Effects of electromagnetic fields on serum lipids in workers of a power plant

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int · 2016 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4741

Study snapshot

PublicationEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int · 2016

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure on levels of serum lipids in workers of an electric power plant. A cross-sectional study was carried out in an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China, from August to September 2011. All participants were divided into two groups with high occupational EMF exposure and low occupational EMF exposure. The occupational EMF exposure included radiofrequency EMF and extremely low-frequency EMF. Occupational EMF exposure was associated with an increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c; β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). High EMF exposure group with longer employment duration, longer daily EMF exposure duration, and more mobile phone or electric fee per month had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglyceride than the corresponding reference group. However, significantly decreased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was only observed in high EMF exposure group with more mobile phone fee per month. Similar results were also found in 544 participants with available data of serum lipids in 2010. The findings showed that chronic EMF exposure was associated with the change of serum lipid levels. EMF exposure might modulate the process of lipid metabolism.

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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 typecross_sectional

Effect directionharm

PopulationWorkers of an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China

Sample size544

ExposureELF and RF · chronic; assessed via employment duration and daily EMF exposure duration

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this cross-sectional study of power plant workers, occupational EMF exposure (including RF and ELF) was associated with higher LDL-c (β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). In the high-exposure group, longer employment duration, longer daily exposure duration, and higher mobile phone or electric fee per month were associated with higher total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglycerides; decreased HDL-c was reported only in the high-exposure group with higher mobile phone fee per month. Similar patterns were reported in 544 participants with serum lipid data available in 2010.

Outcomes measured

Serum lipids
Total cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)
Triglycerides

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
Exposure characterization details (e.g., measured field levels, frequencies) not provided in abstract
Potential confounding not described in abstract
Use of proxies such as mobile phone fee/electric fee per month mentioned; interpretation unclear from abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF and RF",
    "source": "occupational (electric power plant)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "chronic; assessed via employment duration and daily EMF exposure duration"
  },
  "population": "Workers of an electric power plant in Zhejiang province, China",
  "sample_size": 544,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum lipids",
    "Total cholesterol",
    "Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)",
    "High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)",
    "Triglycerides"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In this cross-sectional study of power plant workers, occupational EMF exposure (including RF and ELF) was associated with higher LDL-c (β = 0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.022). In the high-exposure group, longer employment duration, longer daily exposure duration, and higher mobile phone or electric fee per month were associated with higher total cholesterol, LDL-c, or triglycerides; decreased HDL-c was reported only in the high-exposure group with higher mobile phone fee per month. Similar patterns were reported in 544 participants with serum lipid data available in 2010.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
    "Exposure characterization details (e.g., measured field levels, frequencies) not provided in abstract",
    "Potential confounding not described in abstract",
    "Use of proxies such as mobile phone fee/electric fee per month mentioned; interpretation unclear from abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "power plant workers",
    "radiofrequency",
    "extremely low frequency",
    "serum lipids",
    "cholesterol",
    "LDL",
    "HDL",
    "triglycerides"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study population is workers with high vs low occupational EMF exposure in a power plant."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s11356-015-5500-9
PubMed: 26423285

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