• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 1997

This study was executed for the purpose of investigation of the EMFs exposures of personal and electronic environment. This study examines ELF-EMFs of electric appliances, subways and occupational and non-occupational human exposures, using EMDEX II (for 40 - 800Hz, Enertech Consultant, Inc.), from October 1995 to March 1996. Among the electric appliances examined, a massage unit showed the highest mean value of 247.07 $\mu$T, followed by an electric blanket of 5.24 $\mu$T. Indoor levels of EMF in subways exceerlcd 0.2 $\mu$T of the Swedish Guideline. The mean personal exposure levels of occupational group were 0.18 $\mu$T, while the personal EMF level of non-occupational group were 0.07 $\mu$T. Occupational group were exposed more highly while at work. However, the EMF levels during nonwork and sleep exposures between occuptional group and nonoccupational group were about the same. Estimates of time-intergrated exposure indicated that utility-specipic job classifications received about one-half or more of their total exposure on the job. Finally, this study would provide significant data for future research for exposure to magnetic fields, and more detailed study and research are necessary.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.146-154
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• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the workers' exposure level to electromagnetic field(EMF) in accordance with the VDT arrangement in the work place and distance from VDT. Author compared the exposure strength of EMF in line group(workers exposed to EMF from both front and back side) and in shielding group(workers exposed to EMF exclusively from front side). The levels of EMF at 30cm and 50cm from front side and at 30cm from back side of VDT were also measured. The result were as follows: 1. Mean distance between a monitor and a worker in shielding group ($47.7{\pm}8.7cm$) significantly longer than that in line group($44.3{\pm}7.2cm$). Strength of EMF in shielding group [$1.3{\pm}0.7V/m$ (electric field) and $18.2{\pm}11.5mA/m$ (magnetic field) were lower than in line group [$1.4{\pm}0.6V/m$ and $26.6{\pm}11.6mA/m$, respectively] at the workers' position. 2. The strength of EMF was decreased with the distance from VDT. The strength at 70cm from VDT was nearly the same as the background strength in the ordinary office rooms. 3. Working distance from 9 inch monitor was significantly shorter than that from 14 inch and wider sized monitors. 4. The strength of EMF in extremely low frequency spectrum of color monitors was higher then that of black and white monitor. 5. Metal coated filters significantly decreased the electric field strength of EMF when earth line was connected. Metallic shield was effectively decreased the EMF strength from VDT, but wooden shield was not. From the above results, line type arrangement of VDT in the work place using metallic shield at the back side of VDT, and metal coated filter to monitor with application of earth line were recommended. It is also recommended to maintain workers position to be 60cm or more distance from monitor and 140cm or more between VDTs for minimizing workers' exposure to EMF.

• 한국전자파학회논문지
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.843-852
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• 2017

최근 WHO IARC에서 무선주파수 전자파를 발암 유발 가능 물질(2B 등급)으로 분류함에 따라 전자파로부터의 과다노출로 인한 건강 영향에 대한 우려가 증가하고 있다. 특히 직업인의 경우는 일반인에 비해 전자파에 더 많이 노출될 수밖에 없는 환경에서 근무하게 된다. 이로 인해 유럽에서는 직업인에 대한 전자파 인체보호를 위한 지침을 마련하여 직업인에 대해 엄격히 관리하고 있다. 본 논문에서는 EU의 직업인 보호 관련 법령, 표준 및 지침을 분석하고, 또한 실제 아크용접에 대한 직업인 전자파 노출 평가를 수행하였다. 이를 토대로 직업인 보호를 위한 국내 제도 도입 방안을 제시하였다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.220-227
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• 2005

Recently, the use of an electrical apparatus has brought up concerns of health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields. EMF is composed of electric fields and magnetic fields. Heavy exposure to EMF can occur only in the vicinity of high-voltage overhead transmission lines, close to transformers and underground cables, and also close to large electrical machinery. In this thesis I have investigated the hypothesis of the correlation between occupational exposure to ELF-EMF and the risks of leukemia, anemia, cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether or not ELF-EMF emitted from electric power stations and transformer substations affect some hematological parameters and tumor markers of electric utility workers. The hematological test results and tumor markers under investigation were similar in the two groups but some of parameters such as RBC, AFP, LDH showed significant difference between the two groups from two sample t-test (p<0.05). The exposure group showed increased LDH level compared to the control group by two sample t-tests. In addition, the abnormal LDH level in the exposure group was observed to be clinically significant by ${\chi}^2$-test. However, the levels of RBC, AFP observed were not clinically significant by ${\chi}^2$-test (p>0.05). These results suggested that ELF-EMF does not affect most blood test parameters except LDH of electric utility workers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.398-402
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• 2007

Abstract Female mice post weaning were exposed to 20 kHz sawtooth electric and magnetic fields (EMF) with $6.25{\mu}T$ peak intensity for 6 weeks. Estrous cycles were checked using vaginal smears over the last 10 days of the experimental period. The vaginal smears from EMF-exposed mice revealed an increase in the frequency of one or two phases persisting. The number of estrous cycles less than 1 was more in the EMF-exposed group than in the sham control group. Furthermore, in the EMF-exposed group, the duration of proestrous and metestrous stages of the estrous cycle was significantly increased compared with the control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that exposure to 20 kHz sawtooth EMF may affect normal cycling of the estrous cycle by disrupting the female reproductive endocrine physiology. We should not disregard the possible adverse reproductive effect of the 20 kHz sawtooth EMF generated under the occupational exposure situation in females.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.313-317
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• 2011

The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and cellular function in RBL 2H3 cells were investigated. Exposure to EMF (60 Hz, 0.1 or 1 mT) for 4 or 16 h did not produce any cytotoxic effects in RBL 2H3 cells. Melittin, ionomycin and thapsigargin each dose-dependently increased the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. The increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ induced by these three agents was not affected by exposure to EMF (60 Hz, 1 mT) for 4 or 16 h in RBL 2H3 cells. To investigate the effect of EMF on exocytosis, we measured beta-hexosaminidase release in RBL 2H3 cells. Basal release of beta-hexosaminidase was $12.3{\pm}2.3%$ in RBL 2H3 cells. Exposure to EMF (60 Hz, 0.1 or 1 mT) for 4 or 16 h did not affect the basal or $1{\mu}m$ melittin-induced beta-hexosaminidase release in RBL 2H3 cells. This study suggests that exposure to EMF (60 Hz, 0.1 or 1 mT), which is the limit of occupational exposure, has no influence on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and cellular function in RBL 2H3 cells.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.130-135
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• 1997

A pilot study was undertaken to examine the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). An experimental study was performed for two weeks of preexposure, exposure, postexposure period of February-May 1997 to determine changes in melatonin levels in urine of five volunteers before or after exposure to electric mattress during their normal sleeping hours. An urine sample was collected at about 8 a.m. right after getting up from each volunteer. Average melatonin levels seemed to be 1.6 times lower during EMF exposure period for two weeks than the corresponding levels during preexposure period. Mean melatonin levels in postexposure period were lower than the corresponding levels in preexposure period. It suggested that melatonin levels were likely to take more two weeks for recovering the preexposure melatonin level. Further research is underway with regard to EMF exposure effects on melatonin levels between occupational and nonoccupational groups.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2000

Wire codes, introduced by Wertheimer and Leeper, are interesting largely because several case-control studies have reported associations between them and certain types of cancers, including childhood leukemia. This paper is concerned with the reliability of wire codes as a surrogate for residential electric and magnetic field, divided into four categories based on the electrical wiring within 40m of homes. To examine the correlation between spot measurements and wire codes, EMF was measured by using HI-3604 and classified by wire codes. The correlation between long-transformed RMS of magnetic field and wire codes was 0.81. But the correlation between log-transformed RMS of electric field and wire codes was 0.27. The results led us to determine a four category from of the Wertheimer and Leeper code that 1) may be useful in domestic epidemiological studies and 2) is not suitable for electric field exposure. Thus, the critical point of exposure assessment in residential magnetic field is to classify a wire code precisely.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.427-433
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on signal pathway in plasma membrane of cultured cells (RAW 264.7 cells and RBL 2H3 cells), by measuring the activity of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD). The cells were exposed to the EMF (60 Hz, 0.1 or 1 mT) for 4 or 16 h. The basal and $0.5\;{\mu}M$ melittin-induced arachidonic acid release was not affected by EMF in both cells. In cell-free $PLA_2$ assay, we failed to observe tbe change of $cPLA_2$ and $sPLA_2$ activity. Also both PLC and PLD activities did not show any change in the two cell lines exposed to EMF. This study suggests that the exposure condition of EMF (60 Hz, 0.1 or 1 mT) which is 2.4 fold higher than the limit of occupational exposure does not induce phospholipases-associated signal pathway in RAW 264.7 cells and RBL 2H3 cells.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.381-392
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• 2022

Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.