Assessment of cortisol secretory pattern in workers chronically exposed to ELF-EMF generated by high voltage transmission lines and substation

{
    "publication_year": 2022,
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": 5.00000000000000023960868011929647991564706899225711822509765625e-5,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Chronic exposure for 1–20 years; personal monitoring day and night for 7 days"
    },
    "population": "Male workers in extra-high voltage (EHV) substations (mean age 38.0 ± 0.9 years) and age-matched unexposed controls",
    "sample_size": 29,
    "outcomes": [
        "Serum cortisol concentrations",
        "Cortisol secretory pattern (including peak-time levels)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a comparison between controls (n=15) and workers grouped by magnetic field exposure (0.1–0.3 µT, n=5; >0.3 µT, n=9), the authors report a significant effect of field intensity on the cortisol secretory pattern. The study reports a decline in peak-time serum cortisol concentration in chronically exposed workers.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (14 exposed workers)",
        "Only men were studied",
        "Exposure assessment reported for one week, while exposure history spans 1–20 years",
        "Outcome sampling limited to overnight period (20:00–08:00)",
        "Potential confounding factors are not described in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "stance": "concern",
    "stance_confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "summary": "This study examined whether chronic occupational exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF in extra-high voltage substation workers is associated with changes in cortisol secretion. Personal magnetic-field measurements over seven days (geometric mean 0.1–2.6 µT) were used to classify exposure, and hourly blood samples were collected overnight. Compared with age-matched controls with much lower exposure, field intensity was reported to significantly affect cortisol secretory pattern, including a decline in peak-time cortisol in exposed workers.",
    "key_points": [
        "The study evaluated 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure in 14 male EHV substation workers with 1–20 years of exposure history.",
        "Magnetic field exposure was measured with Emdex dosimeters worn day and night for seven days, with a one-week geometric mean of 0.1–2.6 µT.",
        "Controls (n=15) were age-matched and reported to have exposure levels ten times lower than workers.",
        "Blood was sampled hourly from 20:00 to 08:00 to assess overnight cortisol secretion patterns.",
        "Cortisol secretory pattern differed by exposure intensity when comparing controls to workers exposed to 0.1–0.3 µT and >0.3 µT.",
        "The authors report a decline in peak-time cortisol concentration in chronically exposed workers and call for further studies in high-risk populations."
    ],
    "categories": [
        "Occupational Exposure",
        "Power Lines & Substations",
        "Endocrine Effects",
        "ELF (Extremely Low Frequency)"
    ],
    "tags": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "Occupational Exposure",
        "Extra-High Voltage Substation",
        "High-Voltage Transmission Lines",
        "Magnetic Field Dosimetry",
        "Emdex Dosimeter",
        "Cortisol",
        "HPA Axis",
        "Circadian Rhythm",
        "Chronic Exposure"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "extremely-low frequency electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "extra-high voltage substations",
        "high voltage transmission lines",
        "magnetic field strength",
        "dosimeter",
        "Emdex",
        "cortisol",
        "secretory pattern",
        "hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis",
        "chronic exposure"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Study population is workers in extra-high voltage substations with chronic occupational ELF-EMF exposure."
        },
        {
            "slug": "power-lines",
            "weight": 0.8000000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Exposure source includes high-voltage transmission lines and substations."
        }
    ],
    "social": {
        "tweet": "Study of 14 EHV substation workers (50 Hz ELF-EMF) with 1–20 years exposure found field intensity was linked to altered overnight cortisol secretion patterns, including reduced peak-time cortisol vs age-matched controls. More research in high-risk groups was recommended.",
        "facebook": "Researchers measured 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure in extra-high voltage substation workers and collected hourly overnight blood samples. Compared with age-matched controls, exposure intensity was reported to significantly affect cortisol secretion patterns, including reduced peak-time cortisol in chronically exposed workers.",
        "linkedin": "In an occupational study of extra-high voltage substation workers, personal 50 Hz magnetic-field monitoring (0.1–2.6 µT geometric mean over 7 days) and hourly overnight blood sampling suggested exposure intensity was associated with changes in cortisol secretory pattern, including reduced peak-time cortisol vs controls. Further studies were recommended."
    }
}

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