Risk perception of electromagnetic fields among school teachers and nursery school teachers: a mixed-methods study

Although there is no evidence for adverse health effects from non-ionising electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposure below legal limits, this concern is widespread among the general population. School teachers and nursery school teachers are considered multipliers of health-related information as they impart knowledge to parents and children. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the risk perception regarding EMFs among these professional groups. The extent to which school teachers and nursery school teachers are in contact with questions concerning EMFs and health in their work has not been investigated. Nor is there any knowledge about the information level of school teachers and nursery school teachers regarding EMFs. Data on teachers' perception regarding EMFs is important though to meet information needs.

A cross-sectional study among school teachers and nursery school teachers in Germany was carried out in 2024, combining an online survey (N = 1400) with focus groups (N = 29). We calculated prevalence estimates for participants' risk perception, subjective information level, and EMFs relevance in everyday work with correction for non-response. Furthermore, we conducted a latent class analysis to identify types of EMFs risk perception.

A third of all participating school teachers (32%) and nursery school teachers (33%) indicated that, in their view, EMF exposure below legal limits may cause adverse health effects. Five types of risk perception concerning EMFs were identified using latent class analysis, with the high risk perception class comprising 11% of the participants. Many school teachers (56%) and nursery school teachers (77%) perceived themselves as poorly informed about EMFs. The group discussions provided deeper insights and supported these findings. The interviews revealed that both professional groups had concerns about the health effects of EMFs. Knowledge of scientific evidence concerning EMFs and health was low. Moreover, the discussions revealed a desire for more information on EMFs and health.

A notable proportion of school teachers and nursery school teachers indicated considerable risk perception towards EMFs. Most participants indicated low subjective information levels, expressing a need for information on EMF health effects. Communication formats tailored to this target group should be developed and evaluated.