Wang Zhaopin, Fei Ying, Liu Hui, Zheng Shuangshuang, Ding Zheyuan, Jin Wen, Pan Yifeng, Chen Zexin, Wang Lijuan, Chen Guangdi, Xu Zhengping, Zhu Yongjian, Yu Yunxian
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu-Hang-Tang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
Chronic Disease Research Institute, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016 Jan;89(1):33-42. doi: 10.1007/s00420-015-1049-7. Epub 2015 Mar 26.
The potential health risks of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have currently raised considerable public concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of EMF exposure on levels of plasma hormonal and inflammatory pathway biomarkers in male workers of an electric power plant.
Seventy-seven male workers with high occupational EMF exposure and 77 male controls with low exposure, matched by age, were selected from a cross-sectional study. Moreover, high EMF exposure group was with walkie-talkies usage and exposed to power frequency EMF at the work places for a longer duration than control group. A questionnaire was applied to obtain relevant information, including sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and EMF exposures. Plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol, melatonin, NF-κB, heat-shock protein (HSP) 70, HSP27, and TET1 were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
EMF exposure group had statistically significantly lower levels of testosterone (β = -0.3 nmol/L, P = 0.015), testosterone/estradiol (T/E2) ratio (β = -15.6, P = 0.037), and NF-κB (β = -20.8 ng/L, P = 0.045) than control group. Moreover, joint effects between occupational EMF exposure and employment duration, mobile phone fees, years of mobile phone usage, and electric fees on levels of testosterone and T/E2 ratio were observed. Nevertheless, no statistically significant associations of EMF exposures with plasma estradiol, melatonin, HSP70, HSP27, and TET1 were found.
The findings showed that chronic exposure to EMF could decrease male plasma testosterone and T/E2 ratio, and it might possibly affect reproductive functions in males. No significant associations of EMF exposure with inflammatory pathway biomarkers were found.
电磁场（EMF）潜在的健康风险目前已引起公众的广泛关注。本研究旨在评估暴露于EMF对一家发电厂男性工人血浆激素和炎症途径生物标志物水平的影响。
从一项横断面研究中选取77名职业性EMF高暴露男性工人和77名年龄匹配的低暴露男性对照。此外，高EMF暴露组使用对讲机，在工作场所暴露于工频EMF的时间比对照组更长。应用问卷调查获取相关信息，包括社会人口学特征、生活方式因素和EMF暴露情况。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法测定血浆睾酮、雌二醇、褪黑素、核因子κB（NF-κB）、热休克蛋白（HSP）70、HSP27和TET1的水平。
EMF暴露组的睾酮水平（β = -0.3 nmol/L，P = 0.015）、睾酮/雌二醇（T/E2）比值（β = -15.6，P = 0.037）和NF-κB水平（β = -20.8 ng/L，P = 0.045）在统计学上显著低于对照组。此外，观察到职业性EMF暴露与就业时长、手机费用支付、手机使用年限以及电费对睾酮水平和T/E2比值存在联合效应。然而，未发现EMF暴露与血浆雌二醇、褪黑素、HSP70、HSP27和TET1之间存在统计学上的显著关联。
研究结果表明，长期暴露于EMF可降低男性血浆睾酮水平和T/E2比值，可能影响男性生殖功能。未发现EMF暴露与炎症途径生物标志物之间存在显著关联。
