Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the exposure levels of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELFMF),anxiety and depression status of welders in Baoshan District.
Methods A total of 81 welders from 4 factories in Baoshan District were chosen.Their data of 8 h exposure to ELFMF being collected by EMDEX-LITE personal samplers.Personal information and activities being collected by the questionnaires.Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were adopted to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of welders.
Results The subjects under study were composed of 67 males and 14 females,aged from 19 to 53.The median and interquartile range (IQR) of cumulative exposure levels over 8 h were 15.49 μT/h and 23.01μT/h,respectively.Portion of 35.8% welders investigated had a median transient exposure level higher than 0.4μT.The average cumulative exposure levels of the welders were significantly higher than those in the control population of college students.The peak exposure of all welders was found during welding.There was no significant difference in total SDS standard scores in welders compared with national norms while total SAS standard scores in welders were significantly higher;however,neither of them had reached the criteria for cognition of anxiety (depression).The total SDS standard scores showed a positive correlation with age (r=0.256,P<0.05).
Conclusion The results of investigation show that welding work is closely associated with the exposure of ELFMF,and there is no sufficient indication shown this exposure is correlated significantly to the increase of the incidence of anxiety or depression among welders.
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