Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in the Polish Armed Forces

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Assessment
• Military Medicine

Background:

• Military operations involve numerous electronic devices that can emit electromagnetic fields (EMF).
• Potential health risks associated with occupational EMF exposure in military personnel require thorough evaluation.
• Standard military equipment, including radars and communication systems, are sources of potential electromagnetic hazard.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and quantify the occupational exposure of military personnel to electromagnetic fields (EMF).
• To identify specific military devices and operational environments posing the highest EMF risks.
• To determine the extent to which soldiers are within safe occupational protection zones.

Main Methods:

• Occupational EMF exposure was measured for personnel operating 204 military devices across 5 categorized groups.
• Measurements were taken at various points on devices, including terminals, radio panels, and near high-power components.
• Analysis included surface-to-air missile system radars, aircraft, communication devices, and navigation systems.

Main Results:

• Electric field strength varied significantly, with portable radios showing 20-80 V/m and manpack radio operators up to 120 V/m.
• Inside vehicles with HF/VHF radios, EMF levels ranged from 7-30 V/m, and in radar cabins, 9-20 V/m.
• Personnel operating non-directional radio beacons faced the highest exposure (100-150 V/m).

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of military devices (35%) place soldiers in intermediate and hazardous EMF zones.
• While 43% of devices showed no significant EMF exposure, 57% of Polish soldiers worked within occupational protection zones.
• Findings underscore the need for enhanced EMF safety protocols and protective measures in military environments.