Characterisation of exposure to non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the Spanish INMA birth cohort: study protocol
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
Biomed Central
Materia
Electromagnetic fields Radiofrequency Extremely low frequency Magnetic fields Child Adolescent Birth cohort Exposure assessment Environmental exposure
Date
2016Referencia bibliográfica
Gallastegi, M.; et al. Characterisation of exposure to non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the Spanish INMA birth cohort: study protocol. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 16: 167 (2016). [http://hdl.handle.net/10481/49959]
Sponsorship
This study was funded by grants from the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III Health Institute (PI13/02187 incl. FEDER funds, CP13/00054 incl. FEDER funds, MS13/00054), the councils of the study region of Gipuzkoa and the EU Commission (603794).Abstract
Background: Analysis of the association between exposure to electromagnetic fields of non-ionising radiation
(EMF-NIR) and health in children and adolescents is hindered by the limited availability of data, mainly due to the
difficulties on the exposure assessment. This study protocol describes the methodologies used for characterising
exposure of children to EMF-NIR in the INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente- Environment and Childhood) Project, a
prospective cohort study.
Methods/Design: Indirect (proximity to emission sources, questionnaires on sources use and geospatial propagation
models) and direct methods (spot and fixed longer-term measurements and personal measurements) were conducted
in order to assess exposure levels of study participants aged between 7 and 18 years old. The methodology used varies
depending on the frequency of the EMF-NIR and the environment (homes, schools and parks). Questionnaires assessed
the use of sources contributing both to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency (RF) exposure levels.
Geospatial propagation models (NISMap) are implemented and validated for environmental outdoor sources of
RFs using spot measurements. Spot and fixed longer-term ELF and RF measurements were done in the
environments where children spend most of the time. Moreover, personal measurements were taken in order
to assess individual exposure to RF. The exposure data are used to explore their relationships with proximity
and/or use of EMF-NIR sources.
Discussion: Characterisation of the EMF-NIR exposure by this combination of methods is intended to overcome
problems encountered in other research. The assessment of exposure of INMA cohort children and adolescents living
in different regions of Spain to the full frequency range of EMF-NIR extends the characterisation of environmental
exposures in this cohort. Together with other data obtained in the project, on socioeconomic and family characteristics
and development of the children and adolescents, this will enable to evaluate the complex interaction between health
outcomes in children and adolescents and the various environmental factors that surround them.