Cardiovascular evaluation of electronic control device exposure in law enforcement trainees: a multisite study.
OBJECTIVE
Occupational health risk with regard to training exercises is a relatively under studied domain for law enforcement officers. One potential health risk is exposure to electronic control devices (ECDs).


METHODS
Seven different training facilities in six states participated. Law enforcement trainees (N = 118) were exposed to Taser International's (Scottsdale, AZ) X26 for up to 5 seconds.


RESULTS
There was no evidence of cardiac or skeletal muscle breakdown. Exposure did not adversely affect electrocardiogram (ECG) morphology obtained 24 hours after exposure in 99 trainees. For two trainees with preexisting ECG abnormalities, ECG morphology differed in the post-ECD samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this large, multisite study suggest that, for most trainees, ECD exposure does not represent a significant health risk. Further investigation is warranted for cardiac vulnerability and potential interactions with ECD exposure.
Stress and Motivated Behavior Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA. vanmeekm@umdnj.edu
Kirsten M
KM
VanMeenen
Neil S
NS
Cherniack
Michael T
MT
Bergen
Lisa A
LA
Gleason
Ronald
R
Teichman
Richard J
RJ
Servatius
D000328:Adult; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D052276:Creatine Kinase, BB Form / Q000097:blood; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood; D052283:Creatine Kinase, MM Form / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016495:Police / Q000193:education; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance; D055815:Young Adult
D019210:Troponin I; D052276:Creatine Kinase, BB Form; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form; D052283:Creatine Kinase, MM Form