title: The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on pregnancy and fetal growth, and development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and its effects at different frequencies on living beings has been investigated for decades. However, there are fewer studies that have been conducted on humans, thus this study aims to determine the effect of extremely low frequency (ELF) -EMFs on pregnancy, fetal growth and development in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this epidemiologic analytical cohort study, cases included pregnant women and their newborns. There were 222 women exposed to ELF-EMFs from high voltage electricity towers and cables during pregnancy and 158 women who had no exposure during pregnancy. Data that included pregnancy duration, neonatal birth weight, length, head circumference, gender and congenital malformations were collected through direct questions, measurements and referral to the registered data of related hospital or health center documents. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS-16. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found in pregnancy duration and preterm labor, neonatal birth weight, length, head circumference and congenital malformations in the two studied groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the results of this study have shown no significant effects of ELF-EMFs on human pregnancy, fetal growth and development, taking precautionary measures to reduce exposure to EMFs by pregnant women seems logical. Conducting similar studies is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Qazvin, Iran. drmahram@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manoochehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahram
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghazavi
mesh_terms: D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000528:radiation effects*