Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study

Wijngaarden, Edwin van; Savitz, David A.; Kleckner, Robert C.; Jian-Hua, Cai; Loomis, Dana

doi:10.1136/ewjm.173.2.94

Cited by 23 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Based on the social withdrawal hypothesis, sedentary behavior increases, resulting in decreased social interactions that in turn result in an increased risk of mental health problems [37]. Occupational analysis of sedentary time and suicidal ideation indicated that craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers had suicidal thoughts more frequently with an increase in sitting time, which was consistent with the findings of another study [38], where workers who engaged in simple, repetitive work were found to be more mentally unstable than active workers, and a significantly higher mortality rate was observed in workers with less exposure to sunlight. Development of workplace interventions is imperative for craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers in accordance with the nature of their job and work environment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Effects of Sedentary Behaviors on Stress and Suicidal Ideation: Occupation-Based Differences

Lee¹,

Kim²

2019

TONURSJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The study of examining the effects of sedentary behavior on stress level and suicidal ideation is crucial, but existing research on the topic is insufficient. Objective: This study aimed to identify the effect of sedentary behaviors, with respect to the occupation type on stress and suicidal ideation among Korean adults. Methods: This descriptive correlational study used raw data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI), conducted in 2015. The survey sampled 7,380 adults, of whom 3,714 were included in this analysis. Sedentary time, stress level, and suicidal ideation were measured. The data were analyzed using a homogeneity test, and logistic regression. Results: As sedentary time increased, stress (OR=1.036; p=0.001) and suicidal ideation (OR= 1.065; p=0.006) also increased significantly, irrespective of the gender, age, household income, education level, job, and marital status. Regarding occupation, stress level increased significantly with an increase in sedentary time for managers; professionals and related workers; clerks; and craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers, while skilled agriculture, forestry, and fishery workers experienced less stress. A significant increase in suicidal ideation was observed in craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers as their time spent on sitting increased. Conclusion: This study found a significant association between average sedentary time, and stress and suicidal ideation. There is a need for interventional programs that can reduce sedentary behaviors for preventing mental health problems.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Effects of Sedentary Behaviors on Stress and Suicidal Ideation: Occupation-Based Differences

Lee¹,

Kim²

2019

TONURSJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A job‐exposure matrix (JEM)‐based study of 21,744 electrical utility workers in Quebec found no statistically significant association with suicide, 50 nor did an occupational title‐based study of Swedish electricians 51 . Conversely, a nested case‐control study of suicide mortality in a parent cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers found an association between increasing years of employment as an electrician or line worker and risk of suicide, including a dose–response gradient 52 . This study, however, did not control for important potential confounders such as drug use and mental illness.…”

Section: Epidemiologic Approaches To Determining Work‐relatednessmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…51 Conversely, a nested case-control study of suicide mortality in a parent cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers found an association between increasing years of employment as an electrician or line worker and risk of suicide, including a dose-response gradient. 52 This study, however, did not control for important potential confounders such as drug use and mental illness. Although the evidence is inconclusive at present, the role of noise and EMF exposures warrant further research.…”

Section: Physical Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 96%

Work‐related suicide: Evolving understandings of etiology & intervention

LaMontagne,

Åberg,

Blomqvist

et al. 2024

American J Industrial Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previously published analyses of suicide case investigations suggest that work or working conditions contribute to 10%–13% of suicide deaths. Yet, the way in which work may increase suicide risk is an underdeveloped area of epidemiologic research. In this Commentary, we propose a definition of work‐related suicide from an occupational health and safety perspective, and review the case investigation‐based and epidemiologic evidence on work‐related causes of suicide. We identified six broad categories of potential work‐related causes of suicide, which are: (1) workplace chemical, physical, and psychosocial exposures; (2) exposure to trauma on the job; (3) access to means of suicide through work; (4) exposure to high‐stigma work environments; (5) exposure to normative environments promoting extreme orientation to work; and (6) adverse experiences arising from work‐related injury or illness. We summarise current evidence in a schema of potential work‐related causes that can also be applied in workplace risk assessment and suicide case investigations. There are numerous implications of these findings for policy and practice. Various principle‐ and evidence‐based workplace intervention strategies for suicide prevention exist, some of which have been shown to improve suicide‐prevention literacy, reduce stigma, enhance helping behaviours, and in some instances maybe even reduce suicide rates. Prevailing practice in workplace suicide prevention, however, overly emphasises individual‐ and illness‐directed interventions, with little attention directed to addressing the working conditions that may increase suicide risk. We conclude that a stronger emphasis on improving working conditions will be required for workplace suicide prevention to reach its full preventive potential.

show abstract

“…Previous suicide attempts, psychiatric disorders, abuse of alcohol and other substances, employment status, financial loss, despair, chronic pain, chronic illness, and family history of suicide have been reported as risk factors for suicide [1]. Environmental factors such as air pollution [2,3], electromagnetic fields [4,5], and season [6][7][8] have also been reported as suicide risk factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epidemiological studies have reported the possibility of an electromagnetic field at electric utility sites or a power line affecting depression and suicide [4,5,9]. In previous research, correlation between geomagnetic disturbances and suicide/depression has been reported in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Finland, Australia, Russia, and Japan [8,[10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Geomagnetic Disturbances and Suicide Attempts in Taiwan, 1997–2013: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nishimura

Tsai

Yamauchi

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: A previous study in Japan found that monthly mean K index values were related to the monthly number of male, but not female, suicides. Correlations between geomagnetic disturbances and suicide/depression have also been reported in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Finland, Australia, Russia, and Japan. We have previously shown that stronger geomagnetism is linked to a higher standardized mortality ratio for suicide. To date, however, no published studies have reported the correlation between geomagnetic disturbances and suicide attempts in Taiwan. Methods: Data on the monthly number of suicide attempts in Taiwan from January 1997 to December 2013 were obtained. We performed a multivariable analysis, with the number of suicide attempts as the response variable and monthly Kp10 index, F10.7 index, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, humidity, unemployment rate, and cosmic rays as the explanatory variables. Results: The multivariable analysis showed that Kp10 index, temperature, humidity, unemployment rate, and cosmic rays were associated with the number of male suicide attempts and that Kp10 index, F10.7 index, carbon monoxide, temperature, humidity, and unemployment rate were associated with the number of female suicide attempts. Conclusion: This is the first article reporting statistically significant relationships between the monthly number of male and female suicide attempts and the monthly mean Kp10 value in Taiwan.

show abstract

Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study

Cited by 23 publications

References 47 publications

Effects of Sedentary Behaviors on Stress and Suicidal Ideation: Occupation-Based Differences

Effects of Sedentary Behaviors on Stress and Suicidal Ideation: Occupation-Based Differences

Work‐related suicide: Evolving understandings of etiology & intervention

Association of Geomagnetic Disturbances and Suicide Attempts in Taiwan, 1997–2013: A Cross-Sectional Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About