Document Type : Short Communication
Authors
1 Workplace Health Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
2 M.Sc. in Occupational Health Engineering, Workplace Health Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
3 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objective: Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has attracted attention due to their potential health effects. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of exposure to static magnetic fields (SMFs) on workers’ sleep quality.
Method and Material: A total of 185 participants were included in the study. Magnetic field exposure was measured using a specialized device, and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Results: The average static magnetic field was 22.65 millitesla (mT). Among participants, 46.48% reported poor sleep quality, while 53.52% reported good sleep quality. Results indicated that with each additional year of age, the likelihood of poor sleep quality increased by 0.32 units, and with each 1 millitesla increase in magnetic field exposure, the likelihood of poor sleep quality increased by 0.16 units. These findings suggest that even exposure to magnetic fields within permissible limits may lead to poor sleep quality, and as magnetic field exposure increases, the probability of poor sleep quality also rises.
Conclution: This policy brief introduces and proposes policy options categorized into short-term, medium-term, and long-term priorities for managing occupational exposure to magnetic fields in the workplace. In the short term, emphasis is placed on educating and raising awareness among workers and managers, as well as continuous monitoring of magnetic field levels. At the medium-term level, expanding scientific research on the health effects of these fields and strengthening preventive measures such as consultation services and self-care practices are recommended. In the long term, collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organizations is emphasized to develop safety guidelines and improve working conditions.
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords
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