Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Nation-wide survey among general practitioners, occupational physicians & hygienists in the Netherlands

Abstract

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Nation-wide survey among general practitioners, occupational physicians & hygienists in the Netherlands Slottje P, van Moorselaar I, van Strien R, Vermeulen R, Kromhout H, Huss A. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in occupational and primary health care: A nation-wide survey among general practitioners, occupational physicians and hygienists in the Netherlands. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2016 Dec 2. pii: S1438-4639(16)30385-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.11.013. Abstract Subjects who attribute health complaints to every day levels of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been referred to as electrohypersensitive (EHS). Previous surveys in Europe showed that 68-75% of general practitioners had ever been consulted on EHS. Given the lack of data on EHS in the Netherlands in the general population and on EHS in occupational settings, we performed a national survey among three professional groups that are likely in the first line of being consulted by EHS individuals. Results show that about one third of occupational hygienists, occupational physicians and general practitioners had ever been consulted by one or more EHS subjects. Many of these professionals considered a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints to some degree plausible, and their approach often included exposure reduction advice. Given the lack of scientific evidence for EHS and how low level EMF exposure could cause reported health complaints and given the finding that the majority of these professionals felt insufficiently informed about EMF and health, targeted information campaigns might assist them in their evidence based dealing with subjects who attribute symptoms to EMF. Conclusions About a third of occupational hygienist, occupational physicians and general practitioners in the Netherlands are consulted by patients attributing symptoms to EMF exposure. Many of these professionals consider a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints to some degree plausible, and their approach often also includes exposure reduction advice. Given the lack of a scientific evidence basis for EMF to cause symptoms and the finding that the majority of these professionals feels insufficiently informed about EMF and health, targeted information campaigns might assist them in their evidence based dealing with patients who attribute symptoms to EMF. sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In a national survey in the Netherlands, about one third of occupational hygienists, occupational physicians, and general practitioners reported having ever been consulted by one or more individuals attributing symptoms to EMF (EHS). Many respondents considered a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints to some degree plausible and often included exposure reduction advice; the majority felt insufficiently informed about EMF and health.

Outcomes measured

• Proportion of professionals ever consulted by one or more individuals attributing symptoms to EMF (EHS)
• Professionals' views on plausibility of a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints
• Reported management approach (including exposure reduction advice)
• Self-reported feeling of being sufficiently informed about EMF and health

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
• Survey-based self-report; no objective verification described in the provided abstract
• No health outcomes or exposure measurements reported in the provided abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.78)
  Survey includes occupational physicians and occupational hygienists and discusses EHS in occupational settings.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "non-ionizing",
        "source": "every day levels of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "General practitioners, occupational physicians, and occupational hygienists in the Netherlands",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Proportion of professionals ever consulted by one or more individuals attributing symptoms to EMF (EHS)",
        "Professionals' views on plausibility of a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints",
        "Reported management approach (including exposure reduction advice)",
        "Self-reported feeling of being sufficiently informed about EMF and health"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a national survey in the Netherlands, about one third of occupational hygienists, occupational physicians, and general practitioners reported having ever been consulted by one or more individuals attributing symptoms to EMF (EHS). Many respondents considered a causal relationship between EMF and health complaints to some degree plausible and often included exposure reduction advice; the majority felt insufficiently informed about EMF and health.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
        "Survey-based self-report; no objective verification described in the provided abstract",
        "No health outcomes or exposure measurements reported in the provided abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
        "EHS",
        "survey",
        "general practitioners",
        "occupational physicians",
        "occupational hygienists",
        "Netherlands",
        "non-ionizing electromagnetic fields",
        "exposure reduction advice"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
            "reason": "Survey includes occupational physicians and occupational hygienists and discusses EHS in occupational settings."
        }
    ]
}

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