Exposure and health risks perception of ELF and RF EMF and the effect of providing information

2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 1961

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Exposure and health risks perception of ELF and RF EMF and the effect of providing information Gallastegi M, Jiménez-Zabalaab A, Molinuevo A, Aurrekoetxea JJ, Santa-Marina L, Vozmediano L, Ibarluzea J .Exposure and health risks perception of extremely low frequency and radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and the effect of providing information. Environmental Research. Published online Nov 28, 2018. doi.org. Highlights • Exposure and health risk perceptions of electromagnetic fields (EMF) were assessed. • Mothers completed a survey before and after receiving information on EMF exposure. • Levels of exposure and health-risk perception were very high. • Information did not alter health-risk perceptions but perceived exposure decreased. • Manual social class, younger age and fewer devices at home increased perception. Abstract Given that regardless of actual exposure levels, high-risk perceptions of electromagnetic fields of non-ionizing radiation (EMF-NIR) may cause health effects, it is important to understand the mechanisms behind perceptions in the general population. The aims of this study were to assess perceptions of both exposure and health-risk among mothers of the INMA (Environment and childhood)-Gipuzkoa child cohort; to explore possible determinants that explain such perceptions; and to evaluate whether providing information on exposure levels has any effect on perceptions. Overall, 387 mothers completed a questionnaire composed of four questions on perceived exposure and perceived health-risk of exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) fields answered on a Likert-type scale from 0 to 10. Later, measurements of ELF and RF fields were conducted in the houses of a subsample of 104 participants. All measured levels were far below the levels established by the European Council recommendation. This was explained in the individual reports sent to the families. After reading the results, mothers completed the aforementioned questionnaire a second time, plus two additional questions regarding the role of public health bodies in risk communication. The association between perceived and measured levels as categorical variables was assessed with a chi-square test. Multiple linear regressions were conducted for each of the questions related to perceived exposure and health-risk perceptions. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to assess the effect of receiving information. Both exposure and health risk were perceived to be very high for both ELF and RF fields, with mean and medians of 7 on a 10-point scale. Reporting higher perception levels was not associated with higher levels of exposure measured at home. Variables that were repeatedly associated with higher perceptions included: manual social class, not having the feeling of living in a good neighborhood, difficulty getting by financially, not having a television antenna within 600 m, being younger and having fewer devices at home. Providing information on EMF-NIR exposure levels at home did not alter health-risk perceptions, but mean perceived RF exposure decreased significantly (by 0.7 points). Most of the participants claimed to have received no or insufficient information regarding exposure and health-risks of EMF-NIR from public bodies and considered it very important that they should. sciencedirect.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecohort

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMothers of the INMA (Environment and childhood)-Gipuzkoa child cohort

Sample size387

ExposureELF and RF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Among 387 mothers, perceived exposure and perceived health risk for both ELF and RF EMF were high (means/medians 7/10). In a subsample with home measurements (n=104), measured ELF/RF levels were far below European Council recommendation levels and were not associated with higher perceived exposure/risk. After receiving individualized measurement reports, health-risk perceptions did not change, while mean perceived RF exposure decreased by 0.7 points.

Outcomes measured

Perceived exposure to ELF EMF (0–10 Likert scale)
Perceived exposure to RF EMF (0–10 Likert scale)
Perceived health-risk of ELF EMF exposure (0–10 Likert scale)
Perceived health-risk of RF EMF exposure (0–10 Likert scale)
Change in perceptions after receiving individualized information on measured home EMF levels
Perceived adequacy/importance of public-body information on EMF exposure and health risks

Limitations

Frequency range and measurement details for ELF/RF not reported in the abstract
Intervention described as providing information; content/format and timing not fully specified
Subsample for measurements (n=104) may limit generalizability of measured-vs-perceived comparisons
Outcomes are self-reported perceptions rather than health outcomes

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF and RF",
    "source": "residential/home (measured in houses)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Mothers of the INMA (Environment and childhood)-Gipuzkoa child cohort",
  "sample_size": 387,
  "outcomes": [
    "Perceived exposure to ELF EMF (0–10 Likert scale)",
    "Perceived exposure to RF EMF (0–10 Likert scale)",
    "Perceived health-risk of ELF EMF exposure (0–10 Likert scale)",
    "Perceived health-risk of RF EMF exposure (0–10 Likert scale)",
    "Change in perceptions after receiving individualized information on measured home EMF levels",
    "Perceived adequacy/importance of public-body information on EMF exposure and health risks"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Among 387 mothers, perceived exposure and perceived health risk for both ELF and RF EMF were high (means/medians 7/10). In a subsample with home measurements (n=104), measured ELF/RF levels were far below European Council recommendation levels and were not associated with higher perceived exposure/risk. After receiving individualized measurement reports, health-risk perceptions did not change, while mean perceived RF exposure decreased by 0.7 points.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency range and measurement details for ELF/RF not reported in the abstract",
    "Intervention described as providing information; content/format and timing not fully specified",
    "Subsample for measurements (n=104) may limit generalizability of measured-vs-perceived comparisons",
    "Outcomes are self-reported perceptions rather than health outcomes"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF",
    "RF",
    "EMF-NIR",
    "risk perception",
    "exposure perception",
    "information intervention",
    "mothers",
    "home measurements",
    "INMA cohort",
    "risk communication"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Mentions exposure levels being far below European Council recommendation levels and discusses public-body risk communication."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.042
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library