Coronary heart diseases: Assessment of risk associated with work exposure to ultralow-frequency magnetic fields

Abstract

The present analysis was stimulated by previous findings on the possible influence of natural ultralow‐frequency (ULF; 0.001–10 Hz) geomagnetic field variations on the cardiovascular system and indications of an effect of man‐made ULF magnetic fields on the rate of myocardial infarction. In the present study, we considered the occupational health hazards of the strongest ULF magnetic fields in densely populated urban areas. Measurements of ULF magnetic field fluctuations produced by trains powered by DC electricity were performed by means of a computer‐based, highly sensitive, three‐component magnetometer. We found that the magnitude of magnetic field pulses inside the driver's cab of electric locomotives (ELs) could be ≥ 280 μT in the horizontal component perpendicular to the rails and up to approximately 130 μT in the vertical component, and, in the driver's compartment of electric motor unit (EMU) trains, they were approximately 50 and 35 μT, respectively. We have investigated the relationships between the occupational exposure to ULF magnetic field fluctuations produced by electric trains and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among railroad workers in the former Soviet Union. We have analyzed medical statistical data for a period of 3 years for approximately 45,000 railroad workers and 4,000 engine drivers. We have also analyzed 3 years of morbidity data for three subgroups of engine drivers (∼4,000 in each group) operating different types of trains. We find that EL drivers have a twofold increase in risk (2.00 ± 0.27) of coronary heart diseases (CHDs) compared with EMU drivers. Because our analysis of major CVDs shows that the examined subpopulations of drivers can be considered to have had equal exposure to all known risk factors, the elevated CHD risk among EL drivers could be attributed to the increased occupational exposure to ULF magnetic fields. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Untitled

“…Recent studies indicate that exposure to electromagnetic fields may have an influence on coronary heart disease in railway workers (Ptitsyna et al 1996). As biogenic magnetite provides a possible mechanism for interactions of weak magnetic fields with the human brain (Kirschvink 1992, Dobson & St. Pierre 1996 it is important to examine its presence and understand its role in other human organs as well.…”

Cosmic radiation influence on the physiological state of aviators

“…The most important results are not only those concerning cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the nervous system, especially strokes, myocardial infarctions, and traffic accidents (Villoresi et al 1994a, b;Ptitsyna et al 1996Ptitsyna et al , 1998Dorman et al 1999) but also those concerning human physiological parameters variations such as heart rate and arterial systolic and diastolic pressure (Dimitrova 2008;Dimitrova et al 2009;Papailiou et al 2011a). More specifically, in Dimitrova (2008), a group of 86 volunteers was examined during periods of high solar and geomagnetic activity.…”

“…It was shown that during FDs, the average number of traffic accidents and cardiovascular diseases, as myocardial infractions and brain strokes, was higher. These results were in agreement with other studies (Villoresi et al 1994a, b;Ptitsyna et al 1996). Moreover, train accidents (caused by man-related factors) can also be influenced by FDs events (Dorman et al 2001).…”

“…The effect that CRI variations and geomagnetic activity (GMA) may have on the functionality of the human organism was already known a long time ago (Villoresi et al 1994a, b;Ptitsyna et al 1996Ptitsyna et al , 1998Dorman et al 1999), but over the last years, many interesting studies have been carried out with remarkable results (Cornelissen et al 2002;Dzvoník et al 2006;Stoupel et al 2007a, b;Dimitrova et al 2009;Mavromichalaki et al 2009;Papailiou et al 2009).…”

Space weather phenomena on heart rate: a study in the Greek region

“…Results obtained in the laboratory regarding the blood’s sensitivity to solar and GMA strengthen this new field, while the most important results concern diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems (Dorman et al 2001 ). It is being argued that Forbush decreases (FDs) of CRI are representative of the relationship between geomagnetic disturbances and health parameters, e.g., ischemic attacks, myocardial infarction, and traffic accidents (Villoresi et al 1994a ; b ; 1998 ; Ptitsyna et al 1996 ; Dorman et al 1999 ). Moreover, during the development of a geomagnetic disturbance, the most important and statistically significant results are observed in the decrease phase of the FDs of CRI.…”