Mental health status of employees in substations of electromagnetic fields at extremely low frequency in Tehran

ABSTRACT

With regard to the relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and development of potential biological system impairments and increasing number of these fields, the current research was conducted in 2004 on 101 employees of high voltage centers to determine the role of working in these fields on mental health. One hundred and one employees were exposed to electromagnetic field at 50 Hz found from 230 kV current. We used SCL-90-R test and compared the subjects with the control group. Data analysis showed that the mean scores of the case group in Global Severity Index and Positive Symptom Total with significant difference were higher than that of the control group [P<0.022 and P<0.049]. Positive Symptom Distress Index showed no significant difference between the two groups. Cases had also higher scores in all subscales in comparison with the control group. It was statistically significant for subscales of somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility and phobia. For psychoticism with P>0.05 it tended not to be significant. No correlation was found between age, marital status and split-shift working with GSI scores. Employment in electromagnetic fields at extremely low frequency can lead to the development of mental disorders. However, the results need confirmation by other controlled trials