Author/Authors :
Jarideh، S نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Taeb، S نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Pishva، S M نويسنده Shahid Dastghieb International Airport, Shiraz, Iran , , Haghani، M نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Sina، S نويسنده Radiation Research Center, Nuclear Engineering Department, School of Mechanics, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran , , Mortazavi، S A R نويسنده Medical Student, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Hosseini، M A نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Nematollahi، S نويسنده Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Shokrpour، N نويسنده School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shi raz, Iran , , Hassan Shahi ، M نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Mortazavi، S M J نويسنده Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: Airport workers are continuously exposed to different levels of radiofrequency microwave (RF/MW) radiation emitted by radar equipments. Radars are
extensively used in military and aviation industries. Over the past several years, our
lab has focused on the health effects of exposure to different sources of electromagnetic felds such as cellular phones, mobile base stations, mobile phone jammers, laptop computers, radars, dentistry cavitrons and MRI. The main goal of this study was to
investigate if occupational exposure of Shahid Dastghieb international airport workers
to radiofrequency radiation affects their short term memory and reaction time.
Methods: Thirty two airport workers involved in duties at control and approach
tower (21 males and 11 females), with the age range of 27-67 years old (mean age of
37.38), participated voluntary in this study. On the other hand, 29 workers (13 males,
and 16 females) whose offces were in the city with no exposure history to radar systems were also participated in this study as the control group. The employees’ reaction time and short term memory were analyzed using a standard visual reaction time
(VRT) test software and the modifed Wechsler memory scale test, respectively.
Results: The mean± SD values for the reaction times of the airport employees
(N=32) and the control group (N=29) were 0.45±0.12 sec and 0.46±0.17 sec, respectively. Moreover, in the four subset tests; i.e. paired words, forward digit span, backward digit span and word recognition, the following points were obtained for the airport employees and the control group, respectively: (i) pair words test: 28.00±13.13
and 32.07±11.65, (ii) forward digit span: 8.38±1.40 and 9.03±1.32, (iii) backward digit
span: 5.54±1.87 and 6.31±1.46, and (iv) word recognition: 5.73±2.36 and 6.50±1.93.
These differences were not statistically signifcant.
Conclusion: The occupational exposure of the employees to the RF radiation in
Shahid Dastghieb international airport does not have any signifcant detrimental effect
on their reaction time as well as short term memory.
