ABSTRACT
To be able to detect effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and more importantly establish exposure-response associations using epidemiological study methods, it is important to include a wide range of different exposure levels, and thus aim to include people with no or very low exposures as well people with very high received exposures. Typically, however, in the general population, 50-to 60-Hz EMFs [1] and radiofrequency (RF)-EMF [2] exposure levels are relatively low, and they are negligible for static (0 Hz) (electro) magnetic fields. Employees in certain industries or occupations receive greater exposures than the general population and can therefore make an important contribution to the study of exposures to, and epidemiological evidence on potential adverse effects on health from, electric and magnetic fields. Furthermore, exposure to EMFs has been increasing in the previous decades in many occupational settings and has expanded to new industries and occupations; thus, potential adverse health effects will have a greater population impact because they will be relevant to a larger number of workers [3]. More importantly, the information on exposure-response associations that can be obtained from occupational studies can be extrapolated to the general population to quantify the excess health risk from the (generally lower) exposure levels of the general population.
