24-h personal monitoring of exposure to Power Frequency Magnetic Fields in adolescents – Results of a National Survey

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this exposure assessment study was to gain information about the exposure levels of adolescents in Israel to power frequency (50Hz) magnetic fields (MF) through personal monitoring, and to provide reliable data for national policy development. Methods84 adolescents, 6–10th grade students, carried an EMDEX II meter attached to their body for 24h. The meter recorded the MF every 1.5s. The students documented their activities and microenvironments, such as apartment (awake or asleep), school, transportation, open public areas and other indoor environments. ResultsThe geometric mean (GM) of the daily time weighted average (TWA) of all the participants was 0.059 μT (STD = 1.83). This result is similar to those of personal exposure surveys conducted in the UK (GM 0.042–0.054μT), but lower than levels found in the US (GM 0.089 − 0.134μT). The arithmetic mean was 0.073μT, 23% higher than the GM. Fields were lowest at school (GM 0.033μT), and average outdoor exposures were higher than indoor ones. 3.6% of the participants were exposed to daily TWA above 0.2μT.The typical time spent above 0.2μT ranged from few minutes to few hours. The time spent above 0.4μT and 1μT were much shorter, around 1–15min and from few seconds to 2min, respectively. Momentary peaks ever recorded were in the range of 0.35–23.6μT ConclusionsExposure of adolescents in Israel is similar to data reported in other countries, being below 0.1μT for the vast majority, with very few average exposures above 0.2μT. Analysis of the different microenvironments allows for a cost-effective and equitable policy development.