Title: Occupational exposure to magnetic fields and the risk of somatic and psychological symptoms among sewing machine operators

Authors: Hamed Jalilian; Omid Gorjizadeh; Zahra Zamanian; Zeynab Hajizadeh; Martin Röösli; Mohammad Reza Monazzam; Mohammadreza Najimi

Addresses: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Roohallah Square, P.O. Box: 3715614566, Qom, Iran ' Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7134814336, Shiraz, Iran ' Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7134814336, Shiraz, Iran ' Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7134814336, Shiraz, Iran ' Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland ' Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ' Marvdasht Health Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7134814336, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and static magnetic fields (SMF) and their relationship to health problems among tailors. Totally, 71 male tailors (exposure group) and 60 male clothing retailers (control group) participated in the study and completed three questionnaires. ELF-MF and SMF were measured in four levels of body organs in three states of sewing machine by two instruments. A significant risk for somatic symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.58; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.02, 2.46), sleep disorders (OR: 1.68; 95%CI: 1.04, 2.78), dizziness (OR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.00, 2.85), and fatigue (OR: 1.67; 95%CI: 1.00, 2.85) were observed. The tailors occupationally were exposed to 1.78 μT ELF-MF and less than 0.1 mT SMF on average. The tailors were more likely to have somatic and psychological disorders. Long term ELFMF exposure might be a potential cause for these problems.

Keywords: occupational exposure; magnetic fields; tailor; somatic symptoms; psychological symptoms; electric motor; general health; extremely low frequency; dress maker; cumulative exposure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2019.108672

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2019 Vol.9 No.4, pp.327 - 342

Received: 07 Dec 2019
Accepted: 09 Jan 2020
Published online: 24 Jul 2020 *

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