Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Hossein Ali Yousefi Rizi
• Habibolah Dehghan

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to survey the health problems caused by exposure to high-voltage facility radiation. Materials and Methods: Sampling included workers exposed to electromagnetic fields at high-voltage facilities. The strength of the electric and magnetic fields was determined by a field meter. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of subjective and psychological symptoms. Statistical descriptive used and data analyzed by a Student's t-tests. Results: This study indicates that increased symptoms among the exposed workers including depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, inter-sensitivity, and obsession-compulsion. Some of the self-reported symptoms were, headache (53.5%), fatigue (35.6%), difficulties in concentration (32.5%), vertigo/dizziness (30.4%), attention disorders (28.8%), nervousness (28.1%), and palpitations (14.7%). A significant relationship was observed between the exposure to the electromagnetic field and psychological symptoms (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Radiation of high-voltage facilities probably increased the risk of mental disorders and intensified them in susceptible workers, especially depression. This finding confirmed the results obtained in provocative studies that indicated an increase in the risk of psychological symptoms, which was put forth by several investigators Observation of occupational health and other control measures play an important role in decreasing the symptoms.

Keywords

• Electromagnetic fields
• high-voltage facilities
• non-ionizing radiation
• psychological symptoms