RF EXPOSURE AND MELATONIN LEVELS IN HEAT-SEALER WORKERS

我们建议对大量射频（RF）热封机操作员的电磁场（EMF）暴露进行全面研究，并监测褪黑激素的变化，褪黑激素是对EMF反应的一种生物标志物。本研究的工作假设是，暴露于射频场的受试者的褪黑激素水平会下降，其模式与我们之前在公用事业工人中观察到的褪黑激素剂量依赖性下降相似。这项研究将是迄今为止射频热封工人最详细的暴露调查。这项研究将首次使用最先进的全轮班个人监测来记录工人群体中射频和工频电磁场的不同暴露。这也将是第一次研究生物标志物对射频场的反应。本研究将对改进个人剂量法评估射频暴露做出重大贡献。我们将使用基于任务的暴露评估和时间活动信息来确定对暴露贡献最大的任务。这将有助于确定可能的工程变更或其他控制的重要暴露场景。我们建议使用两种新型仪器，一种用于表征操作者的感应足电流，另一种用于测量电场和磁场分量。将感应体电流应用于自由放养的受试者是射频剂量学的一种新方法，可以扩展到目前的应用之外。存在许多其他射频暴露职业人群，他们将受益于射频暴露评估的改进，并且使用射频频谱的新兴技术将增加工人暴露的可能性。了解在工作人群中改进射频个人监测方法的好处和局限性，将为这些新兴技术中的工人暴露评估提供新的工具。

We propose to conduct a comprehensive study of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures in a large population of radiofrequency (RF) heat sealer operators and monitor changes in melatonin, a proposed biomarker of response to EMF. The working hypothesis of this study is that melatonin levels will decrease in the subjects exposed to RF fields, in a pattern that mimics the dose-dependent decrease in melatonin we have observed previously in utility workers. This study will be the most detailed exposure survey of RF heat sealer workers to date. This study will be the first to use state-of-the-art full-shift personal monitoring to document the diverse exposures to RF and power-frequency EMFs in this worker population. This also will be the first study to examine biomarkers in response to RF fields. This study will make a strong contribution to improving RF exposure assessment using personal dosimetry. We will use task-based exposure assessment with time-activity information to identify tasks that contribute most to exposures. This will help identify important exposure scenarios for possible engineering changes or other controls. We propose to use two novel instruments, one that will characterize the induced foot currents in the operators and the second to measure the electric and magnetic field components. The application of induced body currents for free ranging subjects is a novel approach to RF dosimetry that can extend beyond the present application. Many other RF exposed occupational populations exist that would benefit from improvements in RF exposure assessment, and emerging technologies that use the RF spectrum will increase the potential for worker exposures. Understanding the benefits and limitations of improved personal monitoring methods for RF in a working population will provide new tools for worker exposure assessment in these emerging technologies.