Effects of electromagnetic fields on serum lipids in workers of a power plant.

PAPER pubmed Environmental science and pollution research international 2016 Cross-sectional study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5500-9 PMID: 26423285 Evidence Lab

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure on levels of serum lipids in workers of an electric power plant. A cross-sectional study was carried out in an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China, from August to September 2011. All participants were divided into two groups with high occupational EMF exposure and low occupational EMF exposure. The occupational EMF exposure included radiofrequency EMF and extremely low-frequency EMF. Occupational EMF exposure was associated with an increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c; β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). High EMF exposure group with longer employment duration, longer daily EMF exposure duration, and more mobile phone or electric fee per month had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglyceride than the corresponding reference group. However, significantly decreased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was only observed in high EMF exposure group with more mobile phone fee per month. Similar results were also found in 544 participants with available data of serum lipids in 2010. The findings showed that chronic EMF exposure was associated with the change of serum lipid levels. EMF exposure might modulate the process of lipid metabolism.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Cross-sectional study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Workers of an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China

Sample size

—

Exposure

mixed occupational (electric power plant) · chronic; assessed via high vs low occupational exposure; also stratified by employment duration and daily exposure duration

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this cross-sectional study of power plant workers, occupational EMF exposure (including radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency EMF) was associated with higher LDL-c (β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). In the high-exposure group, longer employment duration, longer daily exposure duration, and higher mobile phone/electric fee per month were associated with higher total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglycerides; decreased HDL-c was reported only in the high-exposure group with higher mobile phone fee per month. Similar patterns were reported in a subset of 544 participants with serum lipid data available in 2010.

Outcomes measured

Serum lipids
Total cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)
Triglycerides

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
Exposure characterized as high vs low occupational EMF exposure; specific exposure metrics not provided in abstract
Potential confounding not described in abstract

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.95)
Study evaluates occupational EMF exposure in power plant workers and associations with health biomarkers (serum lipids).

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "mixed",
        "source": "occupational (electric power plant)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "chronic; assessed via high vs low occupational exposure; also stratified by employment duration and daily exposure duration"
    },
    "population": "Workers of an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Serum lipids",
        "Total cholesterol",
        "Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)",
        "High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)",
        "Triglycerides"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this cross-sectional study of power plant workers, occupational EMF exposure (including radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency EMF) was associated with higher LDL-c (β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). In the high-exposure group, longer employment duration, longer daily exposure duration, and higher mobile phone/electric fee per month were associated with higher total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglycerides; decreased HDL-c was reported only in the high-exposure group with higher mobile phone fee per month. Similar patterns were reported in a subset of 544 participants with serum lipid data available in 2010.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Exposure characterized as high vs low occupational EMF exposure; specific exposure metrics not provided in abstract",
        "Potential confounding not described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "occupational exposure",
        "power plant workers",
        "radiofrequency EMF",
        "extremely low-frequency EMF",
        "serum lipids",
        "LDL cholesterol",
        "HDL cholesterol",
        "triglycerides",
        "total cholesterol"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study evaluates occupational EMF exposure in power plant workers and associations with health biomarkers (serum lipids)."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.