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Yamaguchi-Sekino S, Taki M, Ikuyo M, Esaki K, Aimoto A, Wake K, Kojimahara N. Assessment of combined exposure to intermediate-frequency electromagnetic fields and pulsed electromagnetic fields among library workers in Japan. Front Public Health 2022; 10:870784. [PMID: 35968480 PMCID: PMC9366663 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.870784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess exposure levels to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) among library workers in Japan, focusing on co-exposure to intermediate-frequency EMF (IF-EMF) and pulsed EMF, to propose a new epidemiological research methodology. Methods The evaluated exposure sources were an electromagnetic type-electronic article surveillance gate (EM-EAS, IF-EMF (operating frequency 220 Hz-14 kHz)) and an activator/deactivator of anti-theft tags termed as “book check unit” (BCU, pulsed EMF). Short-term exposures were: (E1) whole-body exposure from the EAS gate when sitting within 3 m; (E2) local exposure to transient IF-EMF while passing through or beside the EAS gate; and (E3) local exposure to a pulsed magnetic field on BCU use. E1–E3 were evaluated based on exposure levels relative to magnetic flux density at the occupational reference level (RL; E1) or as per occupational basic restrictions (BR; E2 and E3) delineated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2010 guidelines. Exposure indices based on mid-term exposure (D1–D3), assuming exposure according to employment on a weekly basis, were used to assess exposure in actual working conditions. D1 represents continuous exposure from an EAS gate when sitting within 3 m of the gate. D2 and D3 represent repeated transient exposures occurring during gate pass or on the operation of a BCU. A link to a web-based questionnaire was distributed to librarians working at all libraries where the authors had mailed institutional questionnaires (4,073 libraries). Four exposure patterns were defined according to various exposure scenarios. Results We obtained information on exposure parameters and working conditions from the 548 completed questionnaires. The ICNIRP guideline levels were not exceeded in any of the E1–E3 scenarios. Median of the D1 (% ICNIRP RL × hour/week) was 1, and >85% respondents had values <10. However, the maximum value was 513. Altogether, these results indicate that continuous exposure was low in most cases. The same tendency was observed regarding repeated transient exposure from EM-EAS gates (i.e., the median value for D2 (% ICNIRP BR × gate pass) was 5). However, there were several cases in which D1 and D2 values were >10 times the median. The median of D3 (% ICNIRP BR × BCU operation) was 10, and most respondents' D3 values were greater than their D2 values, although the derived results depended on the assumptions made for the estimation. Conclusion We conducted an assessment of combined exposures to IF-EMF and pulsed EMF among library workers in Japan by evaluating both short-term exposures (E1–E3) and exposure indices based on mid-term exposures (D1–D3) assuming actual working conditions per questionnaire results. These results provide useful information for future epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino
- Work Environment Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan
- *Correspondence: Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino
| | - Masao Taki
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Miwa Ikuyo
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Kaoru Esaki
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Atsuko Aimoto
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Kanako Wake
- Strategic Planning Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Noriko Kojimahara
- Department of Epidemiology, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka, Japan
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Ikuyo M, Esaki K, Aimoto A, Wake K, Yamaguchi-Sekino S, Kojimahara N, Suzuki Y, Taki M. Measurement and Exposure Assessment of Intermediate Frequency Magnetic Fields From Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Gates in Libraries. Front Public Health 2022; 10:871134. [PMID: 35646792 PMCID: PMC9133885 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.871134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to magnetic fields from the electronic article surveillance (EAS) gate was evaluated in consideration of the application to epidemiological studies of library workers who are exposed continually to intermediate frequency magnetic fields from the EAS gate. Two types of exposures were investigated. One was transient exposure due to passing through or beside the gate and another was chronic exposure in the room. We measured magnetic fields from five EAS gate models which were commonly used in libraries in Japan. Detailed measurements were performed for two of them in consideration of the phase difference of vector components of magnetic flux density. The polarization of the magnetic field in the gate was investigated with the index of ellipticity. The induced electric field in a human body was numerically calculated for exposures to magnetic fields of the two gate models. The results provide a quantitative understanding of exposures during passing through or by the EAS gate. Magnetic field distribution was measured in a large room for one gate model to quantify the chronic exposure of library workers during the work at the desk. It was found that the magnetic field was distributed as a function of the horizontal distance to the nearest gatepost. The 45-point average value BIEC defined by the IEC standard was suggested to be a useful quantity to characterize the magnitude of the magnetic field from the EAS gate. Exposures to different EAS gates are expected to be compared through this quantity without detailed measurements. These results are expected to provide useful means for exposure assessment of epidemiological studies on the association between the IF-EMF exposure and possible health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Ikuyo
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Kaoru Esaki
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Atsuko Aimoto
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Kanako Wake
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino
- Work Environment Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Noriko Kojimahara
- Epidemiology, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yukihisa Suzuki
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Masao Taki
- Department of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
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Aerts S, Calderon C, Valič B, Maslanyj M, Addison D, Mee T, Goiceanu C, Verloock L, Van den Bossche M, Gajšek P, Vermeulen R, Röösli M, Cardis E, Martens L, Joseph W. Measurements of intermediate-frequency electric and magnetic fields in households. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 154:160-170. [PMID: 28086101 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Historically, assessment of human exposure to electric and magnetic fields has focused on the extremely-low-frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) ranges. However, research on the typically emitted fields in the intermediate-frequency (IF) range (300Hz to 1MHz) as well as potential effects of IF fields on the human body remains limited, although the range of household appliances with electrical components working in the IF range has grown significantly (e.g., induction cookers and compact fluorescent lighting). In this study, an extensive measurement survey was performed on the levels of electric and magnetic fields in the IF range typically present in residences as well as emitted by a wide range of household appliances under real-life circumstances. Using spot measurements, residential IF field levels were found to be generally low, while the use of certain appliances at close distance (20cm) may result in a relatively high exposure. Overall, appliance emissions contained either harmonic signals, with fundamental frequencies between 6kHz and 300kHz, which were sometimes accompanied by regions in the IF spectrum of rather noisy, elevated field strengths, or much more capricious spectra, dominated by 50Hz harmonics emanating far in the IF domain. The maximum peak field strengths recorded at 20cm were 41.5V/m and 2.7A/m, both from induction cookers. Finally, none of the appliance emissions in the IF range exceeded the exposure summation rules recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 62233) standard at 20cm and beyond (maximum exposure quotients EQE 1.0 and EQH 0.13).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Aerts
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, iGent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 15, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Carolina Calderon
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Blaž Valič
- Institute of Non-Ionizing Radiation (INIS), Pohorskega bataljona 215, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Myron Maslanyj
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Addison
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Terry Mee
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Cristian Goiceanu
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Leen Verloock
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, iGent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 15, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matthias Van den Bossche
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, iGent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 15, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Gajšek
- Institute of Non-Ionizing Radiation (INIS), Pohorskega bataljona 215, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3508 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and Municipal Institute of Medical Research (IMIM-Hospital del Mar), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luc Martens
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, iGent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 15, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Joseph
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, iGent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 15, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
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