Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on reasonably consistent epidemiological data for childhood leukaemia [1]. Despite the classification and consequent implementation of numerous health risk assessment processes to evaluate possible risk of ELF exposure of children, the real everyday exposure to ELF-MF in Europe is not well known. Indeed, only a few studies analysed children exposure to ELF-MF by collecting personal measurements, correlating the daily exposure patterns to children's movement and behaviour [2-7]. Furthermore, the exposure assessment to MF sources other than power lines has been not yet addressed. Therefore, an improved knowledge of these exposure contributions is needed to better understand biological mechanisms and to interpret previous epidemiological studies as well. A correct assessment of the induced fields in tissues should also be carried out. Indeed, so far, the estimation of induced fields are limited to exposure of a few children's anatomies [8-9] and on foetal exposure [9-13]. Personal exposure measurements and computational dosimetry contribute to provide the picture of the impact of exposure on health. However, due to the high variability of real exposure scenarios, the exposure assessment by means of those tools turns in high time-consuming processes. ELFSTAT project started in November 2015 and is founded by the French ANSES (2015-2019, Grant agreement n. 2015/1/202). The main purpose of ELFSTAT is to characterize children's exposure to low frequency magnetic fields (MF, from 40 to 800 Hz) in real exposure scenarios using stochastic approaches. Both the global exposure at personal level and tissue dosimetry due to far- and near-field sources will be investigated. Finally, prediction of the impact of new technologies (e.g. smart grids, electric vehicles) on children's exposure will be carry out, enlarging the frequency range to the intermediate frequencies (IF). ELFSTAT project aims to develop stochastic models able to provide exposure assessment of children in several exposure conditions and hence considering the high variability of real exposure scenarios, on the base of a relatively few experimental and/or computational data. The project is divided in three Work Packages (WP): WP1-Stochastic Models: the aim is to develop stochastic models to model personal exposure and tissue dosimetry. The exposure will be characterize in terms of magnetic field amplitude at personal level and induced electric field for tissue dosimetry. WP2- Children exposure assessment to ELF-MF: the aim is to characterize children's exposure to low frequency magnetic fields (MF) from 40 to 800 Hz using stochastic models developed in WP1. Furthermore, appropriate indicators to represent children's exposure based on the stochastic exposure assessments will be developed. WP3- Exposure to new technologies ELF devices: the aim is to evaluate the impact of new technologies for energy on children exposure. A systematic literature review will be conducted about research papers on the ELF-MF exposure of new technologies. An estimation of the change of exposure due to these new sources will be done to evaluate the impact on children's exposure of these new technologies. Ongoing work is about: i) modelling of extremely low frequency magnetic field time series obtained from the EU project ARIMMORA [3] and EXPERS database [6-7] by segmenting them into blocks modelled by locally stationary processes [14]; ii) the development of stochastic models of induced electric field in foetal tissues and in the children exposed to MF by means of the polynomial chaos theory; iii) identification of the new technologies that could change the ELF EMF exposure scenario for the young population
ELFSTAT project : assessment of infant exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF, 40-800 HZ) and possible impact on health of new technologies
Parazzini M;Fiocchi S;Chiaramello E;Ravazzani P
2017
Abstract
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on reasonably consistent epidemiological data for childhood leukaemia [1]. Despite the classification and consequent implementation of numerous health risk assessment processes to evaluate possible risk of ELF exposure of children, the real everyday exposure to ELF-MF in Europe is not well known. Indeed, only a few studies analysed children exposure to ELF-MF by collecting personal measurements, correlating the daily exposure patterns to children's movement and behaviour [2-7]. Furthermore, the exposure assessment to MF sources other than power lines has been not yet addressed. Therefore, an improved knowledge of these exposure contributions is needed to better understand biological mechanisms and to interpret previous epidemiological studies as well. A correct assessment of the induced fields in tissues should also be carried out. Indeed, so far, the estimation of induced fields are limited to exposure of a few children's anatomies [8-9] and on foetal exposure [9-13]. Personal exposure measurements and computational dosimetry contribute to provide the picture of the impact of exposure on health. However, due to the high variability of real exposure scenarios, the exposure assessment by means of those tools turns in high time-consuming processes. ELFSTAT project started in November 2015 and is founded by the French ANSES (2015-2019, Grant agreement n. 2015/1/202). The main purpose of ELFSTAT is to characterize children's exposure to low frequency magnetic fields (MF, from 40 to 800 Hz) in real exposure scenarios using stochastic approaches. Both the global exposure at personal level and tissue dosimetry due to far- and near-field sources will be investigated. Finally, prediction of the impact of new technologies (e.g. smart grids, electric vehicles) on children's exposure will be carry out, enlarging the frequency range to the intermediate frequencies (IF). ELFSTAT project aims to develop stochastic models able to provide exposure assessment of children in several exposure conditions and hence considering the high variability of real exposure scenarios, on the base of a relatively few experimental and/or computational data. The project is divided in three Work Packages (WP): WP1-Stochastic Models: the aim is to develop stochastic models to model personal exposure and tissue dosimetry. The exposure will be characterize in terms of magnetic field amplitude at personal level and induced electric field for tissue dosimetry. WP2- Children exposure assessment to ELF-MF: the aim is to characterize children's exposure to low frequency magnetic fields (MF) from 40 to 800 Hz using stochastic models developed in WP1. Furthermore, appropriate indicators to represent children's exposure based on the stochastic exposure assessments will be developed. WP3- Exposure to new technologies ELF devices: the aim is to evaluate the impact of new technologies for energy on children exposure. A systematic literature review will be conducted about research papers on the ELF-MF exposure of new technologies. An estimation of the change of exposure due to these new sources will be done to evaluate the impact on children's exposure of these new technologies. Ongoing work is about: i) modelling of extremely low frequency magnetic field time series obtained from the EU project ARIMMORA [3] and EXPERS database [6-7] by segmenting them into blocks modelled by locally stationary processes [14]; ii) the development of stochastic models of induced electric field in foetal tissues and in the children exposed to MF by means of the polynomial chaos theory; iii) identification of the new technologies that could change the ELF EMF exposure scenario for the young populationI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
