Investigating the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on job burnout syndrome and the severity of depression; the role of oxidative stress

Abstract

Investigating the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on job burnout syndrome and the severity of depression; the role of oxidative stress Majid Bagheri Hosseinabadi, Narges Khanjani, Mohammad Hossein Ebrahimi, Seyed Habib Mousavi, Fereshteh Nazarkhani. Investigating the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on job burnout syndrome and the severity of depression; the role of oxidative stress. J Occup Health. 2020 Jan;62(1):e12136. doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12136. Abstract Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on occupational burnout syndrome and the severity of depression experienced among thermal power plant workers and the role of oxidative stress. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 115 power plant workers and 124 administrative personnel of a hospital were enrolled as exposed and unexposed groups, respectively, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), and total antioxidant capacity were measured in serum samples. Exposure to electric and magnetic fields was measured using the IEEE Std C95.3.1 standard at each workstation. The burnout syndrome and the severity of depression were assessed using the Maslach Burnout and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The levels of MDA and SOD were significantly lower in the exposed group than the unexposed group. The exposed group reported a higher prevalence of burnout syndrome and higher depression severity. Multiple linear regression showed that work experience, MDA level, and levels of exposure to magnetic fields are the most important predictor variables for burnout syndrome and severity of depression. In addition, a decrease in the level of Cat was significantly associated with increased burnout syndrome. Conclusion: The thermal power plant workers exposed to ELF-EMFs are at risk of burnout syndrome and depression. These effects may be caused directly by exposure to magnetic fields or indirectly due to increased oxidative stress indices. Open access paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with the unexposed group, the exposed group had significantly lower MDA and SOD levels and reported higher prevalence of burnout syndrome and higher depression severity. In multiple linear regression, work experience, MDA level, and magnetic field exposure level were reported as the most important predictors of burnout syndrome and depression severity; decreased catalase was significantly associated with increased burnout syndrome.

Outcomes measured

• Job burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory)
• Depression severity (Beck Depression Inventory)
• Oxidative stress biomarkers in serum (MDA, SOD, catalase, total antioxidant capacity)
• Workstation electric and magnetic field exposure levels (IEEE Std C95.3.1 measurements)

Limitations

• Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
• Exposed and unexposed groups drawn from different workplaces/occupations (thermal power plant vs hospital administrative personnel), which may introduce confounding

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Study compares occupationally exposed power plant workers to an unexposed occupational group and measures workplace electric/magnetic fields.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "occupational (thermal power plant)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Thermal power plant workers (exposed) and hospital administrative personnel (unexposed)",
    "sample_size": 239,
    "outcomes": [
        "Job burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory)",
        "Depression severity (Beck Depression Inventory)",
        "Oxidative stress biomarkers in serum (MDA, SOD, catalase, total antioxidant capacity)",
        "Workstation electric and magnetic field exposure levels (IEEE Std C95.3.1 measurements)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with the unexposed group, the exposed group had significantly lower MDA and SOD levels and reported higher prevalence of burnout syndrome and higher depression severity. In multiple linear regression, work experience, MDA level, and magnetic field exposure level were reported as the most important predictors of burnout syndrome and depression severity; decreased catalase was significantly associated with increased burnout syndrome.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Exposed and unexposed groups drawn from different workplaces/occupations (thermal power plant vs hospital administrative personnel), which may introduce confounding"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "occupational exposure",
        "thermal power plant",
        "magnetic fields",
        "electric fields",
        "burnout",
        "depression",
        "oxidative stress",
        "malondialdehyde",
        "superoxide dismutase",
        "catalase",
        "total antioxidant capacity"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study compares occupationally exposed power plant workers to an unexposed occupational group and measures workplace electric/magnetic fields."
        }
    ]
}

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