Alteration of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate to workers exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Szmigielski S, Bortkiewicz A, Gadzicka E, Zmyslony M, Kubacki R

Blood Press Monit 3(6):323-330, 1998

BACKGROUND: In previous studies we found measurable effects on variability of heart rate and on blood-pressure parameters of workers exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) compared with a control population, but none of the effects could be assigned clinical significance. In general, the obtained results strongly suggested that dysregulation of the autonomic control of the circulatory system was occurring. Therefore, it seemed logical that analysis of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate, on the basis of data from 24 h recordings, might further support the above hypothesis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the course of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate in a group of workers exposed to various intensities of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

METHODS: In the study we used 61 healthy workers (aged 30-50 years) who had been exposed to radiofrequency EMF of 0.738-1.503 Mhz and 42 healthy workers at radio-line stations (aged 28-49 years), who had not been exposed to EMF occupationally.

The work patterns of these two groups were identical (12 h day working shift, 24 h interval, 12 h night shift and then 48 h rest). During the second day of the rest period 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) was recorded.

For analysis of diurnal rhythms the group of exposed workers was divided into two subgroups: group A of 38 subjects exposed to low intensities of radiofrequency EMF (20-180 V/m) and group B of 23 subjects exposed to high intensities of radiofrequency EMF (200-550 V/m). Parameters of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate (acrophase, amplitude and mean) were calculated by performing a least-square fit of a 24 h cosinor (single cosinor analysis) at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Healthy men aged 28-49 years, working on a pattern of 12-24-12-48 h, exhibited typical, well-preserved diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate with two maxima (at about 1400 and 1700-1800 h) and one minimum (at about 0200-0400 h). For workers exposed to radiofrequency EMF we noted a significant lowering of the amplitudes of rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate (P < 0.01) and a shift of the acrophase to an earlier time (1100-1200 h; P < 0.05). These changes were more pronounced among workers exposed to high intensities of radiofrequency EMF.

CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to radiofrequency EMF can result in changes of the diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate with lowering of their amplitudes and a shift of the acrophase. The clinical relevance of the present finding needs to be investigated in further studies.