Exposure Assessment to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Occupational Military Scenarios: A Review

(1) Background: Radiofrequency radiations are used in most devices in current use and, consequently, the assessment of the human exposure to the radiofrequency radiations has become an issue of strong interest. Even if in the military field there is wide use of radiofrequency devices, a clear picture on the exposure assessment to the electromagnetic field of the human beings in the military scenario is still missing. (2) Methods: a review of the scientific literature regarding the assessment of the exposure of the military personnel to the RF specific to the military environment, was performed. (3) Results: the review has been performed grouping the scientific literature by the typology of military devices to which the military personnel can be exposed to. The military devices have been classified in four main classes, according to their intended use: communication devices, localization/surveillance devices, jammers and EM directed-energy weapons. (4) Discussion and Conclusions: The review showed that in the exposure conditions here evaluated, there were only occasional situations of overexposure, whereas in the majority of the conditions the exposure was below the worker exposure limits. Nevertheless, the limited number of studies and the lack of exposure assessment studies for some devices prevent us to draw definitive conclusions and encourage further studies on military exposure assessment.

What Did We Miss? Analysis of Military Personnel Responses to an Open-Ended Question in a Post-Deployment Health Survey

ABSTRACT Introduction Post-deployment health surveys completed by military personnel ask about a range of deployment experiences. These surveys are conducted to determine if there are links between experiences and poor health. Responses to open-ended questions in these surveys can identify experiences that might otherwise go unreported. These responses may increase knowledge about a particular deployment and inform future surveys. This study documented deployment experiences described by Australian Defence Force personnel who were deployed to the Middle East. Materials and Methods A survey completed by 14,032 personnel examined health outcomes and over 100 experiences relating to their Middle East deployment. Responses to two open-ended questions captured additional experiences. Descriptive statistics reveal the characteristics of those who did and did not describe additional experiences, and a content analysis details the nature and frequency of the experiences reported. The study was approved by an Institutional Review Board. Results Five percentage (n = 692) of personnel who completed the survey described additional deployment experiences. The most frequently reported experiences were specific Navy experiences; experiences of poor leadership; administrative or organizational issues; the anthrax vaccine; and traumatic events/potentially morally injurious experiences. Conclusions The findings suggest that post-deployment health surveys should have questions about certain deployment experiences tailored by military service (i.e., Air Force, Army, and Navy). Researchers could consider including questions about personnel experiences of leadership for its impact on health and about potentially morally injurious experiences that may help explain adverse mental health. Clear wording of open-ended questions and participant instructions may improve response rates and reduce response biases.

Gait instability and estimated core temperature predict exertional heat stroke

ObjectiveExertional heat stroke (EHS), characterised by a high core body temperature (Tcr) and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, is a concern for athletes, workers and military personnel who must train and perform in hot environments. The objective of this study was to determine whether algorithms that estimate Tcr from heart rate and gait instability from a trunk-worn sensor system can forward predict EHS onset.MethodsHeart rate and three-axis accelerometry data were collected from chest-worn sensors from 1806 US military personnel participating in timed 4/5-mile runs, and loaded marches of 7 and 12 miles; in total, 3422 high EHS-risk training datasets were available for analysis. Six soldiers were diagnosed with heat stroke and all had rectal temperatures of >41°C when first measured and were exhibiting CNS dysfunction. Estimated core temperature (ECTemp) was computed from sequential measures of heart rate. Gait instability was computed from three-axis accelerometry using features of pattern dispersion and autocorrelation.ResultsThe six soldiers who experienced heat stroke were among the hottest compared with the other soldiers in the respective training events with ECTemps ranging from 39.2°C to 40.8°C. Combining ECTemp and gait instability measures successfully identified all six EHS casualties at least 3.5 min in advance of collapse while falsely identifying 6.1% (209 total false positives) examples where exertional heat illness symptoms were neither observed nor reported. No false-negative cases were noted.ConclusionThe combination of two algorithms that estimate Tcr and ataxic gate appears promising for real-time alerting of impending EHS.

Issues of medical examination and selection of citizens for military service under a contract in Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In the context of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and a significant increase in the proportion of military personnel doing military service under contract, the issues of manning the troops with healthy, physically developed citizens with high moral and business qualities are of paramount importance. Of particular importance in the selection of candidates for military service under the contract is the conduct of laboratory and instrumental studies, professional and psychological selection, determination of the level of citizens’ physical fitness. The Federal Law «On Military Duty and Military Service» defines a two-stage system for medical examination of citizens entering military service under contract, which is necessary as a barrier in order to prevent citizenswho do not meet the necessary requirements for military personnel from entering the Russian Armed Forces. At the first stage (preliminary examination), the military and medical examination of citizens was carried out by specialist doctors working in medical organizations of the outpatient-polyclinic link of municipalities at the place of citizens’ permanent residence. Medical specialists of the regular military medical commission of the military commissariat of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation participated in the second stage (final examination) of the military medical examination. During the five-year period under study, 5,133 citizens (72.9 %) were selected out of 7,043 candidates for military service under contract, who fully met all the criteria for defenders of the Fatherland.

A perspective on persistent toxicants in veterans and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: identifying exposures determining higher ALS risk

Multiple studies indicate that United States veterans have an increased risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to civilians. However, the responsible etiological factors are unknown. In the general population, specific occupational (e.g. truck drivers, airline pilots) and environmental exposures (e.g. metals, pesticides) are associated with an increased ALS risk. As such, the increased prevalence of ALS in veterans strongly suggests that there are exposures experienced by military personnel that are disproportionate to civilians. During service, veterans may encounter numerous neurotoxic exposures (e.g. burn pits, engine exhaust, firing ranges). So far, however, there is a paucity of studies investigating environmental factors contributing to ALS in veterans and even fewer assessing their exposure using biomarkers. Herein, we discuss ALS pathogenesis in relation to a series of persistent neurotoxicants (often emitted as mixtures) including: chemical elements, nanoparticles and lipophilic toxicants such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. We propose these toxicants should be directly measured in veteran central nervous system tissue, where they may have accumulated for decades. Specific toxicants (or mixtures thereof) may accelerate ALS development following a multistep hypothesis or act synergistically with other service-linked exposures (e.g. head trauma/concussions). Such possibilities could explain the lower age of onset observed in veterans compared to civilians. Identifying high-risk exposures within vulnerable populations is key to understanding ALS etiopathogenesis and is urgently needed to act upon modifiable risk factors for military personnel who deserve enhanced protection during their years of service, not only for their short-term, but also long-term health.

Examination of military personnel’s changed psychological states during long-term deployment in a war zone

Examining military personnel’s psychological states is an effective way to prevent negative mental health consequences during their deployment in a war zone. The present study identifies changes in the psychological states of military personnel (n = 192) during a 6-month deployment in a war zone in eastern Ukraine. The results confirmed both of our proposed hypotheses. First, with regard to time limits on military personnel’s deployment on the front lines in eastern Ukraine on the basis of examined psychological states, the estimated recommended deployment duration was three months. Second, we found significant differences in the dynamics of the psychological states of service members with versus without previous deployment experience. The results also substantiate that military personnel’s psychological states should be monitored during deployment in order to prevent negative mental health consequences and to ensure that military units successfully accomplish their tasks. Una de las formas más eficaces para prevenir las consecuencias negativas del despliegue en la zona militar para la salud mental de los militares es diagnosticar su estado psicológico. En el presente estudio se determinan las particularidades de los cambios en el estado psicológico de los militares (n = 192) durante el despliegue de seis meses en la zona militar en el este de Ucrania. Los resultados obtenidos confirmaron ambas hipótesis formuladas: en cuanto a la posibilidad de determinar, sobre la base del diagnóstico del estado psicológico, el plazo recomendado para el despliegue de los militares en la línea de demarcación en el este de Ucrania, que es de tres meses. Así como también sobre las posibles diferencias significativas en la dinámica del estado psicológico de los militares que tienen y no tienen experiencia en el despliegue. Asimismo, se argumenta la necesidad de monitorear el estado psicológico de los militares durante el despliegue con el propósito de prevenir oportunamente las consecuencias negativas para su salud mental y para la ejecución exitosa de las tareas de la subunidad militar.