Occupational exposure of UK adults to extremely low frequency magnetic fields

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 66; no. 9; pp. 619 - 627
• Main Authors: Mee, T, Whatmough, P, Broad, L, Dunn, C, Maslanyj, M, Allen, S, Muir, K, McKinney, P A, van Tongeren, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.09.2009; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brain cancer; Brain neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms - epidemiology; Brain Neoplasms - etiology; Brain research; Brain tumors; Case-Control Studies; Chemical hazards; Classification; Data collection; Dosimetry; Effects of various physical factors on living matter (vibrations, electric field, ultrasound, sound...); Electric utilities; Electrical transmission; Electromagnetic Fields; Employers; England - epidemiology; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemiological Monitoring; Exposure; Extremely low frequencies; Feasibility studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geometric mean; Humans; Industrial machinery; Magnetic fields; Models, Statistical; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - epidemiology; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - etiology; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupations; Occupations - statistics & numerical data; Papermaking; Questionnaires; Radiation Dosage; Radiometry - methods; Statistical analysis; Statistical variance; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Travel; Welding; Working conditions; United Kingdom; Europe; England; United Kingdom > UK; Human; Low frequency field; Job exposure matrix; Extremely low frequency; Adult; Professional activity; Occupational exposure; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.2008.040329

Background:Occupational exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) in the UK general population is poorly documented.Aims:To assess levels of occupational exposure to ELF MF in the UK and evaluate the use of a rigid job-exposure matrix (JEM) to assign exposures to subjects in the UK Adult Brain Tumour Study (UKABTS).Methods:Personal ELF MF measurements were carried out. Exposure traces were divided into occupational, travel and elsewhere periods, under differing exposure metrics. Exposure was classified by Standard Occupational Classification (2000), Standard Industrial Classification (1997), and a combined occupation-industry classification. Statistical analyses (mixed effects model) determined the contribution of occupational exposure to the 24 h cumulative exposure and the contribution of occupation and industry to total variance.Results:Data were obtained from 317 individuals, comprising UKABTS subjects (n = 192), occupational proxies for UKABTS subjects (n = 101) and “interest” readings (n = 24). 236 individuals provided occupational data covering 117 different occupations. Average exposure was significantly higher at work than at home. Elevated average occupational exposure was found for welding trades, printers, telephonists and filing and other records assistants. The discrimination of a rigid JEM based on occupation can be improved by linking the classification with industry and by the use of contextual information.Conclusions:This report substantially expands information on adult exposure to ELF MF in the UK. The accuracy of exposure assessments based solely on job codes is improved by linking with either industry code or contextual knowledge of equipment and of power lines or substations in the work environment.