ELF-MF Exposure, Actual and Perceived, and Associated Health Symptoms: A Case Study of an Office Building in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Abstract

ELF-MF Exposure, Actual and Perceived, and Associated Health Symptoms: A Case Study of an Office Building in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel Raz-Steinkrycer LS, Dubnov J, Gelberg S, Jia P, Portnov BA. ELF-MF Exposure, Actual and Perceived, and Associated Health Symptoms: A Case Study of an Office Building in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Sustainability. 2022; 14(17):11065. doi.org. Abstract Empirical studies link exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) to several health symptoms. However, it is unclear whether these symptoms are associated with actual or perceived exposure. In this study we attempted to answer this question by studying the health complaints of employees working in a multi-story office building located near a major high-voltage power line. ELF-MF measurements were conducted in the building using a triaxial sensor coil device on all 15 floors. In parallel, questionnaires were administered to evaluate the prevalence of various health symptoms among the employees. Multivariate logistic regressions were used next to quantify the associations between actual and perceived ELF-MF exposure and the employees’ health complaints. The analysis revealed that feelings of weakness, headache, frustration, and worry were associated with both measured and perceived ELF-MF exposure (p < 0.01), while perceived ELF-MF exposure was also found to be associated with eye pain and irritation (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2–1.6), sleepiness (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1–1.5), dizziness and ear pain (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0–1.4). We conclude that high-voltage power lines produce both physiological and psychological effects in nearby workers, and, hence, proximity to such power lines should become a public health issue. Conclusions The main findings of this study can be summarized as follows: • The analysis revealed no significant association between instrumentally measured and perceived ELF-MF exposure, which implies that individuals cannot detect actual ELF-MF exposure accurately; • The analysis revealed that feelings of weakness, headache, frustration and worries were associated with both measured and perceived ELF-MF exposure, while perceived ELF-MF exposure was also found to be associated with eye pain and irritation, sleepiness, as well as dizziness and ear pain. • As we conclude, working near a high voltage power line appears to produce not only psychological but also physiological effects, and should thus become a public health concern. As several reported symptoms (including headache, frustration/worry, and exhaustion/weakness) were found to be significantly related to measured exposure, not just perceived exposure, the results should lead to revisiting ELF-MF exposure standards. Moreover, follow-up studies should attempt to estimate other effects of ELF-MF exposure, such as its effects on employee productivity, the number of visits to physicians, absenteeism, and medication intake. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

ELF-MF was measured on all 15 floors and employee questionnaires assessed symptoms; multivariate logistic regression found weakness, headache, frustration, and worry were associated with both measured and perceived ELF-MF exposure (p < 0.01). Perceived exposure (but not necessarily measured exposure) was additionally associated with eye pain/irritation (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6), sleepiness (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.5), and dizziness/ear pain (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.4); measured and perceived exposure were not significantly associated with each other.

Outcomes measured

• feelings of weakness
• headache
• frustration
• worry
• eye pain and irritation
• sleepiness
• dizziness
• ear pain
• perceived ELF-MF exposure
• measured ELF-MF exposure

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.86)
  Study assesses ELF-MF exposure and symptoms among employees in an office building near a high-voltage power line.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "high-voltage power line (nearby office building)",
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        "duration": null
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    "population": "Employees working in a multi-story office building in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, located near a major high-voltage power line",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
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    "main_findings": "ELF-MF was measured on all 15 floors and employee questionnaires assessed symptoms; multivariate logistic regression found weakness, headache, frustration, and worry were associated with both measured and perceived ELF-MF exposure (p < 0.01). Perceived exposure (but not necessarily measured exposure) was additionally associated with eye pain/irritation (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6), sleepiness (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.5), and dizziness/ear pain (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.4); measured and perceived exposure were not significantly associated with each other.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-MF",
        "extremely low frequency magnetic fields",
        "high-voltage power line",
        "office building",
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        "measured exposure",
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        "health symptoms",
        "questionnaire",
        "logistic regression"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Study assesses ELF-MF exposure and symptoms among employees in an office building near a high-voltage power line."
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