Comparative study on the relationship between electromagnetic field (EMF) with genotoxicity and health symptoms among children in Klang Valley

Ahmad Shaifudin, Nur Syuhaida Nadhirah (2018) Comparative study on the relationship between electromagnetic field (EMF) with genotoxicity and health symptoms among children in Klang Valley. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: There is a growing concern about the possible effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from high voltage power lines (HVPL) towards human health especially in causing childhood, however, this issue still remain controversial. HVPL emitted both electric and magnetic field, but the concern is more on magnetic field as it cannot be shielded or blocked by any materials unlike electric field. Objective: To determine relation between the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from nearby high voltage power line (HVPL) with genotoxicity and reported health symptoms among school children in Klang Valley. Method: A comparative cross sectional study was carried out among 128 primary school children. Study group involved 81 children from school located less than 50m from HVPL while another 4 7 children from school which had no HVPL within 4km as a comparative group. A set of questionnaire were completed by their parents. The magnetic field at both selected school was measured using EMDEX II meter. Genotoxicity was assessed by examining the frequency of micronuclei in the buccal cells of the children. Result and Discussion: The magnetic field levels at the study school were higher than the comparative school, however, the levels were still below the guideline from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNRIP 2010) and were also lower than level which were known to be associated with childhood leukemia. The micronuclei frequency in comparative group was significantly higher than study group (p<0.001 ). Other factors that might influenced micronuclei frequency among children was parents education (p=0.004). There was no association of reported health symptom with magnetic field levels among the study as well as the comparative group. Conclusion: The magnetic fields levels at study school posed no hazard to the children. However the comparative group showed sign of genotoxicity which were not related to EMF exposure but other environmental hazards which need to be studied further. Keywords: electromagnetic field (EMF), genotoxicity, children

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	11 Jul 2024 06:18
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2024 06:18
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1965

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