[Health surveillance guidelines after the European directive on electromagnetic fields].
Directive 2004/40/CE of the European Parliament points out what an occupational physician has to do in case of scientifically evident effects of electromagnetic fields, meaning for evident effects, those one based on the agreement of the scientific community about their causal agents. The Directive, instead doesn't mention physician's tasks in case of possible effects for the exposure to occupational risk. Health surveillance is the estimation of the worker's state of health and it is indispensable to elaborate an evaluation of job-fitness. The clinical test must include the anamnesis, the medical examination and some diagnostic checks (diagnostic laboratory outline), which supply the occupational physician with a complete clinical picture showing any latent pathology or any conditions of individual hypersusceptibility. Anamnestic and clinical data are collected with a standardized system, all the several frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum are analysed and the diagnostic protocols concerning eyes, skin, and hematopoietic system are established. Also data of periodical medical examinations and "minimum" complementary checks are established: for ELF, radiofrequencies and microwaves a medical examination with a hematological and biochemicals analysis and eye test and electrocardiogram are necessary every two years. Every occupational physician engaged in health surveillance has to keep up with the evolution of the scientific knowledge and he must observe the possible health damages for workers exposed to electromagnetic radiations: this is a deontological responsibility of the occupational physicians to respect the "precautionary principle".
Ottenga
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Cattedra e Scuola di Specializzazione in Medicina del Lavoro dell'Università di Pisa. francosgt@tin.it
Giovanazzi
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Rossi
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D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic