OBJECTIVETo analyze the toxicity of high-frequency electromagnetic field (HF-EMF) on the reproductive and endocrine functions of female workers.

METHODS180 female workers exposed to HF-EMF for more than one year were selected as the exposure group, and 349 female workers in the marketplace were selected as the control group. Their menstrual status and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated with historical cohort study. Meanwhile, the serum levels of reproductive hormones including follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) from 30 workers respectively in the exposure group and the control group selected randomly (in periovulatory period) were detected with the radio immunoassays.

RESULTSWith the increase of residue of HF-EMF, the incidence of menstrual disorder was increased (33.8% and 26.8% in the exposure group compared with 12.0% in the control group) (P < 0.01) and the incidence of menorrhagia in the exposure I group (16.9%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (8.0%) (P < 0.01). However, serum P(4) was significantly lower in the exposure group [(2.10 +/- 1.57) and (2.39 +/- 1.35) mg/L] than in the control group [(3.80 +/- 2.67) mg/L] (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in serum E(2), LH and FSH between the exposure and the control groups.

CONCLUSIONIncrease of the incidence of menstrual disorder as well as that of menorrhagia, and decrease of levels of some reproductive hormones are closely associated with HF-EMF (25 approximately 30 MHz).