Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as a risk factor in different professional groups in Bulgaria

Abstract

The intensity of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been measured in industrial enterprises, radio and TV stations, medical establishments, high frequency telecommunication stations, electronic industry, radar installations, scientific institutes etc. in connection with the application of new technologies. EMF intensities (or power density) in the machine and metal processing industry, in physiotherapy, in some of the radio transmitting stations, in the plastics industry, in some scientific institutes, are higher than the occupational health norms in Bulgaria. Clinical, functional, paraclinical, biochemical and immunological investigations have been performed on 390 workers in order to define the effect of electromagnetic fields in working conditions. Electromagnetic fields have been found to cause a health hazard in the machine building industry — 28.6 % of the examined workers, in the plastics industry — 31 % (machine workers), at high frequency telecommunications stations — 71 %, in the metal processing and metallurgical industries — 15.1 % of the workers.