ID Number		1457
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		ELF occupational exposure of Danish workforce and analysis of reproductive health (pregnancy outcome, sperm counts)
Details		In studies of ELF exposure, the authors assessed ELF magnetic fields around welders and other metal workers and compared exposure from different welding processes using similar personal dosimeters (total time = 1273 hours). Metal workers reported actively welding ~5% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 0.18 microT. Shipyard workers reported actively welding ~56% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 0.18 uT. Metal workers reported actively welding ~5% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 4.70 uT. Full shift welders reported actively welding ~50% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 21.2 uT. No correlations with health effects were attempted in this study, just field measurements.Welders and other metal workers were assessed for ELF field in their workplace and compared exposure from different welding processes using personal dosimeters (total time = 1273 hours). Metal workers reported actively welding ~5% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 0.18 microT. Shipyard workers reported actively welding ~56% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 0.18 uT. Metal workers reported actively welding ~5% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 4.70 uT. Full shift welders reported actively welding ~50% of the time with an average magnetic field for the work-period of 21.2 uT. No correlations with health effects were attempted in this study, just field measurements. In other studies, couples planning pregnancies were evaluated for correlations between ELF field measurements and various markers of human fertility (time to pregnancy, semen quality, reproductive hormones). Of the couples, 36 males were welders and 21 were non-welders. Both male and female partners were monitored for ELF magnetic field exposure by personal dosimeters. The authors report no significant correlations between ELF exposure and pregnancy outcome.
Findings		No 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		Hjollund, NH et al. Occup Environ Med, (1999) 56:253-255 Skotte, JH et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (1997) 18:470-477
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