EMF exposure assessment in the Finnish garment industry: Evaluation of proposed EMF exposure metrics

Abstract

Recently published studies indicate that having worked in occupations that involve moderate to high electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In these studies, the occupational groups most over‐represented for EMF exposure comprised seamstresses, dressmakers, and tailors. Future epidemiologic studies designed to evaluate the possibility of a causal relationship between exposure to EMF and a neuro degenerative disease endpoint such as incidence of Alzheimer's disease, will benefit from the measurement of electromagnetic field metrics with potential biological relevance. Data collection methodology in such studies would be highly dependent upon how the metrics are defined. In this research the authors developed and demonstrated (1) protocols for collecting EMF exposure data suitable for estimating a variety of exposure metrics that may have biological relevance, and (2) analytical methods for calculation of these metrics. The authors show how exposure might be estimated under each of the three prominent EMF health‐effects mechanism theories and evaluate the assertion that relative exposure ranking is dependent on which mechanism is assumed. The authors also performed AC RMS magnetic flux density measurements, confirming previously reported findings. The results indicate that seamstresses, as an occupational group, should be considered for study of the possible health effects of long‐term EMF exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 21:57–67, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma

“…In this case, measurements reported by Floderus et al 21 were assigned to males and values reported by Forssén and co-workers22 were assigned to females. Two additional Scandinavian studies reporting EMF measurements were used to impute exposure levels for workers on ships and workers in the garment industry 23 24…”

A case-control study of occupational magnetic field exposure and Alzheimer's disease: results from the California Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Centers

“…[8] and Hansen et al . [9] to classify individual occupations. The occupational page from each form at the coordinating center was photocopied and reviewed for likely medium or high (M/H) magnetic field exposure (by ES, who was blinded as to case-control status).…”

Occupational exposure to power frequency magnetic fields and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

“…18 Exposure in the JEM was based on approximately 2400 magnetic field measurements conducted during 10 studies in the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland and Italy. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The majority of the measurements (97%) came from personal exposure data although spot measurements (3%) were also used. Job titles in the JEM were assigned occupational codes which corresponded to the 1980 Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC).…”