Electronic environment as a risk factor for the health of students

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Relevance. Today, the widespread use of constantly improving electronic devices (personal computers, tablets, mobile phones, "smart" watches, etc.) is characterized by the presence of a person in close proximity to a source of electromagnetic radiation, which increases the electromagnetic load on the body and causes changes in health ... This is especially important in childhood and adolescence [1, 2]. The analysis of the peculiarities of using electronic devices and their influence on adolescents was carried out by Yu.G. Grigoriev (2005), G.A. Saprykina (2012), E.A. Medvedeva, S.V. Kroshilin (2014), V.R. Kuchma (2016), M.I. Stepanova, I.E. Alexandrova, Z.I. Sazanyuk (2015) [3]. L Salford suggested that mobile phone users may experience earlier "brain aging" [5].
Specialists of the Russian National Research Medical University named after Pirogova note that among young people who devote more time to modern electronic devices, the risk of developing physical deviations increases. Such a lifestyle can lead to the development of myopia, psychological and neurological abnormalities, disruption of the musculoskeletal system [4].
A number of instruments are currently used to study electromagnetic radiation. Scientists of the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics. V.A. Kotelnikov RAS developed the first personal dosimeter of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in Russia. The device "Mera" reads the level of "electromagnetic smog" around a person from means and stations of cellular communication, WiFi access points, gadgets and allows you to control the "dose" of radiation received by the body.
Goal. To assess the impact of electronic devices on the health of students.
Methods. Study design. Retrospective. The main studied contingent were students of the Voronezh Medical University (100 people). The studies were carried out simultaneously.
Eligibility criteria
Study inclusion criteria: students' consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria: student refusal to participate.
Conditions
The study took place on the basis of V.G. Burdenko
Study duration
The study is one-step.
Main study outcome
The study will reveal the influence of electronic devices on the health of students.
Additional study outcomes
Adverse effects associated with the use of electronic devices are expected to be identified.
Subgroup analysis
The research participants were one group of respondents of different age categories from 19 to 26 years old.
Outcome registration methods
To solve the tasks, a questionnaire was created, which included questions regarding the purposes of use and the frequency of electronic devices, the impact on health, and the awareness of respondents. The level and nature of diseases, dietary habits and lifestyle, self-assessment of the state of health of students were assessed. A personal dosimeter of electromagnetic radiation "Measure" was used to control
loads from the electromagnetic radiation received by the body. The experiment involved 5 subjects who, by the nature of their activities, constantly have contact with EMP. For 7 days, each subject wore the device near a source of electromagnetic radiation, as a result, there was a constant reading of information on the levels of load from the radiation received by the body.
Statistical analysis
The processing and analysis of the obtained material was carried out using mathematical and statistical methods, using standard Microsoft Excel 2007 software packages.
Results. Objects (participants) of the study. The study revealed that 100% of the surveyed respondents use electronic devices every day, while 32% of students use gadgets for more than 5 hours a day. 83% of students cannot be without gadgets more than 3 hours a day, 11% - half a day, 6% - a day. A mobile phone (as the most frequently used device) is used for conversations by 99% of participants, for social networks (86%), photographs (76%), games (52%). A computer (netbook) is the next gadget after a mobile phone, which is often used by students (to search for educational information (81%), read books (63%), social networks (34%) and games (23%)). The average time a student spends at the computer per day was three hours.
Key research findings
The results of the analysis of the questionnaires showed that students are not sufficiently informed about the operation of devices that emit an electromagnetic field (EMF). So, at night, while sleeping, 41% of students have a phone in standby mode next to their heads.
As part of a statistical study, we analyzed the screen time on the phone for one day and 7 days (week). The average use time per day was determined to be 6 hours; in just a week - 44 hours 57 minutes. At the same time, working students spend less than 1 hour with electronic devices.
The division into nonresident and urban students did not show with physical difference in the use of electronic devices.
In terms of time of use, social networks take the first place (95%) - mainly VK, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc. The second place is occupied by entertainment (49%) - YouTube, VLC media player, Netflix, etc. In third place are navigators, maps and books (31%).
It was determined that 41% of respondents had headaches after using gadgets (at the same time, 6% - frequent, 36% - rare); fatigue was noted by 64%. About 9% of the surveyed students experienced apathy after using gadgets, 24% - a state of sudden aggressiveness, 35% - noted irritability in themselves, about 28% of respondents felt reluctance to communicate with friends and parents.
In the study of the self-esteem of the health status of medical students, it was found that students using mobile devices for more than 3-5 hours indicated a low self-esteem of the health status and a more frequent appeal for medical care.
Additional research findings
A significant positive association (r = 0.79) was found between the use of electronic devices and decreased vision.
With the help of the "Mera" device, an analysis of the level of exposure to electromagnetic radiation on the subjects was carried out. Each of them, for 7 days, wore the device next to the source of electromagnetic radiation, as a result, there was a constant reading of information on the level of load from the radiation received by the body. The subjects were people who, due to professional circumstances, are constantly in contact with electronic devices.
During the experiment, the EMP power never exceeded 1 μW per cm2 out of ten permissible according to SanPiN. The subjects received the highest EMP power at cellular communication stations, WiFi access points, but at the same time the level did not exceed 200-300 nW per cm2, which is less than 1 μW. The permissible norm according to SanPiN is 10 μW. That is, this level is 30-50 times lower than the daily allowable norm.
Adverse events
During the study, there were no adverse events.
Discussion. Summary of the main research finding
It is not the electronic devices themselves that have a negative impact on health, but non-compliance with the rules of use and working hours.
Discussion of the main research result
As the research results have shown, excessive use of modern electronic devices by students, enthusiasm for modern technologies significantly changes their quality of life and social well-being. The resulting changes are most often negative and negatively affect the psycho-emotional state of the body.
Conclusion.
Taking into account the identified features of using various electronic devices and assessing their impact on health, it is necessary to search for the most effective forms of organizing healthy lifestyle attitudes among young people, aimed at forming a culture of using electronic devices.

About the authors

Maksim Valerevich Popov

Author for correspondence.
Email: katerina.2109@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1480-4013
SPIN-code: 4302-5811
Russian Federation

References