they covered overlapped with that of CEGB South Wales district. From the nature of their duties, it was expected that the CEGB groups were more likely to be exposed to high electric fields than the SWaEB group.From a general occupational health point of view, the interview results contain much interesting material, particularly on the health differences between different jobs. In the present report, however, we concentrate on the relationships with exposure to electric fields. Methods and measurementsFor a two week period, closely preceding his questionnaire interview, each subject wore a simple single channel electrochemical exposure meter strapped to his upper arm. On interrogation at the end of the period, it gave a single measure of integrated exposure to all field strengths above about 75

Neurovegetative Disturbances in Workers Exposed to 50 Hz Electromagnetic Fields

“…In some studies, dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system [9], arterial blood pressure (hypo-or hypertension), heart rhythm (brady-or tachycardia) disturbances [10,11] and an increased neuromuscular activity [12] were found in workers occupationally exposed to 50/60 Hz EMF. Other investigations [9,11,[13][14][15][16] did not confirm these findings. In many cases, arriving at conclusions was difficult due to the lack of data on exposure levels, concomitant exposure to other occupational or environmental hazards or the lack of a well-matched control group.…”

Cardiovascular diseases and the work environment. A critical review of the epidemiologic literature on nonchemical factors.

“…The Swedish investigation (205) dealt with emplo yees of high-voltage substations and the English one (206) with electrical power transmission and distribution workers. In neither of these thorough cross-sectional studies was it possible to trace an y relation between exposure to electric fields and cardiovascular morbidit y.…”

Stress at Work among Electric Utility Workers

“…Nevertheless, the literature approaching stress at work of this professional category is scarce; besides that, the large majority of publications is concentrated on matters related to exposure to electromagnetic fields [8][9][10] .…”