title: No association between occupational exposure to ELF magnetic field and urinary 6-sulfatoximelatonin in workers.
abstract: A suppression in melatonin secretion is one of the mechanisms proposed to explain the possible adverse effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), but the results of research are inconclusive. This study investigated the effect of occupational ELF-MF exposure on 6-sulfatoximelatonin (6-OHMS). Exposure was monitored for three complete work shifts in 59 workers using personal exposure meters. Environmental exposure was also evaluated. Urinary 6-OHMS in morning samples, an indicator of night-time melatonin production, was measured. Urine was collected twice on Friday and the following Monday. Workers were classified according to ELF exposure as low exposed (<or=0.2 microT) or higher exposed (>0.2 microT): 6-OHMS did not differ between groups (P > .05) in either Friday or Monday urine samples. In addition, 6-OHMS was not related to exposure under multivariate analysis. The ratio between 6-OHMS in Monday versus Friday samples was also calculated to test the hypothesis of a possible variation in pineal function after 2 days, interruption of occupational ELF-MF exposure: again no exposure-related difference was observed. Our results do not support the hypothesis that occupational exposure to ELF-MF significantly influences melatonin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. f.gobba@unimore.it
authors.forename: Fabriziomaria
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobba
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Meri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaringi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roccatto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin