How much are anesthesiologists exposed to electromagnetic fields in operating rooms?
Numerous electronic devices have been introduced into the operating room. Although little is known about the relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health hazards, some authors reported its association with cancer or other diseases. We measured the amount of EMF exposure that an anesthesiologist gets in the operating room. The density of the magnetic field was checked by an extremely low frequency (ELF) field strength measurement system in the 19 operating rooms of our hospital. We measured the magnetic field intensity at a distance of 30 cm, 50 cm, and at the place where the anesthesiologist usually stands from the center of the main monitor. The average exposure quantities of magnetic fields in 19 operating rooms were 2.22 +/- 1.13 mG at 30 cm, 1.29 +/- 0.84 mG at 50 cm and 1.00 +/- 0.78 mG at the anesthesiologist's standing points respectively. Because quantities over 2 or 3 mG were accepted to be high radiation levels of EMF by many reports describing the hazards of EMF, we set 2 mG to be the cutoff value. In some of the 19 operating rooms, the measured EMF density exceeded our cutoff value. Although the health hazards related to EMF exposure are still equivocal, anesthesiologists should consider making an effort to improve their environment and reduce their exposure to EMF.
Lee
Jong Hwa
JH
Department of Anesthesiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea. kkj6063@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Lee
Haeng Chul
HC
Kim
Hoon Do
HD
Kim
Ji Young
JY
Kim
Deok Won
DW
Nam
Yong Taek
YT
Kim
Ki Jun
KJ
D000776:Anesthesiology; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010820:Physicians; D011874:Radiometry