A Source-based Measurement Database for Occupational Exposure Assessment of Electromagnetic Fields in the INTEROCC Study: A Literature Review Approach.
BACKGROUND
To date, occupational exposure assessment of electromagnetic fields (EMF) has relied on occupation-based measurements and exposure estimates. However, misclassification due to between-worker variability remains an unsolved challenge. A source-based approach, supported by detailed subject data on determinants of exposure, may allow for a more individualized exposure assessment. Detailed information on the use of occupational sources of exposure to EMF was collected as part of the INTERPHONE-INTEROCC study. To support a source-based exposure assessment effort within this study, this work aimed to construct a measurement database for the occupational sources of EMF exposure identified, assembling available measurements from the scientific literature.


METHODS
First, a comprehensive literature search was performed for published and unpublished documents containing exposure measurements for the EMF sources identified, a priori as well as from answers of study subjects. Then, the measurements identified were assessed for quality and relevance to the study objectives. Finally, the measurements selected and complementary information were compiled into an Occupational Exposure Measurement Database (OEMD).


RESULTS
Currently, the OEMD contains 1624 sets of measurements (>3000 entries) for 285 sources of EMF exposure, organized by frequency band (0 Hz to 300 GHz) and dosimetry type. Ninety-five documents were selected from the literature (almost 35% of them are unpublished technical reports), containing measurements which were considered informative and valid for our purpose. Measurement data and complementary information collected from these documents came from 16 different countries and cover the time period between 1974 and 2013.


CONCLUSIONS
We have constructed a database with measurements and complementary information for the most common sources of exposure to EMF in the workplace, based on the responses to the INTERPHONE-INTEROCC study questionnaire. This database covers the entire EMF frequency range and represents the most comprehensive resource of information on occupational EMF exposure. It is available at www.crealradiation.com/index.php/en/databases.
1.Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; 2.Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; 3.CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; jvila@creal.cat.
Javier
J
Vila
4.National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH, USA;
Joseph D
JD
Bowman
5.University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada;
Lesley
L
Richardson
6.Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis, OR, USA;
Laurel
L
Kincl
Dave L
DL
Conover
7.Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand;
Dave
D
McLean
8.Public Health England (PHE), Chilton, UK;
Simon
S
Mann
9.National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy;
Paolo
P
Vecchia
10.Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, UK.
Martie
M
van Tongeren
1.Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; 2.Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; 3.CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain;
Elisabeth
E
Cardis
D016208:Databases, Factual; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011834:Radiation Monitoring
EMF sources; electromagnetic fields; exposure database; literature review