Electromagnetic fields produced by incubators influence heart rate variability in newborns

• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2007.132738
• Publication Date: 2008-05-04T11:52:54Z
• Authors: C V Bellieni; M Acampa; M Maffei; S Maffei; S Perrone; I Pinto; N Stacchini; G Buonocore
• Keywords: Male; Incubators, Infant; Infant, Newborn; Environmental Exposure; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Electromagnetic Fields; 0302 clinical medicine; Heart Rate; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Humans; Female

<h3>Background:</h3> Incubators are largely used to preserve preterm and sick babies from postnatal stressors, but their motors produce high electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Newborns chronically exposed these EMFs, no studies about effects on the fragile developing neonatal structure exist. <h3>Aim:</h3> To verify whether exposure incubator motor electric power may alter autonomous nervous system activity in newborns. <h3>Material methods:</h3> Heart rate variability (HRV) of 43 newborns incubators was studied. The study group comprised 27 whose HRV studied throughout three 5-minute periods: with on, off, again, respectively. Mean values obtained during each period were compared. control 16 constantly unrecordable EMF changes background noise, similar those provoked by motor. <h3>Results:</h3> (SD) total high-frequency (HF) component increased significantly (from 87.1 (76.2) ms2 183.6 (168.5) ms2) mean low-frequency (LF)/HF ratio decreased 2.0 (0.5) 1.5 (0.6)) when turned off. Basal (HF = 107.1 (118.1) LF/HF 1.9 restored again. LF spectral showed a statistically significant change only second phase experiment. Changes noise did not provoke any HRV. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> EMFs produced influence newborns' HRV, showing an system. More research is needed assess possible long-term consequences, since premature be for months.