ID Number		1679
Study Type		Human / Provocation
Model		RF exposure from heat plastic sealers in workers and analysis of heart rate variability
Details		Heat sealer workers (n = 35) in Sweden were evaluated for heart rate variability (HRV), EKG, and neurophysiological examination and correlation with occupational RF exposure from plastic sealers. RF exposure was within the applicable ICNIRP limits, although contact currents exceeded ICNIRP limits. The authors initially report exposure correlated with a lower HR and episodes of bradycardia. Additional evaluation of the same data resulted in a report of significant differences in total HRV associated with RF sealer use (mainly at night), although there was no dose response relationship. The authors speculate that vagal mediated autonomic modulation due to thermal mechanisms may be responsible, with compensatory parasympathetic modulation as an adaptive response to long term exposure.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		National Institute for Working Life, Sweden - mild@niwl.se
Funding Agency		NIWL, Sweden
Country		SWEDEN
References		Wilen, J et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2007) 28:76-79 Wilen, J et al. Bioelectromagnetics., (2004) 25:5-15
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