Job Stress among Workers Exposed to Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields in a Combined Cycle Power Plant

Sara  Ebrahimzadeh Abarghoee; Gholam Hossein  Halvani; Fatemeh  Kargar-Shouroki; Hamideh  Mihanpour; Farzan  Madadizadeh

doi:10.18502/jehsd.v7i2.9785

Sara Ebrahimzadeh Abarghoee Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Gholam Hossein Halvani Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Fatemeh Kargar-Shouroki Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Hamideh Mihanpour Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Genetic and Environmental Adventures Research Center, Faculty of Paramedicine of Abarkouh, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Farzan Madadizadeh Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jehsd.v7i2.9785

Keywords: Occupational Stress, Electromagnetic Fields, Shift Work Schedule, Power Plants.

Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to the low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) is very common in workers occupied in the combined cycle power plant during work shifts The present study aimed to measure ELF-EMF flux density among shift and non-shift workers, determine job stress among workers and office workers, and identify major factors associated with job stress in the studied groups.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the exposed group was divided into 75 shift workers and 75 non-shift workers. Seventy-five office workers were selected as the reference group. The participants’ exposure to ELF-EMF was measured by the EMF-828 device. In addition, Osipow Occupational Stress Questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ stress levels.

Results: Maximum levels of ELF-EMF among shift workers, non-shift workers, and office workers were 28.67 μT, 23.43 μT, and 0.06 μT, respectively. Although the explosion rate to ELF-EMF was higher in the shift and non-shift workers than the office one's, this rate in both of them were lower than the recommended limit as suggested by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The highest stress score was related to shift workers exposed to ELF-EMF, in which 42.7% of them experienced moderate to high levels of job stress. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed a significant association between shift work and exposure to ELF-EMF with increased stress.

Conclusion: The findings suggested that exposure to ELF-EMF, even at low intensities, is associated with increased stress. Moreover, Shift work is another risk factor for stress.