Effects of exposure to 16.7 Hz magnetic fields on urinary 6‐hydroxymelatonin sulfate excretion of Swiss railway workers

Abstract: The aim of our study was to examine the effects of 16.7 Hz electromagnetic‐field exposure on pineal melatonin production in healthy humans. The study was based on comparing urinary 6‐hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6‐OHMS) levels of 108 male railway workers between leisure periods and days following the start of service on electrically powered engines (66 engineers) or working beneath transmission lines (42 railway employees such as train attendants and station managers; controls). A repeated measures design was used, i.e., each volunteer served as his own control. The exposure averaged 20 μTesla in the most exposed workers and around 1 μTesla in the least exposed. Apart from magnetic exposure the workers were subject to a shift work schedule with daily advances between 15 min and 1 hr. Melatonin was assessed by sampling urinary 6‐OHMS both in the morning and the early evening.

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