Spl24 Occupational Health Surveillance of Workers Exposed to Non-Ionizing Radiation: Lessons Learned and New Challenges

Non-Ionizing radiations (NIR) include Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Optical radiation (OR). Occupational exposure is related to both the natural and the innumerable, and continuously increasing, artificial sources: nowadays is substantially ubiquitous and potentially involves almost all workers. A health risk evaluation and, based on the results, the implementation of adequate Health Surveillance (HS) programs is certainly needed. Considering EMF, currently no agreement on the more appropriate specific contents of HS exists but, at least, an active search of possibly related symptoms occurrence, and a screening of the conditions inducing particular risk should be implemented in all exposed workers. Other procedures should be considered only if required on an individual basis Regarding OR, a HS is needed in case of exposure to artificial sources, but also to solar radiation. UV related long term effects are cumulative, and especially the effects to the eye (as cataract) and skin (as skin cancer) are frequent and relevant health problems not sufficiently considered. Better prevention, and further knowledge on levels adequately protective for long term effects, are needed, also considering the challenge of climate changes. Specific conditions inducing a higher susceptibility to adverse health effects of both, EMF and OR, are known (“workers at particular risk”), but better knowledge is needed for more adequate HS interventions. A last, but relevant, point is the need that HS of NIR exposed workers is performed by OM specialists with an adequate and updated competence and skill in this specific field, sometimes/often not sufficiently enhanced during the training.