EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Participants : Occupationally exposed to Extremely

low Frequency EMFs

Exposed : Male electric utility workers (n=45)

population from 132kV high voltage substations

Control : Healthy non-exposed male individuals

population (n=43)
 Sampling Criteria

The screened populations [non-smokers, non-alcoholics, no genetic

anomalies/major illness, no irradiation examination and on drug for
last 6 months] were age and sex matched with similar socioeconomic
status .

Detailed questionnaire for designation,

duration of exposure (years),
job profile (live line/ cold line),
frequency of exposure in hours/day and
vicinity from substation were noted.

Selection was categorised based on the job profile, frequency and duration
of exposure.
Sampling

• After taking informed consent, 1ml of intravenous whole blood

• Whole blood samples were collected before 10AM and processed
into plasma components immediately from all the subjects
simultaneously.
Melatonin Assay – Direct Radio Immuno assay
Plasma melatonin was quantitatively measured by Direct RIA.

 Involved a competition between a radioactive and non-radioactive

antigen for fixed number of antibody binding sites.

 The amount 125-labelled antigen bound to the antibody was

inversely proportional to the analyte concentration of sample.

 When the system was in equilibrium, the antibody bound

radioactivity is precipitated with a second antibody.

 The precipitate was counted in a gamma counter.

Figure shows the circulating plasma melatonin levels in the exposed
and control samples. The mean concentrations ranged between 8.0
to 90 pg/ml
 Effect of magnetic field exposure levels in melatonin
(pg/ml) concentration
The melatonin levels did not differ markedly between the exposed and
controls.
However, the concentration of the high exposed (19.60±9.65) was
significantly lesser from those of low (36.27±15.00) and medium
exposed (31.94±21.82) subjects (Figure).
Results of mean concentration of plasma melatonin (pg/ml) in ELF and
control group

Group n Mean ± SD Range T value P value

Control 45 37.92 ± 2.75 8.00-83.74

1.769 0.080
ELF 43 21.66 ± 2.63 8.28-90.00

The mean concentration of melatonin did not differ significantly with

differences in age group.

Duration of sleep in hours showed slight variation but no significant

change in the melatonin concentration.
Univariate analysis of variance showed the significant changes in
melatonin levels in sub-groups based on duration and frequency of
exposure

Group based on Duration

Group Comparison
of Exposure (years)
F Value P Value
A B C
A-B A-C B-C
1-4 4-12 12-30
N 15 10 16
5.007 0.012 13.00 17.61* 4.60
M 41.86±5.37 28.86±3.18 24.25±3.29

Group based on frequency

Group Comparison
of Exposure (minutes/day)
F Value P Value
A B C
A-B A-C B-C
60-180 180-240 240-600
N 21 9 13
4.862 0.013 18.89* 10.23 8.67
M 38.22±4.50 19.33±7.92 28.0±9.26

N-Sample size, M-Mean±SE, *Significant at 0.05 level

 The effect of ELF-EMFs occupational exposure on production of
pineal gland hormone, melatonin was evaluated.

 The mean melatonin concentration of the exposed was not

significantly different from those of healthy male individuals.

 Workers were classified into two groups based on their exposure

levels, low exposed (administrative workers and casual labors) and
high exposed (linemen, liveline workers and maintenance workers).

 The high exposed workers have suppressed melatonin levels

against the low exposed and control group.
 Increased free radical production in response to magnetic field exposure

might be rapidly scavenged by melatonin, resulting in suppressed circulating

melatonin.

 The suppression of melatonin synthesis and other free radical scavengers

with extended free radical lifetime may also enhance DNA damage (Ravindra

et al., 2006).

 This hypothesis could have an important implication for the possible

health effects associated with exposure to ELF magnetic fields in the public

and occupational environments.