EFFECT OF POWER FREQUENCY MAGNETIC FIELD ON CARDIAC FUNCTION IN EXPOSED EGYPTIAN WORKERS (ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY)

摘要

This study presents shared electrical engineering and medical experiences in power frequency magnetic fields. Exposure of a sample of Egyptian workers to combined 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields was studied aiming to assess the cardiac function of the of the workers occupationally exposed to high voltage electromagnetic fields along with other cardiovascular risk factors. Sixty workers of high-voltage power stations aged 39+-7.2 years with the duration of work under exposure ranging from 3-20 years and sixty workers, aged 26 - 55 (mean 40+-7.8years) who were not exposed to EM fields were the controls. All workers were subjected to cardiac, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examination. There were statistically significant difference only in resting heart rate, P wave dispersion as an electrocardiographic parameter, carotid intima-media thickness (echocardiographic parameter) and lipid profile. Coronary ischemia and arrhythmias in the form of (atrial fibrillation) were also more frequent.The current study concluded that electromagnetic fields have an influence on the cardiovascular system.