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No association between occupational exposure to ELF magnetic field and urinary 6‐sulfatoximelatonin in workers
Author(s) -
Gobba Fabriziomaria,
Bravo Giulia,
Scaringi Meri,
Roccatto Luigi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20254
Subject(s) - occupational exposure , urine , morning , melatonin , medicine , toxicology , environmental health , biology
A suppression in melatonin secretion is one of the mechanisms proposed to explain the possible adverse effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MF), but the results of research are inconclusive. This study investigated the effect of occupational ELF‐MF exposure on 6‐sulfatoximelatonin (6‐OHMS). Exposure was monitored for three complete work shifts in 59 workers using personal exposure meters. Environmental exposure was also evaluated. Urinary 6‐OHMS in morning samples, an indicator of night‐time melatonin production, was measured. Urine was collected twice on Friday and the following Monday. Workers were classified according to ELF exposure as low exposed (≤0.2 µT) or higher exposed (>0.2 µT): 6‐OHMS did not differ between groups ( P > .05) in either Friday or Monday urine samples. In addition, 6‐OHMS was not related to exposure under multivariate analysis. The ratio between 6‐OHMS in Monday versus Friday samples was also calculated to test the hypothesis of a possible variation in pineal function after 2 days, interruption of occupational ELF‐MF exposure: again no exposure‐related difference was observed. Our results do not support the hypothesis that occupational exposure to ELF‐MF significantly influences melatonin secretion. Bioelectromagnetics 27:667–673, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.