Evaluation of the Relationship Between Electromagnetic Waves and Melatonin Hormone Levels in Golestan Power Substations and Comparison With the Control Group in 2016

It is almost impossible to imagine life without electromagnetic waves. This wave plays a key role in the function of melatonin and creates many diseases. According to the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between electromagnetic waves and the melatonin level of employees in 230 substations in Golestan province.

This descriptive study was carried out on workers in 230 KV Substations of Golestan province in 2016. 44 workers of electrical substations (the case group) and 23 workers of health centers (the control group) with 24-hour shift works entered to this study.The intensity of electric and magnetic fields was measured by the TM -190electromagnetic wave measuring device using NIOSH method number 203. Melatonin levels in serum samples of case and control group were measured using quantitative luminescence and ELISA method laboratory. All data analyzed by Spss22 software using T-test, mann-whitney U, one – way Anova, Kendal and person correlation method.

All of the measured electric field intensity and magnetic flux density of the 230kV substations in Golestan Province were in threshold occupational limits. The mean melatonin in the case group was lower than in the control group, but no statistically significant difference was observed (P=0.761). Also there was no statistically significant difference between melatonin level with age (P=0.381), work experience (P=0.213), job groups (P=0.515) and employee activity area (P=0.482).

According to the this study, no significant relationship was observed between electromagnetic waves and melatonin level, and electromagnetic waves were within the permissible exposure, Then  it can be concluded that there is no relation  between electromagnetic and  melatonin in  230 kV power plants in the province. But Due to the observed decrease compared to the control group, definite comments need more investigation.