Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42332615›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Risk perception of electromagnetic fields among school teachers and nursery school teachers: a mixed-methods study.

Katharina Lüthy, Claudia Riesmeyer, Jessica Kühn, Felix Forster, Katja Radon, Tobias Weinmann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Katharina LüthyInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU Medizin, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. Katharina.Luethy@med.uni.ORCID 0009-0008-7410-3121
Claudia RiesmeyerDepartment of Media and Communication, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Jessica KühnDepartment of Media and Communication, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Felix ForsterInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU Medizin, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Katja RadonInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU Medizin, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Tobias WeinmannInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU Medizin, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough there is no evidence for adverse health effects from non-ionising electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposure below legal limits, this concern is widespread among the general population. School teachers and nursery school teachers are considered multipliers of health-related information as they impart knowledge to parents and children. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the risk perception regarding EMFs among these professional groups. The extent to which school teachers and nursery school teachers are in contact with questions concerning EMFs and health in their work has not been investigated. Nor is there any knowledge about the information level of school teachers and nursery school teachers regarding EMFs. Data on teachers' perception regarding EMFs is important though to meet information needs.

methodsA cross-sectional study among school teachers and nursery school teachers in Germany was carried out in 2024, combining an online survey (N = 1400) with focus groups (N = 29). We calculated prevalence estimates for participants' risk perception, subjective information level, and EMFs relevance in everyday work with correction for non-response. Furthermore, we conducted a latent class analysis to identify types of EMFs risk perception.

resultsA third of all participating school teachers (32%) and nursery school teachers (33%) indicated that, in their view, EMF exposure below legal limits may cause adverse health effects. Five types of risk perception concerning EMFs were identified using latent class analysis, with the high risk perception class comprising 11% of the participants. Many school teachers (56%) and nursery school teachers (77%) perceived themselves as poorly informed about EMFs. The group discussions provided deeper insights and supported these findings. The interviews revealed that both professional groups had concerns about the health effects of EMFs. Knowledge of scientific evidence concerning EMFs and health was low. Moreover, the discussions revealed a desire for more information on EMFs and health.

conclusionsA notable proportion of school teachers and nursery school teachers indicated considerable risk perception towards EMFs. Most participants indicated low subjective information levels, expressing a need for information on EMF health effects. Communication formats tailored to this target group should be developed and evaluated.

Indexed as

Electromagnetic FieldsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeOccupational ExposureSchools, NurserySchool TeachersAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFocus GroupsGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk AssessmentSurveys and QuestionnairesElectromagnetic FieldsHealth communicationKnowledgeLatent class analysisNursery school teachersRisk PerceptionSchool teachers

Identifiers

PMID42332615
PMCPMC13352703

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.