ID Number		1129
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		RF exposure to Danish military and civilian workforce and analysis of reproductive .
Details		In the most recent study, Danish military servicemen operating mobile ground-to-air missile units that use several microwave emitting radar systems (maximal mean exposure was estimated to be 0.01 mW/cm2) were assessed for semen quality. Median sperm density was significantly lower than controls. The authors attribute the effects to either chance, uncontrolled bias, or nonthermal effects of transitory microwaves. In other studies, volunteers (n = 301) were fitted with personal dosimeters to assess exposure to high-frequency transient (HFT) electromagnetic fields in occupational and residential environments over a 24 hour period. The study included electrical utility workers (generation, transmission, distribution, substation), office and industrial workers, and people living near high-power transmission lines. The authors report decreased sperm count when exposure exceeded a nominal threshold level of 200 V/m at 5-20 MHz - by a factor of 6.5-9.4% for the utility groups and 0.9% for all non-work measurements. They conclude the use of radios and mobile phones may have contributed significantly to many of the individual measurements. The authors also report the values recorded by the dosimeter varied considerably depending on field polarization.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenha - js@ami.dk
Funding Agency		CS, Denmark, Nat'l Res Prog, Denmark
Country		DENMARK
References		Skotte, JH Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, (1996) 22:39-44 Hjollund , NH et al. Reprod Toxicol, (1997) 11:897- Skotte, J J Med Eng Technol, (1986) 10:7-10 Skotte, J American Industrial Hygiene Association journal., (1984) 45:791-795
Comments		Preliminary study, no individual dose assessment of MW exposure