Assessment of Twin Fetal Exposure to Environmental Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields

Bioelectromagnetics · 2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 882

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2022

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Assessment of Twin Fetal Exposure to Environmental Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields Zhang C, Li C, Yang L, Hou W, Du M, Wu T, Chen W. Assessment of Twin Fetal Exposure to Environmental Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields. Bioelectromagnetics. 2022 Mar 1. doi: 10.1002/bem.22397. Abstract Fetal development is vital in the human lifespan. Therefore, it is essential to characterize exposure by a series of typical environmental magnetic and electromagnetic fields. In particular, there has recently been a sharp increase in the twin birth rate. However, lack of appropriate models has prohibited dosimetric evaluation, restricting characterization of the impact of these environmental factors on twins. The present study developed two whole-body pregnant models of 31 and 32 weeks of gestation (WG) with twin fetuses and explored several typical exposure scenarios, including 50-Hz uniform magnetic field exposure, local 125-kHz magnetic field (MF), and 13.56-MHz electromagnetic field exposure, as well as wideband planewave radiofrequency (RF) exposure from 20 to 6000 MHz. Finally, dosimetric results were derived. Compared to the singleton pregnancy with similar weeks of gestation, twin fetuses were overexposed at 50-Hz uniform MF, but they were probably underexposed in the RF scenarios with frequencies for wireless communications. Furthermore, the twin fetuses manifested large dosimetric variability compared to the singleton, which was attributed to the incident direction and fetal position. Based on the analysis, the dosimetric results over the entire gestation period were estimated. The results can be helpful to estimate the risk of twin-fetal exposure to electromagnetic fields and examine the conservativeness of the international guidelines pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusion In the study, we developed two pregnant models with twin fetuses of 31 and 32 WG by MRI images.The dosimetric results have been investigated for several typical scenarios, i.e. 50-Hz uniform MFexposure, EAS local MF exposure, and wide-band whole-body RF exposure. The outcomes were compared against that of the singleton. Overexposure of the twins compared with the singleton at ELF MF and RF exposure at several hundred MHz was observed from the results. Significantly large dosimetric variability was documented. Although the surveyed configurations indicated that current International Commission On Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection [2010, 2020] were conservative for twin fetuses, these dosimetric characteristics should be considered for epidemiological analysis. The results indicate that future research employing anatomically correct twin-fetal models with various WG is needed.

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPregnant models with twin fetuses at 31 and 32 weeks of gestation (MRI-based computational models)

Sample size2

ExposureELF/RF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The study developed two whole-body pregnant computational models (31 and 32 weeks gestation) with twin fetuses and evaluated dosimetry for 50 Hz uniform magnetic field exposure, local 125 kHz magnetic field exposure, 13.56 MHz exposure, and wideband planewave RF exposure from 20–6000 MHz. Compared with singleton pregnancy models of similar gestational age, twin fetuses were reported as overexposed at 50 Hz uniform magnetic fields, and showed large dosimetric variability attributed to incident direction and fetal position; the surveyed configurations were described as indicating ICNIRP 2010/2020 guidelines were conservative for twin fetuses.

Outcomes measured

Dosimetric results for twin fetuses under multiple EMF exposure scenarios
Comparison of twin vs singleton fetal exposure
Dosimetric variability by incident direction and fetal position
Assessment of conservativeness of international guidelines (ICNIRP 2010, 2020) for twin fetuses

Limitations

Only two twin-pregnancy models (31 and 32 weeks gestation) were developed
Results are based on modeled exposure scenarios and dosimetric estimation rather than measured exposures or health outcomes
Findings depend on incident direction and fetal position, indicating scenario sensitivity
Need for additional anatomically correct twin-fetal models across various gestational weeks was noted by the authors

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF/RF",
    "source": "environmental magnetic and electromagnetic fields (modeled scenarios)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Pregnant models with twin fetuses at 31 and 32 weeks of gestation (MRI-based computational models)",
  "sample_size": 2,
  "outcomes": [
    "Dosimetric results for twin fetuses under multiple EMF exposure scenarios",
    "Comparison of twin vs singleton fetal exposure",
    "Dosimetric variability by incident direction and fetal position",
    "Assessment of conservativeness of international guidelines (ICNIRP 2010, 2020) for twin fetuses"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The study developed two whole-body pregnant computational models (31 and 32 weeks gestation) with twin fetuses and evaluated dosimetry for 50 Hz uniform magnetic field exposure, local 125 kHz magnetic field exposure, 13.56 MHz exposure, and wideband planewave RF exposure from 20–6000 MHz. Compared with singleton pregnancy models of similar gestational age, twin fetuses were reported as overexposed at 50 Hz uniform magnetic fields, and showed large dosimetric variability attributed to incident direction and fetal position; the surveyed configurations were described as indicating ICNIRP 2010/2020 guidelines were conservative for twin fetuses.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Only two twin-pregnancy models (31 and 32 weeks gestation) were developed",
    "Results are based on modeled exposure scenarios and dosimetric estimation rather than measured exposures or health outcomes",
    "Findings depend on incident direction and fetal position, indicating scenario sensitivity",
    "Need for additional anatomically correct twin-fetal models across various gestational weeks was noted by the authors"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "twin fetuses",
    "pregnancy model",
    "MRI-based model",
    "dosimetry",
    "50 Hz",
    "125 kHz",
    "13.56 MHz",
    "RF 20–6000 MHz",
    "wireless communications",
    "ICNIRP guidelines",
    "incident direction",
    "fetal position"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.74,
      "reason": "Abstract explicitly discusses conservativeness of ICNIRP 2010/2020 guidelines for twin fetuses."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.22397
PubMed: 35233784

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