Facial Skin Symptoms in Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Workers. A Case-Referent Study of Personal, Psychosocial, Building- and VDT-Related Risk Indicators

Stenberg, Berndt; Eriksson, N; Mild, Kjell Hansson; Höög, Jonas; Sandström, Monica; Sundell, Jan; Wall, Stig

doi:10.1093/ije/24.4.796

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…In the present study smaller cross-sectional nasal areas and increased levels of ECP in lavage were Nasal patency, lavage biornarkers versus settled dust and cleaning routines correlated with a lower cleaning frequency in the schools. A previous study on floor mopping showed more symptoms of the sick building syndrome in Swedish offices with a low frequency of floor mopping (24), although the results were not statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in relation to settled dust and cleaning routines in schools

Wålinder

Norbäck²,

Wieslander³

et al. 1999

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in relation to settled dust and cleaning routines in schools

Wålinder

Norbäck²,

Wieslander³

et al. 1999

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…These two studies found association of nonspecific skin disorders with VDU use and also with workload. One found association with exposure to background electric field intensity but no direct relation with magnetic fields emitted by the VDUs (25). These three studies observed some type of relationship of health status with the VDU use, but no direct link was found with EMF exposure from VDUs.…”

Section: Case-control Studiesmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…They might be normal variation or due to factors not controlled in the experiment. The two other studies (19,25) have higher quality, with dermatological assessment of skin lesion, environmental assessment with EMF measurements, and organizational and psychological evaluation by questionnaire. These two studies found association of nonspecific skin disorders with VDU use and also with workload.…”

Section: Case-control Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All used standardized questionnaires for symptom evaluation; two used dermatologists for clinical evaluation (26,28), and two used blood sampling for hormone evaluation (7,29). The quality of the methodology in these experimental studies is considered good, but sample sizes are limited (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35), and simple statistical analyses are provided by the authors. All the studies were negative except one, which gave an equivocal result (26) but were not reproduced in a more robust study in terms of number of subjects and duration of the experiment (27).…”

Section: Experimental Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Levallois

2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Hypersensitivity to exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) has been reported for nearly 20 years; however, the literature on the subject is still very limited. Nearly all the literature published concerns a dermatological syndrome that consists of mainly subjective symptoms (itching, burning, dryness) and a few objective symptoms (redness, dryness) appearing after individuals begin working with video display units and decreasing during absence from work. Case-control studies as well as some good but limited double-blind trials have not found any clear relationship between this syndrome and exposure to EMFs. A "general syndrome" with more general symptoms has been rarely described but seems to have a worse prognosis. The symptoms often associated with skin disorders are mainly of neurasthenic type and can cover a lot of nonspecific symptoms present in other atypical syndromes such as multiple chemical sensitivity or chronic fatigue. Most of these symptoms are allegedly triggered by exposure to different sources of EMFs, but there have been no valid etiological studies published on this more general syndrome. It appears that the so-called hypersensitivity to environmental electric and magnetic fields is an unclear health problem whose nature has yet to be determined.

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“…Skin symptoms were less severe when the filters were active (earthed) than when they were inactive (unearthed). Stenberg et a1 (9) found that office workers in buildings with high background electric fields had a higher prevalence of skin symptoms than those in buildings with low fields. Apart from the pure electrical phenomenon, other causes of electric hypersensitivity, such as stress, neuroticism, and psychiatric morbidity, have also been discussed, but no firm associations have so far been found (10).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Provocation of electric hypersensitivity under everyday conditions

Flodin

Seneby²,

Tegenfeldt³

2000

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Flodin U, Seneby A, Tegenfeldt C. Provocation of electric hypersensitivity under everyday conditions. Scand J Work Environ Heal th 2000;26(2):93-98. ObjectivesIn most previous provocation studies subjects suffering from "electric hypersensitivity" have not been able to determine correctly whether or not they have been subjected to a sham or true provocation to magnetic or electric fields. However, an often-discussed weakness is that most of the earlier provocation studies have been performed in a laboratory situation, often with simulated fields, which may not be representative of conditions prevailing in the homes or workplaces of the patients. Criticism has also been put forth about neglect of the long latency period of symptoms. Therefore, a provocation study was performed in the homes or workplaces of the patients, where we also studied the symptoms and on-off answer 24 hours after the exposure. Methods Fifteen subjects selected as having fast and distinct reactions from electric equipment were provoked on 4 occasions: mainly 2 true and 2 sham provocations. The intervals between exposure were a few or more days in order to provide the subjects with an opportunity to recover before the next provocation. A control group of healthy subjects with normal hearing and vision verified that the provocations were performed in a blind manner. Results The patients suffering from "electric hypersensitivity" were no better than the control group in deciding whether or not they were exposed to electric and magnetic fields. C O~~C~U S~O~S Exposure to electlic and magnetic fields per se does not seem to be a sufficient cause of the symptoms experienced by this patient group.Key terms double-blind provocation test, skin symptoms.Since the 1980s skin symptoms from exposure to video screens have been reported in the literature (1,2). Some provocation studies have been performed to clarify the reasons for the symptoms (3-6). In these experiments the subjects suffering from electric hypersensitivity have not been able to determine if they have been subject to fields or a sham provocation.On the other hand, Rea et a1 (7) found some subjects repeatedly experiencing neurological symptoms when exposed to electrical fields in laboratory examinations. Oftedal et a1 (8) reduced electric fields from visual display unit by using electrically conducting screen filters. Skin symptoms were less severe when the filters were active (earthed) than when they were inactive (unearthed). Stenberg et a1 (9) found that office workers in buildings with high background electric fields had a higher prevalence of skin symptoms than those in buildings with low fields. Apart from the pure electrical phenomenon, other causes of electric hypersensitivity, such as stress, neuroticism, and psychiatric morbidity, have also been discussed, but no firm associations have so far been found (10).The objection to previous provocation studies has, among other things, been that most of them have been performed in laboratory situations that may not be representative of ...

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Facial Skin Symptoms in Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Workers. A Case-Referent Study of Personal, Psychosocial, Building- and VDT-Related Risk Indicators

Abstract: The results suggest that skin symptoms reported by VDT users have a multifactorial background.

Cited by 39 publications

References 0 publications

Nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in relation to settled dust and cleaning routines in schools

Nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in relation to settled dust and cleaning routines in schools

Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Provocation of electric hypersensitivity under everyday conditions

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