Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in radio and TV broadcasting stations workers

• Authors: Alicja Bortkiewicz , Elżbieta Gadzicka , Wiesław Szymczak , Marek Zmyślony

Abstracts

EN

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the mechanism of cardiovascular impairments in workers exposed to UHF-VHF radio frequency electromagnetic fi elds (EMF). Materials and Methods: Heart rate variability (HRV) was analysed using 512 normal heart beats registered at rest. The analysis concerned time-domain (STD R-R) and frequencydomain (VLF, LF, HF) parameters of HRV. Fifty nine workers (group I) with low-level and 12 workers (group II) with highlevel exposure were examined. The mean age of the subjects was 47±9 years and 41±14 years, and mean exposure duration 19.1±8.8 years and 13±4 years, in groups I and II, respectively. The groups were divided according to: $\text{E}_\text{max}$, $\text{E}_\text{dose}$, $\text{E}_\text{mean}$ for frequencies UHF, VHF and UHF+VHF: The control group consisted of 42 non-exposed subjects, aged 49±8 years. Statistical analysis comprised one-way analysis of variance, covariance analysis and logistic regression models. Results: In the exposed groups, the heart rate was higher than in the control one. Standard deviation of R-R intervals (STD R-R) was found to be signifi cantly (p = 0.0285) lower in group I (42.5±24.7 ms) compared to the control group (62.9±53.5 ms). The risk of lowered STD R-R was signifi cantly increased (OR = 2.37, p = 0.023) in group II. Both exposed groups presented signifi cantly higher VLF and LF values than the control group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.0025, respectively). The EMF-exposed groups were characterised by the dominance of the sympathetic system (LF/HF 1.3±0.35). Conclusions: The results indicate that exposure to radiofrequency EMF may affect the neurovegetative regulation.

Keywords

EN

radio-frequency electromagnetic fields; heart rate variability; autonomic regulation; broadcasting stations workers

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 446-455

Dates

published

2012

Contributors

author

Alicja Bortkiewicz

• Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

author

Elżbieta Gadzicka

• Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

author

Wiesław Szymczak

• Department of Psychological Research Methodology and Statistics, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland

author

Marek Zmyślony

• Department of Radiological Protection, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-012-0059-x

Biblioteka Nauki

2180072