A personal monitoring study of occupational RF exposure to the medical equipment used in physiotherapy centers: Diathermy is the top emission device

Maria Basiouka, Efthymios Karabetsos, George Gourzoulidis, heodoros C. Constantinidis, Athanassios Zissimopoulos

Abstract


Purpose: In physiotherapy centers, equipment emitting electromagnetic fields (EMF) is used daily and diathermy is reported as the top emitting device used. The purpose of this work is the evaluation of the levels of radio frequency (RF) electric fields that can be reached and physiotherapists are exposed to, in relation to the action levels (ALs) of the 2013/35/EU Directive.

Material and Methods: Thirty five physiotherapists in 30 private physiotherapy centers participated in this study. RF personal monitors were used to record physiotherapists’ exposure during their normal working routine, while handling physiotherapy equipment.

Results: The recorded average exposure levels were found, in general, lower than the ALs of the Directive. Nevertheless, the recorded maximum exposure levels instantaneously exceeded the ALs, but these levels are actually very low when averaged over the 6 minute period provisioned in the Directive. Moreover, specific medical equipment and clinical practices are associated with higher measured values.

Conclusions: Compared to the occupational exposure ALs, as established in the Directive, the measurement results showed that high levels of RF electric fields were practically recorded only during the operation of diathermy equipment. On the contrary, when only the rest of the medical equipment of the physiotherapy centers was used, very low exposure values were recorded.


Keywords


Occupational EMF exposure; physiotherapists; diathermy; RF electric fields.

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.36162/hjr.v5i2.334

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