The mapping of EM field and evaluation of health status of individuals living in close vicinity of Afşin - Elbistan power plant area

Today, the demand for the electricity increasing rapidly and as a result the number of electricity production plants, especially coal fired power plants, are being erected and commissioned. Switchyards located in these coal fired power plants and the corresponding coal fields, and High Voltage Lines (HVL) which transmit the produced electricity effect both the employees working in these plants and the people living in close vicinity. Of course, this type of industrialization brings some problems too. One of these problems is the Electromagnetic (EM) fields generated by switchyards located in the power plants and mines, and HVLs. It is essential to identify the effects of EM fields on the employees and local people living in close vicinity, to inform the relevant individuals and institutions. The aim of this study is to do the EM field measurement in the Çoğulhan Sub-district that is located adjacent to power plants and to identify the possible effect of EM field on the individual?s exposure to EM fields in Çoğulhan.Type of the study conducted in 2009 in Çoğulhan Sub-district of Afşin District of Kahramanmaraş province is descriptive. In Çoğulhan Sub-district total 713 EM field measurements are done to generate mapping of EM field. EM field of Çoğulhan Sub-district is varying between 1.38±0.03 and 27.02±0.47 mG. The lowest measurement is recorded at the farthest point from switchyards and HVLs while the highest values are recorded under the 380 kV HVL. The arithmetic mean of the results of EM field measurements in Çoğulhan Sub-district is 2.86±3.60. These values show that the EM field mean level of Çoğulhan is higher than 2 mG EM field level.As a result of the study, it is identified that females are more sensitive to EM fields. The prevalence of the diseases among sexuality (p=0.005), allergic diseases among females (p=0.0015) and prevalence of migraine among females (p=0.006) are statistically meaningfull. In addition, the prevalence of unwanted abortion depend on the duration of residency over survey group is statistically meaningful.The results of the study are consistent with the EMF measurement levels and health effects in the literature in general.