Exposition de la population française aux champs magnétiques 50 Hz : résultats partiels

Les champs magnétiques (CM) alternatifs de fréquence 50 Hz, liés à l'électricité en particulier, sont suspectés depuis une trentaine d'années d'être responsables de pathologies, notamment de leucémies chez l'enfant [1]. Les dernières expertises collectives (OMS 2007, SCENHIR 2009) ont conclu que la dernière grande interrogation en ce qui concerne les CM basse fréquence est l'association statistique observée dans plusieurs analyses conjointes entre l'augmentation du risque de leucémie de l'enfant et une exposition aux CM supérieure à 0,4 μT en valeur moyenne sur 24 h [2]. Actuellement, l'exposition de la population française à ces champs n'est connue que de manière très approximative. Une étude effectuée dans le département de la Côte d'Or sur des logements situés à proximité de lignes à haute et très haute tension a permis d'évaluer les expositions à l'intérieur de ces logements [3]. Mais, d'une part il s'agit d'un faible échantillon compte tenu de la diversité du parc de logements en France, d'autre part, il s'agit d'une exposition du logement et non des personnes. En effet, tout un chacun est exposé à de nombreuses sources de champ magnétique du simple fait qu'on ne reste pas chez soi 24 heures sur 24. Les transports, en particulier, représentent des sources d'exposition significatives, mais d'autres lieux de vie peuvent constituer des sources d'exposition, que ce soit le lieu de travail, le terrain de sport, le centre commercial ou l'école. Dans le cas où le CM supérieur 0,4 μT en moyenne représenterait un risque pour la santé, comment estimer la proportion de la population française à risque et identifier les sources favorisant l'exposition ? Pour répondre à cette question, la Direction Générale de la Santé a initié une étude sur l'exposition aux CM 50 Hz d'un échantillon représentatif de la population française. Une des problématiques de cette étude a été de réaliser cet échantillon et de collecter toutes les informations nécessaires. Pour réaliser cette étude, le recrutement des volontaires et les mesures du CM ont été effectués en trois campagnes. Nous présentons les résultats des deux premières campagnes

French population exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields : intermediate results

International audienceFor the last thirty years, the electricity related 50 Hz magnetic fields (MF) have been suspected of being responsible for several pathologies, in particular childhood leukemia [1]. The most recent collective expertise (WHO 2007 and SCENHIR 2009) concluded that the last major interrogation with regard to low frequency MF is the statistical association observed in several joint analyses between the increase of risk of the childhood leukemia and a higher than 0.4 μT exposure to MF on average in a 24-hour period [2]. Currently, the exposure of the French population to these magnetic fields is only approximately known. A study carried out in residences located near high voltage power lines in the "département1 de la Côte d'Or" made it possible to assess the MF background level inside these residences [3]. However, these residences are a limited sample compared to the diversity of the housing developments in France and the study characterized the exposure of the houses and not of the resident people. We are all exposed to many sources of magnetic fields due the fact that we do not remain at home 24 hours a day. Transportation in particular, significantly contributes to the individual exposure. Other places or activities can also constitute sources of exposure such as the workplace, sport activity areas, shopping centers or schools. Should the MF in excess to 0.4 μT on average carry health risk, would the authorities be able to manage it, i.e. estimate the proportion of the French population at risk and identify and mitigate the main sources causing the exposure? To answer this question the Ministry of Health and Solidarities initiated a study on the exposure of a representative sample of the French population to 50 Hz MF. The major issues of this study were to select randomly a representative sample and to collect all of necessary data. Measurements were performed in three campaigns at winter time (October to April). The present paper gives the results of the two first campaigns

50-60 Hz magnetic fields and cancer, forty years of research: it is time to reassure

In 1979, an epidemiological study carried out in Denver, Colorado first suggested that very weak alternating magnetic fields arising from electrical lines around houses was associated with an increased risk of cancer in children. The potential impact on public health was high, considering the fact that exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields is omnipresent. All power transmission and distribution networks, domestic and industrial wiring, and all kinds of electrical equipment give off magnetic fields. The hypothesis was taken seriously and substantial research budgets have been devoted not only to answering the important question raised by this study but more broadly to identify all other potential health effects of magnetic fields. Since 1979, an exceptional number of scientific studies have been published worldwide. In 2007, the World Health Organization published one of the most comprehensive review so far. The present article summarizes important facts regarding the interaction between a magnetic field and the human body and the key findings from this extensive research looking for a possible link with cancer.Instituto de Investigaciones Tecnológicas para Redes y Equipos Eléctrico

Champs magnétiques 50–60 Hz et santé : quoi de neuf ?

Fin 2013, le SCENIHR (Scientific Comittee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks), a publié un nouveau rapport sur les risques pour la santé liés aux champs électromagnétiques de 0 à 300 GHz. Cette revue de la littérature ne retient pas l’éventualité d’un risque sanitaire lié à l’exposition au champ magnétique extrêmement basse fréquence. À propos des leucémies de l’enfant, le rapport soulève une série de questions cruciales qui méritent une analyse plus fine. La prise en compte de l’exposition demeure le talon d’Achille des études épidémiologiques et aucune d’entre elles n’a apporté de solution cohérente. La question des leucémies de l’enfant est ici analysée à la lumière des dernières études publiées. Compte tenu de la faiblesse et des lacunes dans l’estimation des expositions, de l’hétérogénéité des études incluses et de la diminution de l’odds ratio au cours du temps pour les populations les plus exposées, il n’apparait pas de cohérence entre les résultats des études. Après 30 ans de recherche, deux pistes mériteraient d’être explorées : l’évaluation globale de l’exposition, prenant en compte toutes les sources d’exposition, d’une part et d’autre part la durée d’exposition, non limitée à la moyenne sur 24 h, mais intégrant la durée de résidence de la mère et de l’enfant

Some evidences that white LEDs are toxic for human at domestic radiance?

Artificial lighting has been a fundamental part of social and economic development of mankind. It allows to free human activity from natural variations and conditions (weather, day/night cycle, variation of day length depending on season and latitude…). The face of this artificial lighting has changed in the last years with the emergence of white phosphor coated LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which offer many advantages in terms of reliability, efficiency and implementation. However, it is subject to special attention because their spectrum is typically rich in blue. Damages following exposure to high radiance blue light are well documented but some recent concerns have appeared regarding potential damages linked to white LEDs exposure at domestic radiance. Are these concerns justified? This article analyses some results of a recent study of animal retina exposure to light produced by LED technology and demonstrates that even if they are of interest in improving our understanding of the mechanisms of photochemical injury, they cannot be extrapolated to human without extreme caution and do not call into question the normative limits which are now the consensus

Metrology in the perspective of a survey of the exposure of a representative sample of the French population to Extremely Low Frequency magnetic fields

International audienc

Ventilation system, indoor air quality, and health outcomes in Parisian modern office workers.

International audienceA cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the effect on health of exposure to different types of ventilation, taking indoor environmental measurements (IEMs) of major contaminants and aeroallergens into account. Three buildings ventilated with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), fan coil units (FCUs), and natural ventilation were selected. One thousand one hundred forty-four workers answered health questionnaires. After adjusting for potential confounders, HVAC and FCU systems were related to a slightly higher risk of nonspecific symptoms (compared with natural ventilation), short-term throat irritation, work-related nasal discharge, nasal blockage on awakening, migraine, and usual coughing induced by cold air. Studying the potential effects of environmental contaminants and aeroallergens on health outcomes, taking the floor and type of ventilation into account, did not explain the observed excess of nonspecific symptoms

Comparison of magnetic field meters used for ELF exposure measurement

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Anecdotal report of magnetophosphene perception in 50 mT 20, 50 and 60 Hz magnetic fields

Magnetophosphenes are described as flickering lights appearing in the visual field, due to retinal exposure to time-varying magnetic fields (MF). Human magnetophosphene perception (MP) serves as a scientific basis for international guidelines intending to limit exposure to electromagnetic fields in the extremely low frequency range. However, the flux density threshold at which MP occurs, as well as the dose and frequency responses of the phenomenon, are not clearly experimentally established. The 50–60 Hz threshold is extrapolated from data in the lower frequency range. The objective of this paper is to provide a descriptive anecdotal report of MP from 8 individuals exposed to 50 mT MF at 20, 50 and 60 Hz. They describe variations of flickering light perceptions in the visual field, matching the description by D’Arsonval (1896). This preliminary testing introduces a new experimental protocol, which will test the threshold for MP and other associated neurophysiological responses in humans