[Measurements of professional exposure to ELF fields in some production areas within the territory of Regione Campania and comparison with the action values according to 2004/40/CE Directive].
The 2004/40/CE Directive (which should be acknowledged within April 30, 2008), introduces the Action values for the prevention of occupational risk related to Extremely Low Frequency-Magnetic Fields (ELF-MF) exposure. In the Regione Campania, the following production areas have been investigated: textiles, industrial graphics, wood, manufacturing and ceramics. We have specifically monitored exposure to ELF magnetic field values for 400 workers belonging to 80 different areas chosen among those for which an exposure could be supposed. Results have been compared to the action values indicated in the 2004/40/CE directive. Used instrumentation includes a Wandel & Goltermann EFA 300 portable field analyser with B-Field Sensor isotropic spectrum analyzer for electric and magnetic field with 5 Hz to 32 kHz bandwidth. Technical rules follow CEI 211-6 Jan-2001. All measurements have been performed in continuous within two working shifts, setting the instrument to make acquisitions every five minutes. Data have been then processed to obtain RMS values of the magnetic field per each work shift. Values found have not shown any exceeding of the action values: more specifically, 90% of values was below it (500 microT) and 70% of the monitored jobs shows an occupational exposure below 0.4 microT, which is the possible threshold proposed for the man chronic effects of ELF magnetic fields based on data coming from some epidemiological studies.
d'Angelo
R
R
Contarp, INAIL, Direzione Regionale per la Campania.
Russo
E
E
Attaianese
L
L
Niutta
F
F
D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*