Citation

VanMeenen KM, Cherniack NS, Bergen MT, Gleason LA, Teichman R, Servatius RJ. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2010; 52(2): 197-201.

Affiliation

Stress and Motivated Behavior Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA. vanmeekm@umdnj.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181cc58ba

PMID

20134349

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Occupational health risk with regard to training exercises is a relatively under studied domain for law enforcement officers. One potential health risk is exposure to electronic control devices (ECDs). METHODS: Seven different training facilities in six states participated. Law enforcement trainees (N = 118) were exposed to Taser International's (Scottsdale, AZ) X26 for up to 5 seconds. RESULTS: There was no evidence of cardiac or skeletal muscle breakdown. Exposure did not adversely affect electrocardiogram (ECG) morphology obtained 24 hours after exposure in 99 trainees. For two trainees with preexisting ECG abnormalities, ECG morphology differed in the post-ECD samples. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this large, multisite study suggest that, for most trainees, ECD exposure does not represent a significant health risk. Further investigation is warranted for cardiac vulnerability and potential interactions with ECD exposure.

Language: en