INVESTIGATING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND SHIELDING CAPABILITY FROM BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

Rationale: Most advances in modern technology have brought a dramatic increase in new electronic machines and instruments. Many biochemical laboratory instruments give off a far greater level of EMR compared to those at the residential appliances. It might be imperative to recognize the hazards of EMR exposure to the laboratory personnel working for the biochemical laboratory. And, creating a methodology of reducing EMR exposure to the scientist was deemed to be necessary.

Methods: At first, various mobile apps and portable meters measured EMR from an identical source. And, the most accurate meter was used to measure EMR from multiple laboratory instruments. After that, with an instrument of high EMR emission, the shielding efficiency estimation was performed.

Results: Mobile apps displayed significantly higher EMR than the portable meters from the identical point source. The GQ EMF390 measured EMR with high accuracy. Among the six instruments measured, the magnetic stirrer showed the highest EMR emission up to 400 mG. And, the decreasing profiles of EMR for the distance looked different according to each instrument.

Conclusions: The shielding fabric Static Coti could substantially reduce the EMR up to 40% from the first layer and 45% from the second layer. The shielding efficiency was not always related to the number of fabric layers. The study suggested that EMR exposure to scientists might be reduced with a shielding fabric box enclosed with Static Coti.