Article

GSM Base Stations: Short-Term Effects on Well-Being

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  • Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-term GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular phone base station RF-EMF (radiofrequency electromagnetic fields) exposure on psychological symptoms (good mood, alertness, calmness) as measured by a standardized well-being questionnaire. Fifty-seven participants were selected and randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios. Each of those scenarios subjected participants to five 50-min exposure sessions, with only the first four relevant for the study of psychological symptoms. Three exposure levels were created by shielding devices in a field laboratory, which could be installed or removed during the breaks between sessions such that double-blinded conditions prevailed. The overall median power flux densities were 5.2 microW/m(2) during "low," 153.6 microW/m(2) during "medium," and 2126.8 microW/m(2) during "high" exposure sessions. For scenario HM and MH, the first and third sessions were "low" exposure. The second session was "high" and the fourth was "medium" in scenario HM; and vice versa for scenario MH. Scenario LL had four successive "low" exposure sessions constituting the reference condition. Participants in scenarios HM and MH (high and medium exposure) were significantly calmer during those sessions than participants in scenario LL (low exposure throughout) (P = 0.042). However, no significant differences between exposure scenarios in the "good mood" or "alertness" factors were obtained. We conclude that short-term exposure to GSM base station signals may have an impact on well-being by reducing psychological arousal.

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... Effects of exposure on individuals with IEI-EMF were reported in seven studies. Of these seven studies, four reported more severe or a higher number of symptoms [52][53][54][55] and three found less severe or a lower number of symptoms [56][57][58]. Furthermore, five of these seven studies tested only IEI-EMF individuals or found an indication of an effect of exposure only in the group of IEI-EMF individuals [52-54, 57, 58], while two studies found altered symptom levels in the combined group of individuals with IEI-EMF and healthy controls [55,56]. ...
... Of these seven studies, four reported more severe or a higher number of symptoms [52][53][54][55] and three found less severe or a lower number of symptoms [56][57][58]. Furthermore, five of these seven studies tested only IEI-EMF individuals or found an indication of an effect of exposure only in the group of IEI-EMF individuals [52-54, 57, 58], while two studies found altered symptom levels in the combined group of individuals with IEI-EMF and healthy controls [55,56]. Beyond these seven studies, Hillert et al. [39] reported that only the healthy control group showed reactions to RF signals. ...
... The p-values for all performed statistical comparisons were between 0.32 and 1.00. Similar results were found when removing from the analysis the three studies that suggested a protective effect of exposure [56][57][58]. ...
Article
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Background: Hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is a controversial condition. While individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) claim to experience health complaints upon EMF exposure, many experimental studies have found no convincing evidence for a physical relation. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate methodological limitations in experimental studies on symptom development in IEI-EMF individuals that might have fostered false positive or false negative results. Furthermore, we compared the profiles of these limitations between studies with positive and negative results. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guided the methodological conduct and reporting. Eligible were blinded experimental studies that exposed individuals with IEI-EMF to different EMF exposure levels and queried the development of symptoms during or after each exposure trial. Strengths and limitations in design, conduct and analysis of individual studies were assessed using a customized rating tool. Results: Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. In many studies, both with positive and negative results, we identified methodological limitations that might have either fostered false or masked real effects of exposure. The most common limitations were related to the selection of study participants, the counterbalancing of the exposure sequence and the effectiveness of blinding. Many studies further lacked statistical power estimates. Methodically sound studies indicated that an effect of exposure is unlikely. Conclusion: Overall, the evidence points towards no effect of exposure. If physical effects exist, previous findings suggest that they must be very weak or affect only few individuals with IEI-EMF. Given the evidence that the nocebo effect or medical/mental disorders may explain the symptoms in many individuals with IEI-EMF, additional research is required to identify the various factors that may be important for developing IEI-EMF and for provoking the symptoms. We recommend the identification of subgroups and exploring IEI-EMF in the context of other idiopathic environmental intolerances. If further experimental studies are conducted, they should preferably be performed at the individual level. In particular, to increase the likelihood of detecting hypersensitive individuals, if they exist, we encourage researchers to achieve a high credibility of the results by minimizing sources of risk of bias and imprecision.
... Far-field RF-EMF exposure Table 3 summarizes six experimental studies investigating the effects of far-field sources on health-related quality of life either in a laboratory setting (3 studies [17][18][19]) or in everyday environments (3 studies). Two of these field intervention studies assessed the application of RF-EMF shielding [20,21], the third was based on randomly turning on and off a temporary constructed mobile phone base station [22]. In total, 709 non-EHS individuals and 102 EHS individuals were included in these six trials. ...
... In another study with 57 volunteers, RF-EMF exposure increased the ratings of the participants concerning their calmness [20]. Leitgeb et al. [21] applied three exposure conditions (true shield, sham-shield, and control) to a collective of 43 EHS individuals during three nights each. ...
... Since the sporadic associations observed in 4 further studies point into different directions they may have occurred by chance: There were two beneficial exposure effects [14,20] and two detrimental effects [12,23]. Chance is, however, not a plausible explanation for the exceptional accurate on/off judgment of two participants in one trial because the p-values were below 10 À21 [29]. ...
Article
This is an update of a previous systematic review on the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and health-related quality of life that included studies published before August 2007 [1]. Since then, nine randomized trials addressed short-term exposures from close-to-body RF-EMF sources such as mobile phones, and two observational studies investigated the effects of mobile phone use on health-related quality of life. Six randomized trials addressed short-term far-field exposure arising, for instance, from mobile phone base stations, and eight studies evaluated the effects of environmental far-field RF-EMF exposure. In most of the randomized trials, no exposure-response association was observed. The sporadically reported associations did not show a consistent pattern regarding the type of symptoms or the direction of the effects (increase/decrease). Similarly, most of the recent observational studies did not show associations between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms. However, the exposure gradients were small and possible exposure misclassification is a limitation of these studies. Longitudinal studies as well as studies in children and adolescents are scarce. In summary, recent research did not indicate health-related quality of life to be affected by RF-EMF exposure in our everyday environment. Furthermore, none of the studies showed that individuals with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) were more susceptible to RF-EMF than the rest of the population. Nevertheless, the rapid technological development and anticipated increase in exposure levels warrant the conduct of further longitudinal studies. Due to the widespread use of wireless communication technologies potential adverse health effects would have major public health consequences.
... Of the 16 experiments included in the update, seven involved exposure to a signal designed to emulate a mobile phone handset [Wilen et al., 2006;Rubin et al., 2006b;Oftedal et al., 2007;Bamiou et al., 2008;Hillert et al., 2008;Kim et al., 2008;Kwon et al., 2008], four tested the effects of exposure to mobile phone base station-type signals [Regel et al., 2006;Eltiti et al., 2007;Augner et al., 2009;Furubayashi et al., 2009], four involved exposure to magnetic fields generated using transcranial magnetic stimuli or other magnetic coils [Frick et al., 2005;Wenzel et al., 2005;David et al., 2006;Landgrebe et al., 2008b] and one assessed the effects of installing a protective Faraday cage over the beds of IEI-EMF sufferers [Leitgeb et al., 2008]. Table 1 shows the results for the mobile phone handset-related experiments. ...
... The results for the mobile phone base station experiments are shown in Table 2. In one study, participants randomised to receive higher levels of exposure reported significantly higher levels of 'calmness' than those who received lower levels of exposure [Augner et al., 2009]. However, this effect was identified only when both the control and IEI-EMF groups were combined together and was no longer observed once the authors corrected for the number of endpoints tested [Augner et al., 2009]. ...
... In one study, participants randomised to receive higher levels of exposure reported significantly higher levels of 'calmness' than those who received lower levels of exposure [Augner et al., 2009]. However, this effect was identified only when both the control and IEI-EMF groups were combined together and was no longer observed once the authors corrected for the number of endpoints tested [Augner et al., 2009]. In another study, exposure to UMTS (3G) signals was found to be significantly associated with higher levels of agitation ...
Article
Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF; formerly 'electromagetic hypersensitivity') is a medically unexplained illness in which subjective symptoms are reported following exposure to electrical devices. In an earlier systematic review, we reported data from 31 blind provocation studies which had exposed IEI-EMF volunteers to active or sham electromagnetic fields and assessed whether volunteers could detect these fields or whether they reported worse symptoms when exposed to them. In this article, we report an update to that review. An extensive literature search identified 15 new experiments. Including studies reported in our earlier review, 46 blind or double-blind provocation studies in all, involving 1175 IEI-EMF volunteers, have tested whether exposure to electromagnetic fields is responsible for triggering symptoms in IEI-EMF. No robust evidence could be found to support this theory. However, the studies included in the review did support the role of the nocebo effect in triggering acute symptoms in IEI-EMF sufferers. Despite the conviction of IEI-EMF sufferers that their symptoms are triggered by exposure to electromagnetic fields, repeated experiments have been unable to replicate this phenomenon under controlled conditions. A narrow focus by clinicians or policy makers on bioelectromagnetic mechanisms is therefore, unlikely to help IEI-EMF patients in the long-term.
... Most of these studies were of cross-sectional design and exposure quantification was either based on the distance between place of residence and the next MPBS , spot measurements of MPBS radiation in the bedroom , or 24h personal measurements of RF-EMF exposure (Thomas et al., 2008a;. Four epidemiological studies applied an experimental approach (field intervention) either by turning on and off a MPBS (Heinrich et al., 2007;Danker-Hopfe et al., 2008) or by using shielding curtains to generate exposure differences Augner et al., 2009). Study sizes ranged from 43 to 26,039 participants. ...
... Among the few exceptions, there was one laboratory trial which showed an increased arousal score in the EHS group during UMTS exposure, which may be partly explained by the unbalanced order of exposures (Eltiti et al., 2007a). One field intervention study observed a small increase in calmness during the unshielded condition compared to the shielded condition, but no effect on mood and alertness (Augner et al., 2009). In an observational study from Egypt, several symptoms were more prevalent in 85 inhabitants or employees of a house near a MPBS compared to 80 employees considered unexposed (Abdel-Rassoul et al., 2007). ...
... Only one study showed significant improvements in sleep quality during shielding of exposure, but this was attributed to several participants successfully circumventing the study's blinding (Leitgeb et al. 2008). Although most of these provocation studies have taken place in the laboratory, several field interventions have been conducted, combining the advantages of a naturalistic setting with controlled exposure conditions, achieved by activating or deactivating an exposure equipment or by using shielding curtains to protect participants from pre-existing EMFs (Oftedal et al. 1995Oftedal et al. , 1999 Flodin et al. 2000; Heinrich et al. 2007; Danker-Hopfe et al. 2008; Leitgeb et al. 2008; Augner et al. 2009). None of these studies showed an increase of NSPS under active exposure conditions that did not exceed 0.43 V/m (Röösli et al. 2010a ); unexpectedly , a significant effect on " calmness " was observed in one of the studies (Augner et al. 2009 ). ...
... Although most of these provocation studies have taken place in the laboratory, several field interventions have been conducted, combining the advantages of a naturalistic setting with controlled exposure conditions, achieved by activating or deactivating an exposure equipment or by using shielding curtains to protect participants from pre-existing EMFs (Oftedal et al. 1995Oftedal et al. , 1999 Flodin et al. 2000; Heinrich et al. 2007; Danker-Hopfe et al. 2008; Leitgeb et al. 2008; Augner et al. 2009). None of these studies showed an increase of NSPS under active exposure conditions that did not exceed 0.43 V/m (Röösli et al. 2010a ); unexpectedly , a significant effect on " calmness " was observed in one of the studies (Augner et al. 2009 ). Finally, evidence supported by meta-analytic evaluations indicates that individuals with self-reported IEI-EMF are unlikely to detect the presence or absence of active exposure (Röösli 2008; Röösli et al. 2010a). ...
Chapter
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This is an overview and critical evaluation of the relevant literature on experimental and observational studies, addressing methodological concerns along with implications for future research.E-Book: http://books.google.nl/books?hl=nl&lr=&id=SsmSAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA259&dq=baliatsas+christos&ots=MiGHapdSre&sig=JMzU457cb_5J1yz11oovDHLFsZk#v=onepage&q=baliatsas%20christos&f=false
... Most of these studies were of cross-sectional design and exposure quantification was either based on the distance between place of residence and the next MPBS , spot measurements of MPBS radiation in the bedroom , or 24h personal measurements of RF-EMF exposure (Thomas et al., 2008a;. Four epidemiological studies applied an experimental approach (field intervention) either by turning on and off a MPBS (Heinrich et al., 2007;Danker-Hopfe et al., 2008) or by using shielding curtains to generate exposure differences Augner et al., 2009). Study sizes ranged from 43 to 26,039 participants. ...
... Among the few exceptions, there was one laboratory trial which showed an increased arousal score in the EHS group during UMTS exposure, which may be partly explained by the unbalanced order of exposures (Eltiti et al., 2007a). One field intervention study observed a small increase in calmness during the unshielded condition compared to the shielded condition, but no effect on mood and alertness (Augner et al., 2009). In an observational study from Egypt, several symptoms were more prevalent in 85 inhabitants or employees of a house near a MPBS compared to 80 employees considered unexposed (Abdel-Rassoul et al., 2007). ...
Article
Background: Little is known about the population's exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in industrialized countries. Objectives: To examine levels of exposure and the importance of different RF-EMF sources and settings in a sample of volunteers living in a Swiss city. Methods: RF-EMF exposure of 166 volunteers from Basel, Switzerland, was measured with personal exposure meters (exposimeters). Participants carried an exposimeter for 1 week (two separate weeks in 32 participants) and completed an activity diary. Mean values were calculated using the robust regression on order statistics (ROS) method. Results: Mean weekly exposure to all RF-EMF sources was 0.13 mW/m(2) (0.22 V/m) (range of individual means 0.014-0.881 mW/m(2)). Exposure was mainly due to mobile phone base stations (32.0%), mobile phone handsets (29.1%) and digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) phones (22.7%). Persons owning a DECT phone (total mean 0.15 mW/m(2)) or mobile phone (0.14 mW/m(2)) were exposed more than those not owning a DECT or mobile phone (0.10 mW/m(2)). Mean values were highest in trains (1.16 mW/m(2)), airports (0.74 mW/m(2)) and tramways or buses (0.36 mW/m(2)), and higher during daytime (0.16 mW/m(2)) than nighttime (0.08 mW/m(2)). The Spearman correlation coefficient between mean exposure in the first and second week was 0.61. Conclusions: Exposure to RF-EMF varied considerably between persons and locations but was fairly consistent within persons. Mobile phone handsets, mobile phone base stations and cordless phones were important sources of exposure in urban Switzerland.
... 31,39 Four epidemiological studies applied an experimental approach (field intervention) in which exposure was modified either by turning on and off an MPBS 28,29 or by using shielding curtains. 30,33 Sample size ranged from 43 to 26 039 participants. The cut-off values differentiating exposed from unexposed persons varied between 0.1 and 0.43 V/m. ...
... 18 One field intervention study observed a small increase in calmness under unshielded conditions compared with shielded conditions, but no effect on mood or alertness. 33 In an observational study from Egypt, several symptoms were more prevalent in 85 inhabitants or employees of a house near an MPBS compared with 80 employees considered unexposed. 27 In an Austrian study with 365 participants, a statistically significant association was found between 3 out of 14 symptoms (headache, cold hands and feet, concentration difficulties) and MPBS exposure. ...
Article
Full-text available
to review and evaluate the recent literature on the health effects of exposure to mobile phone base station (MPBS) radiation. we performed a systematic review of randomized human trials conducted in laboratory settings and of epidemiological studies that investigated the health effects of MPBS radiation in the everyday environment. we included in the analysis 17 articles that met our basic quality criteria: 5 randomized human laboratory trials and 12 epidemiological studies. The majority of the papers (14) examined self-reported non-specific symptoms of ill-health. Most of the randomized trials did not detect any association between MPBS radiation and the development of acute symptoms during or shortly after exposure. The sporadically observed associations did not show a consistent pattern with regard to symptoms or types of exposure. We also found that the more sophisticated the exposure assessment, the less likely it was that an effect would be reported. Studies on health effects other than non-specific symptoms and studies on MPBS exposure in children were scarce. the evidence for a missing relationship between MPBS exposure up to 10 volts per metre and acute symptom development can be considered strong because it is based on randomized, blinded human laboratory trials. At present, there is insufficient data to draw firm conclusions about health effects from long-term low-level exposure typically occurring in the everyday environment.
... A survey was performed with 57 participants, in the run-up of an experiment focusing on EMF emitted by mobile phone base stations and possible health effects, reported elsewhere. [4] The survey consisted of several parts: Asking anamnestic questions on medical history, and the use of four standardized questionnaires, which are, (1) the symptom-checklist SCL-90-R, (2) a standardized questionnaire to assess physical troubles (B-L), (3) a standardized state anxiety questionnaire (STAI), and (4) a well-being questionnaire (MDBF; all German versions) to assess the well-being. [5][6][7][8] Furthermore, we used a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess EMF health concerns, which included two scales (concern of EMF-sources: CSou; concern of EMFsymptoms: CSym), with questions such as "How strongly are you concerned about your health on grounds of electrosmog from base stations?", ...
... CSou and CSym-scale were highly consistent; the detailed results of consistency and single items have been reported elsewhere. [4] Regarding DBS, eight (14.04%) people answered that according to their knowledge there was no base station close to their home, 14 (24.56%) ...
Article
Full-text available
Coeval with the expansion of mobile phone technology and the associated obvious presence of mobile phone base stations, some people living close to these masts reported symptoms they attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Public and scientific discussions arose with regard to whether these symptoms were due to EMF or were nocebo effects. The aim of this study was to find out if people who believe that they live close to base stations show psychological or psychobiological differences that would indicate more strain or stress. Furthermore, we wanted to detect the relevant connections linking self-estimated distance between home and the next mobile phone base station (DBS), daily use of mobile phone (MPU), EMF-health concerns, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and psychological strain parameters. Fifty-seven participants completed standardized and non-standardized questionnaires that focused on the relevant parameters. In addition, saliva samples were used as an indication to determine the psychobiological strain by concentration of alpha-amylase, cortisol, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and substance P. Self-declared base station neighbors (DBS </= 100 meters) had significantly higher concentrations of alpha-amylase in their saliva, higher rates in symptom checklist subscales (SCL) somatization, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and global strain index PST (Positive Symptom Total). There were no differences in EMF-related health concern scales. We conclude that self-declared base station neighbors are more strained than others. EMF-related health concerns cannot explain these findings. Further research should identify if actual EMF exposure or other factors are responsible for these results.
... The results of the study indicated that the majority of the survey population had little concern about mobile phone radiation, while a minority is very concerned. Augner et al. (2009) examined the effects of short-term GSM base station exposure on psychological symptoms including good mood, alertness, and calmness as measured by a standardized well-being questionnaire. Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios. ...
Article
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The siting of cellular phone base stations and other cellular infrastructure such as roof-mounted antenna arrays, especially in residential neighborhoods, is a contentious subject in land-use regulation. Local resistance from nearby residents and landowners is often based on fears of adverse health effects despite reassurances from telecommunications service providers that international exposure standards will be followed. Both anecdotal reports and some epidemiology studies have found headaches, skin rashes, sleep disturbances, depression, decreased libido, increased rates of suicide, concentration problems, dizziness, memory changes, increased risk of cancer, tremors, and other neurophysiological effects in populations near base stations. The objective of this paper is to review the existing studies of people living or working near cellular infrastructure and other pertinent studies that could apply to long-term, low-level radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposures. While specific epidemiological research in this area is sparse and contradictory, and such exposures are difficult to quantify given the increasing background levels of RFR from myriad personal consumer products, some research does exist to warrant caution in infrastructure siting. Further epidemiology research that takes total ambient RFR exposures into consideration is warranted. Symptoms reported today may be classic microwave sickness, first described in 1978. Nonionizing electromagnetic fields are among the fastest growing forms of environmental pollution. Some extrapolations can be made from research other than epidemiology regarding biological effects from exposures at levels far below current exposure guidelines.
... As shown in Tables 1-5, only a very few studies of EHS have examined biochemical markers [21,23,125,163,168,170,204,213]. This data lacks systematic approach and, because of its scarcity, is still insufficient to provide scientifically reliable data on the biochemistry and physiology of EHS. ...
Article
Full-text available
Part of the population considers themselves as sensitive to the man-made electromagnetic radiation (EMF) emitted by powerlines, electric wiring, electric home appliance and the wireless communication devices and networks. Sensitivity is characterized by a broad variety of non-specific symptoms that the sensitive people claim to experience when exposed to EMF. While the experienced symptoms are currently considered as a real life impairment, the factor causing these symptoms remains unclear. So far, scientists were unable to find causality link between symptoms experienced by sensitive persons and the exposures to EMF. However, as presented in this review, the executed to-date scientific studies, examining sensitivity to EMF, are of poor quality to find the link between EMF exposures and sensitivity symptoms of some people. It is logical to consider that the sensitivity to EMF exists but the scientific methodology used to find it is of insufficient quality. It is time to drop out psychology driven provocation studies that ask about feelings-based non-specific symptoms experienced by volunteers under EMF exposure. Such research approach produces only subjective and therefore highly unreliable data that is insufficient to prove, or to disprove, causality link between EHS and EMF. There is a need for a new direction in studying sensitivity to EMF. The basis for it is the notion of a commonly known phenomenon of individual sensitivity, where individuals' responses to EMF depend on the genetic and epigenetic properties of the individual. It is proposed here that new studies, combining provocation approach, where volunteers are exposed to EMF, and high-throughput technologies of transcriptomics and proteomics are used to generate objective data, detecting molecular level biochemical responses of human body to EMF.
... Recently, Wiholm et al. (2009) found that subjects with self-reported symptoms who were performing a virtual spatial navigation test scored better after exposure to 884 MHz at an average SAR of 1.4 W/kg. Augner et al. (2009) studied psychological symptoms (good mood, alertness, calmness) in subjects exposed to GSM base station signals for 50 minutes. Exposure levels were 5.2 µW/cm 2 ("low"), 153.6 µW/cm 2 ("medium"), and 2126.8 µW/cm 2 ("high"). ...
Book
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The purpose of this opinion is to update the SCENIHR opinion of 21 March 2007 in the light of newly available information, and to provide a methodological framework and corresponding guidelines to evaluate available scientific evidence in order to ensure the best possible quality for risk assessment. 1. Update Radio frequency fields (RF fields) It is concluded from three independent lines of evidence (epidemiological, animal and in vitro studies) that exposure to RF fields is unlikely to lead to an increase in cancer in humans. However, as the widespread duration of exposure of humans to RF fields from mobile phones is shorter than the induction time of some cancers, further studies are required to identify whether considerably longer-term (well beyond ten years) human exposure to such phones might pose some cancer risk. Regarding non-carcinogenic outcomes, several studies were performed on subjects reporting subjective symptoms. In the previous opinion, it was concluded that scientific studies had failed to provide support for a relationship between RF exposure and selfreported symptoms. Although an association between RF exposure and single symptoms was indicated in some new studies, taken together, there is a lack of consistency in the findings. Therefore, the conclusion that scientific studies have failed to provide support for an effect of RF fields on self-reported symptoms still holds. Scientific studies have indicated that a nocebo effect (an adverse non-specific effect that is caused by expectation or belief that something is harmful) may play a role in symptom formation. As in the previous opinion, there is no evidence supporting that individuals, including those attributing symptoms to RF exposure, are able to detect RF fields. There is some evidence that RF fields can influence EEG patterns and sleep in humans. However, the health relevance is uncertain and mechanistic explanation is lacking. Further investigation of these effects is needed. Other studies on functions/aspects of the nervous system, such as cognitive functions, sensory functions, structural stability, and cellular responses show no or no consistent effects. Recent studies have not shown effects from RF fields on human or animal reproduction and development. No new data have appeared that indicate any other effects on human health. From the risk assessment perspective it is important to recognise that information on possible effects caused by RF fields in children is limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of information on diseases other than those discussed in this report. Intermediate frequency fields (IF fields) Occupational exposure to IF fields in certain areas is considerably higher than exposure to the general public. However, very little research on IF and health risks in occupational settings or for the general public have been presented since the previous opinion, and no epidemiological studies have appeared. Consequently, the data are still too limited for an appropriate risk assessment. In view of the increasing occupational exposure to IF among workers in e.g. security, shops, and certain industries it is important that research in this area is given priority. Extremely low frequency fields (ELF fields) The few new epidemiological and animal studies that have addressed ELF exposure and cancer do not change the previous assessment that ELF magnetic fields are a possible carcinogen and might contribute to an increase in childhood leukaemia. At present, in vitro studies did not provide a mechanistic explanation of this epidemiological finding. No new studies support a causal relationship between ELF fields and self-reported symptoms. Health Effects of Exposure to EMF 5 New epidemiological studies indicate a possible increase in Alzheimer's disease arising from exposure to ELF. Further epidemiological and laboratory investigations of this observation are needed. Recent animal studies provided an indication for effects on the nervous system at flux densities from 0.10-1.0 mT. However, there are still inconsistencies in the data, and no definite conclusions can be drawn concerning human health effects. Very few recent in vitro studies have investigated effects from ELF fields on diseases other than cancer and those available have very little relevance. There is a need for hypothesis-based in vitro studies to examine specific diseases. It is notable that in vivo and in vitro studies show effects at exposure levels (from 0.10 mT and above) to ELF fields that are considerably higher than the levels encountered in the epidemiological studies (μT-levels) which showed an association between exposure and diseases such as childhood leukaemia and Alzheimer's disease. This warrants further investigation. Static fields Although a fair number of studies have been published since the last opinion, the conclusion drawn there stands: there is still a lack of adequate data for a proper risk assessment of static magnetic fields. More research is necessary, especially to clarify the many mixed and sometimes contradictory results. Short term effects have been observed primarily on sensory functions for acute exposure. However, there is no consistent evidence for sustained adverse health effects from short term exposure up to several teslas. Environmental effects The current database is inadequate for the purposes of the assessment of possible risks due to environmental exposure to RF, IF and ELF. Research recommendations The scientific rationale has identified a number of areas characterised by insufficient and contradictory information regarding possible health associated effects from the various frequency bands of the EMF spectrum. It is recommended that certain knowledge gaps are filled. 2. Methodological Framework The SCENIHR is asked to provide a methodological framework and corresponding guidelines to evaluate available scientific evidence in order to ensure the best possible quality for risk assessment. The subject is covered in detail in chapter 3.8 of the opinion. The present opinion provides a methodological framework and guidelines as: - a general outline of criteria used for making EMF health risk assessment - a description of the work procedure leading to the overall evaluation - a specialised section where characteristics and quality criteria regarding dosimetry and exposure assessment, epidemiology, human laboratory studies, in vivo studies, and in vitro studies are presented.
... A szerzôk öt évvel késôbb készült újabb áttekintése -melyben további 15 provokációs kísérlet eredményeit dolgozták fel -sem eredményezett az elektromágneses expozíció és a tünetek közvetlen ok-okozati viszonyát támogató adatokat (Rubin és mtsai, 2010). Az eredmények ellentmondásosságát jól jelzi, hogy míg egy provokációs vizsgálat résztvevôi intenzívebb mobiltelefon-bázisállomás-expozíció esetén fokozottabb nyugalomérzésrôl számoltak be (Augner, Florian, Pauser, Oberfeld, & Hacker, 2009), addig egy másik vizsgálatban mobiltelefon-szignálok jelenléte fokozott ingerlékenységgel társult az IEI-EMF-csoportban (Eltiti és mtsai, 2007). Ráadásul további két vizsgálatban az IEI-EMF-es személyek rosszabbul teljesítettek a valós és álmezôk megkülönböztetésében, mint kontrolltársaik, ami leginkább arra vezethetô vissza, hogy az elektroszenzitív csoport az álexpozíció során is gyakrabban tapasztalt fizikai érzeteket (Frick és mtsai, 2005; Landgrebe és mtsai, 2008). ...
Article
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The term "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" (EHS) refers to a typical representative of the health problems associated with the modern era. People with EHS experience unpleasant non-specific symptoms and aversive mood states in the proximity of functioning electric devices and machines. This narrative review summarizes the most important issues in the definition, diagnosis and therapy of the phenomenon as well as the supporting empirical results of the various explanation attempts about the background mechanisms. According to the most accepted approach, EHS represents a special type of the idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) where causality is yet to be explored. Although direct biological effects of the electromagnetic field and radiation (often mentioned as "toxicogenic theory") cannot be excluded, the majority of the empirical evidences favour the "psychogenic" origin of the complaints. Symptoms can also be evoked by sham exposure, and sufferers are prone to somatization and somatosensory amplification, therefore EHS is often regarded as a nocebo-like phenomenon. Accordingly, the EHS represents a multicausal disturbance that can be explained and treated using the biopsychosocial approach.
... Sporadic associations, some of them negative, were found for other sources such as induction hob, electric/ceramic hob and pc or laptop. Considering the large number of regression models carried out, a few statistically significant associations are expected by chance; negative associations have been previously observed in the literature, independently of study design (Augner et al., 2009;Heinrich et al., 2011;Nieto-Hernandez et al., 2011;Thomas et al., 2008). ...
Article
There is continuing scientific debate and increasing public concern regarding the possible effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on general population‘s health. To date, no epidemiological study has investigated the possible association between actual and perceived EMF exposure and non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) and sleep quality, using both self-reported and general practice (GP)-registered data. A health survey of adult (≥18) participants (n=5933) in the Netherlands was combined with the electronic medical records (EMRs) of NSPS as registered by general practitioners. Characterization of actual exposure was based on several proxies, such as prediction models of radiofrequency (RF)-EMF exposure, geo-coded distance to high-voltage overhead power lines and self-reported use/distance of/to indoor electrical appliances. Perceived exposure and the role of psychological variables were also examined. Perceived exposure had a poor correlation with the actual exposure estimates. No significant association was found between modeled RF-EMF exposure and the investigated outcomes. Associations with NSPS were observed for use of an electric blanket and close distance to an electric charger during sleep. Perceived exposure, perceived control and avoidance behavior were associated with the examined outcomes. The association between perceived exposure was stronger for self-reported than for GP-registered NSPS. There was some indication, but no consistent pattern for an interaction between idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI-EMF) and the association between actual exposure and NSPS. In conclusion, there is no convincing evidence for an association between everyday life RF-EMF exposure and NSPS and sleep quality in the population. Better exposure characterization, in particular with respect to sources of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) is needed to draw more solid conclusions. We argue that perceived exposure is an independent determinant of NSPS.
... There is consistent data showing a slightly higher risk of leukemia among children living close to power lines. Moreover, the International Agency for Research on Cancer 2 has recently classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly being carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use 3 , as well as other effects on short-term wellness 4 . ...
Article
Introduction: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are commonly used in hospitals to detect and treat certain diseases or ailments, exposing healthcare workers daily to such fields and casting doubts about workers and patients safety. Objectives: To quantify the actual exposure to high-frequency electric fields of workers and public hospitals users in the Balearic Islands (Spain) and the compliance with the references levels established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Material and Methods: High-frequency radiation exposure levels were measured in different areas and compared with ICNIRP levels and Spanish regulation, using a broadband field strength meter and a spectrum analyzer. Results: 1,290 measurements were performed obtaining a median electric field of 0.31 V/m (1st quartile: 0.16 V/m; 3rd quartile: 0.67 V/m). Users and workers are exposed to electric fields from 0.19 V/m to 0.25 V/m in all areas, but Rehabilitation and Radiology. In the former, the patients (not under microwave therapy) are exposed to EMF between 1.87 V/m and 25.71 V/m. Discussion and conclusions: Although effective electric field values are lower than the reference levels, measures should be taken to reduce exposure of especially sensitive people (infants, children, pregnant women,...) and ensure regular monitoring of the exposure.
... Other researchers focused their work on the possible existence of participants with sensitivity to GSM or UMTS signals according to psychological, cognitive or autonomic assessment. These researchers used shortterm exposure (only 30-50 min) under laboratory conditions [21][22][23] and revealed a large disparity between participants. Recently, a study measuring several biological stress markers 24 found that RF EMF emitted by mobile phone BSs from 5.2 to 2126.8 μW/m 2 increased cortisol and salivary α-amylase, while IgA concentration was not significantly modified. ...
... Other researchers focused their work on the possible existence of participants with sensitivity to GSM or UMTS signals according to psychological, cognitive or autonomic assessment. These researchers used shortterm exposure (only 30-50 min) under laboratory conditions [21][22][23] and revealed a large disparity between participants. Recently, a study measuring several biological stress markers 24 found that RF EMF emitted by mobile phone BSs from 5.2 to 2126.8 μW/m 2 increased cortisol and salivary α-amylase, while IgA concentration was not significantly modified. ...
Article
Full-text available
We performed a re-analysis of the data from Navarro et al (2003) in which health symptoms related to microwave exposure from mobile phone base stations (BSs) were explored, including data obtained in a retrospective inquiry about fear of exposure from BSs. Cross-sectional study. La Ñora (Murcia), Spain. Participants with known illness in 2003 were subsequently disregarded: 88 participants instead of 101 (in 2003) were analysed. Since weather circumstances can influence exposure, we restricted data to measurements made under similar weather conditions. A statistical method indifferent to the assumption of normality was employed: namely, binary logistic regression for modelling a binary response (eg, suffering fatigue (1) or not (0)), and so exposure was introduced as a predictor variable. This analysis was carried out on a regular basis and bootstrapping (95% percentile method) was used to provide more accurate CIs. The symptoms most related to exposure were lack of appetite (OR=1.58, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.03); lack of concentration (OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.89); irritability (OR=1.51, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.85); and trouble sleeping (OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.84). Changes in -2 log likelihood showed similar results. Concerns about the BSs were strongly related with trouble sleeping (OR =3.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 8.86). The exposure variable remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. The bootstrapped values were similar to asymptotic CIs. This study confirms our preliminary results. We observed that the incidence of most of the symptoms was related to exposure levels-independently of the demographic variables and some possible risk factors. Concerns about adverse effects from exposure, despite being strongly related with sleep disturbances, do not influence the direct association between exposure and sleep.
... Sporadic associations, some of them negative, were found for other sources such as induction hob, electric/ceramic hob and pc or laptop. Considering the large number of regression models carried out, a few statistically significant associations are expected by chance; negative associations have been previously observed in the literature, independently of study design (Augner et al., 2009;Heinrich et al., 2011;Nieto-Hernandez et al., 2011;Thomas et al., 2008). ...
... Sporadic associations, some of them negative, were found for other sources such as induction hob, electric/ceramic hob and pc or laptop. Considering the large number of regression models carried out, a few statistically significant associations are expected by chance; negative associations have been previously observed in the literature, independently of study design (Augner et al., 2009;Heinrich et al., 2011;Nieto-Hernandez et al., 2011;Thomas et al., 2008). ...
... The results of the study indicated that the majority of the survey population had little concern about mobile phone radiation, while a minority is very concerned. Augner et al. (2009) examined the effects of short-term GSM base station exposure on psychological symptoms including good mood, alertness, and calmness as measured by a standardized well-being questionnaire. Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios. ...
Article
Full-text available
The siting of cellular phone base stations and other cellular infrastructure such as roof-mounted antenna arrays, especially in residential neighborhoods, is a contentious subject in land-use regulation. Local resistance from nearby residents and landowners is often based on fears of adverse health effects despite reassurances from telecommunications service providers that international exposure standards will be followed. Both anecdotal reports and some epidemiology studies have found headaches, skin rashes, sleep disturbances, depression, decreased libido, increased rates of suicide, concentration problems, dizziness, memory changes, increased risk of cancer, tremors, and other neurophysiological effects in populations near base stations. The objective of this paper is to review the existing studies of people living or working near cellular infrastructure and other pertinent studies that could apply to long-term, low-level radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposures. While specific epidemiological research in this area is sparse and contradictory, and such exposures are difficult to quantify given the increasing background levels of RFR from myriad personal consumer products, some research does exist to warrant caution in infrastructure siting. Further epidemiology research that takes total ambient RFR exposures into consideration is warranted. Symptoms reported today may be classic microwave sickness, first described in 1978. Nonionizing electromagnetic fields are among the fastest growing forms of environmental pollution. Some extrapolations can be made from research other than epidemiology regarding biological effects from exposures at levels far below current exposure guidelines.
... The RAS, through its nonspecific arousal of the cortex, helps to maintain a state of alert consciousness 38 . It has been concluded by Augner et al. 39 that short-term exposure to GSM base station signals may have an impact on well being by reducing psychological arousal. Therefore, as shown from ER% calculations (Table VII) which showed a state of inhibition in the midbrain of young rats, it could be suggested that the young users of mobile phones may be under the risk of impaired alertness. ...
Article
Full-text available
Mobile phone radiation and health concerns have been raised, especially following the enormous increase in the use of wireless mobile telephony throughout the world. The present study aims to investigate the effect of one hour daily exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with frequency of 900 Mz (SAR 1.165 w/kg, power density 0.02 mW/cm2) on the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in the midbrain, cerebellum and medulla of adult and young male albino rats. Adult and young rats were divided into two main groups (treated and control). The treated group of both adult and young rats was exposed to EMR for 1 hour daily. The other group of both adult and young animals was served as control. The determination of amino acid levels was carried out after 1 hour, 1 month, 2 months and 4 months of EMR exposure as well as after stopping radiation. Data of the present study showed a significant increase in both excitatory and inhibitory amino acids in the cerebellum of adult and young rats and midbrain of adult animals after 1 hour of EMR exposure. In the midbrain of adult animals, there was a significant increase in glycine level after 1 month followed by significant increase in GABA after 4 months. Young rats showed significant decreases in the midbrain excitatory amino acids. In the medulla, the equilibrium ratio percent (ER%) calculations showed a state of neurochemical inhibition after 4 months in case of adult animals, whereas in young animals, the neurochemical inhibitory state was observed after 1 month of exposure due to significant decrease in glutamate and aspartate levels. This state was converted to excitation after 4 months due to the increase in glutamate level. The present changes in amino acid concentrations may underlie the reported adverse effects of using mobile phones.
... Our study followed the design of a double blinded experiment. In our recent publication dealing with effects on well-being, the study design used had been described in detail [17] : 57 participants were exposed to different levels of RF-EMF and randomized into three experimental scenarios. The age range was from 18 to 67 years; 61.4% of the volunteers were female, and 38.6% male. ...
Article
The present study aimed to test whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by mobile phone base stations may have effects on salivary alpha-amylase, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and cortisol levels. Fifty seven participants were randomly allocated to one of three different experimental scenarios (22 participants to scenario 1, 26 to scenario 2, and 9 to scenario 3). Each participant went through five 50-minute exposure sessions. The main RF-EMF source was a GSM-900-MHz antenna located at the outer wall of the building. In scenarios 1 and 2, the first, third, and fifth sessions were "low" (median power flux density 5.2 microW/m(2)) exposure. The second session was "high" (2126.8 microW/m(2)), and the fourth session was "medium" (153.6 microW/m(2)) in scenario 1, and vice versa in scenario 2. Scenario 3 had four "low" exposure conditions, followed by a "high" exposure condition. Biomedical parameters were collected by saliva samples three times a session. Exposure levels were created by shielding curtains. In scenario 3 from session 4 to session 5 (from "low" to "high" exposure), an increase of cortisol was detected, while in scenarios 1 and 2, a higher concentration of alpha-amylase related to the baseline was identified as compared to that in scenario 3. IgA concentration was not significantly related to the exposure. RF-EMF in considerably lower field densities than ICNIRP-guidelines may influence certain psychobiological stress markers.
Article
Full-text available
Kétrészes narratív összefoglalónkban áttekintést nyújtunk az elektromágneses tereknek tulajdonított idiopátiás környezeti intoleranciával (IEI-EMF, más néven elektromágneses túlérzékenységgel) kapcsolatos tudományos eredményekről, a kutatások jelenlegi állásáról. Az elektromágneses túlérzékenység olyan állapotot jelent, amely során az érintett személy tüneteket tapasztal az elektromos eszközök közelében vagy azok használatakor, és tüneteit az elektromágneses expozíciónak tulajdonítja. Az Egészségügyi Világszervezet jelenlegi álláspontja szerint az IEI-EMF nem diagnosztikus kategória, megállapításához jelenleg sem orvosi teszt, sem valid protokoll nem áll rendelkezésre. Jellemző az állapotra a nagyfokú distressz, gyakran vezet szociális izolációhoz, valamint a munkaképesség elvesztéséhez. Gyakoriak a különböző komorbid mentális zavarok, mint a szorongás, depresszió, szomatizáció. Az elektromágneses túlérzékenység etiológiájával kapcsolatos elméletek két fő irányvonalat képviselnek: míg a biofizikai megközelítés szerint a tüneteket elektromágneses mezők által aktivált fiziológiai folyamatok idézik elő, addig a pszichogén elméletet propagáló szerzők a tünetképzés jelenségét pszichológiai folyamatokkal magyarázzák (például torzult figyelmi és attribúciós folyamatok, nocebohatás, asszociatív tanulás). Számos kutató hangsúlyozza azonban, hogy a jelenség teljes megértéséhez a két megközelítés integrálására és interdiszciplináris kutatócsoportok felállítására van szükség. Jelen írásunkban a jelenséggel kapcsolatos jellemzőket kutatói és orvosi szemszögből járjuk körül: az etiológiával kapcsolatos elméletek bemutatásán túl kitérünk a vizsgálati, módszertani nehézségekre, a definíciós és diagnosztikus problémákra és a terápiás lehetőségekre.
Article
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The critical arguments for radiofrequency radiation exposure limits are currently based on the principle that radio frequencies (RF) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are non-ionising, and their exposure limits are even 100-fold lower than those emitted from the Sun in the whole RF-EMF spectrum. Nonetheless, this argument has been challenged by numerous experimental and theoretical studies on the diverse biological effects of RF-EMF at much lower power density (W/m2) levels than today’s exposing limits. On the other hand, less attention has been given to counterarguments based on the differences in the physics concepts underlying man-made versus natural electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and on the fact that man’s biology has been adapted to the natural EMR levels reaching Earth’s surface at single EMF wavelengths, which are the natural limits of man’s exposure to EMFs. The article highlights the main points of interaction of natural and man-made radiation with biomatter and reveals the physical theoretical background that explains the effects of manmade microwave radiation on biological matter. Moreover, the article extends its analysis on experimental quantum effects, establishing the “ionising-like” effects of man-made microwave radiation on biological matter.
Article
The objective of this work was to perform a complete review of the existing scientific literature to update the knowledge on the effects of base station antennas on humans. Studies performed in real urban conditions, with mobile phone base stations situated close to apartments, were selected. Overall results of this review show three types of effects by base station antennas on the health of people: radiofrequency sickness (RS), cancer (C) and changes in biochemical parameters (CBP). Considering all the studies reviewed globally (n = 38), 73.6% (28/38) showed effects: 73.9% (17/23) for radiofrequency sickness, 76.9% (10/13) for cancer and 75.0% (6/8) for changes in biochemical parameters. Furthermore, studies that did not meet the strict conditions to be included in this review provided important supplementary evidence. The existence of similar effects from studies by different sources (but with RF of similar characteristics), such as radar, radio and television antennas, wireless smart meters and laboratory studies, reinforce the conclusions of this review. Of special importance are the studies performed on animals or trees near base station antennas that cannot be aware of their proximity and to which psychosomatic effects can never be attributed.
Article
The use of wireless communication technology in mobile phones has revolutionized modern telecommunication and mobile phones have become so popular that their number exceeds the global population. Electromagnetic field radiations (EMR) are an integral part of wireless technology, which are emitted by mobile phones, mobile towers, electric power stations, transmission lines, radars, microwave ovens, television sets, refrigerators, diagnostic/therapeutic and other electronic devices. The manmade EMR sources have added to the existing burden of natural EMR human exposure arising from the Sun, cosmos, atmospheric discharges, and thunderstorms. EMR including radiofrequency waves (RF) and extremely low frequency radiation (ELF) has generated great interest as their human exposure causes headache, fatigue, tinnitus, concentration problems, depression, memory loss, skin irritation, sleep disorders, nausea, cardiovascular effects, chest pain, immunity and hormonal disorders as the short-term effects and cancer as the late effect. The review has been written by collecting the information using various search engines including google scholar, PubMed SciFinder, Science direct, EMF-portal, saferemr, and other websites on the internet and its main focus is on the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of EMR in humans and mammals. Numerous investigations revealed that exposure in the range of 0–300 GHz EMR is harmless as this did not increase micronuclei and chromosome aberrations. On the contrary, several other studies have demonstrated that exposure to EMR increases the frequency of micronuclei, chromosome aberrations, DNA adducts, DNA single and double strand breaks at the molecular level in vitro and in vivo. The EMR exposure induces reactive oxygen species and changes the fidelity of genes involved in signal transduction, cytoskeleton formation, and cellular metabolism.
Article
Purpose The deployment of new 5G NR technology has significantly raised public concerns in possible negative effects on human health by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). The current review is aimed to clarify the differences between possible health effects caused by the various generations of telecommunication technology, especially discussing and projecting possible health effects by 5G. The review of experimental studies on the human brain over the last fifteen years and the discussion on physical mechanisms and factors determining the dependence of the RF EMF effects on frequency and signal structure have been performed to discover and explain the possible distinctions between health effects by different telecommunication generations. Conclusions The human experimental studies on RF EMF effects on the human brain by 2G, 3G and 4G at frequencies from 450 to 2500 MHz were available for analyses. The search for publications indicated no human experimental studies by 5G nor at the RF EMF frequencies higher than 2500 MHz. The results of the current review demonstrate no consistent relationship between the character of RF EMF effects and parameters of exposure by different generations (2G, 3G, 4G) of telecommunication technology. At the RF EMF frequencies lower than 10 GHz, the impact of 5G NR FR1 should have no principal differences compared to the previous generations. The radio frequencies used in 5G are even higher and the penetration depths of the fields are smaller, therefore the effect is rather lower than at previous generations. At the RF EMF frequencies higher than 10 GHz, the mechanism of the effects might differ and the impact of 5G NR FR2 becomes unpredictable. Existing knowledge about the mechanism of RF EMF effects at millimeter waves lacks sufficient experimental data and theoretical models for reliable conclusions. The insufficient knowledge about the possible health effects at millimeter waves and the lack of in vivo experimental studies on 5G NR underline an urgent need for the theoretical and experimental investigations of health effects by 5G NR, especially by 5G NR FR2.
Chapter
Over the last decade, the exponential growth of mobile communication has been accompanied by a parallel increase in density of electromagnetic fields (EMF). The continued expansion of mobile phone usage raises important questions as EMF, especially radio frequency (RF), have long been suspected of having biological effects. Because mobile phones and other wireless gadgets are held close to the body and are also used very frequently, these devices are potentially the most dangerous sources of EM radiation. This gave rise to an increasing concern for any unknown effects that may prove to be detrimental to human health.
Article
Purpose: This review aims to estimate the threshold of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) effects on human brain based on analyses of published research results. To clarify the threshold of the RF EMF effects, two approaches have been applied: 1) the analyses of restrictions in sensitivity for different steps of the physical model of low-level RF EMF mechanism and 2) the analyses of experimental data to clarify the dependence of the RF EMF effect on exposure level based on the results of published original neurophysiological and behavioral human studies for 15 years 2007-2021. Conclusions: The analyses of the physical model of non-thermal mechanisms of RF EMF effect leads to conclusion that no principal threshold of the effect can be determined. According to the review of experimental data, the rate of detected RF EMF effects is 76.7% in resting EEG studies, 41.7% in sleep EEG and 38.5% in behavioral studies. The changes in EEG probably appear earlier than alterations in behavior become evident. The lowest level of RF EMF at which the effect in EEG was detected is 2.45 V/m (SAR =0.003 W/kg). There is a preliminary indication that the dependence of the effect on the level of exposure follows rather field strength than SAR alterations. However, no sufficient data are available for clarifying linearity-nonlinearity of the dependence of effect on the level of RF EMF. The finding that only part of people are sensitive to RF EMF exposure can be related to immunity to radiation or hypersensitivity. The changes in EEG caused by RF EMF appeared similar in the majority of analyzed studies and similar to these in depression. The possible causal relationship between RF EMF effect and depression among young people is highly important problem.
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Il problema dell’invasività e dei rischi dei campi elettromagnetici ad alta frequenza è già stato trattato dalle nostre Associazioni. Nel corso degli anni si sono accumulate numerose evidenze sull’effetto nefasto di questa forma di inquinamento sulla salute umana e sull’ambiente. Nell’ultimo decennio sono state diffuse risoluzioni scientifiche e governative, consensi scientifici e documenti di posizione, rapporti di gruppi di scienziati indipendenti e appelli ai governi per invitare a limitare la diffusione dell’uso di tecnologie di comunicazione promuovendo standard di sicurezza per i campi elettromagnetici basati su evidenze biologiche. Alle raccomandazioni provenienti dal mondo scientifico, purtroppo, come nel caso dei pesticidi, delle emissioni in atmosfera e degli inquinanti organici persistenti (POP), è generalmente seguita una notevole inerzia normativa sia a livello europeo che nazionale. Ancora di più è trascurato, a livello politico e amministrativo, l’effetto sinergico di queste fonti di inquinamento, così come il Principio di Precauzione che dovrebbe guidare qualsiasi scelta in ambito gestionale. Nel frattempo i campi elettromagnetici artificiali e l’inquinamento diffuso hanno continuato ad aumentare significativamente per motivazioni più legate a interessi economici privati che a effettive necessità o al concreto interesse per la salute pubblica e la tutela ambientale. Negli ultimi tempi una notevole inquietudine si è diffusa anche presso i non addetti ai lavori per la nuova tecnologia 5G che minaccia, in un quadro già pericoloso almeno a livello locale, un ulteriore incremento dei campi elettromagnetici artificiali e l’utilizzo di frequenze mai utilizzate su così ampia scala in assenza di regole adeguate e di efficaci sistemi di monitoraggio dell’esposizione pubblica. Per questi motivi e per porre, ancora una volta, all’attenzione pubblica e ai mass media i rischi correlati a queste tecnologie abbiamo trattato in maniera per quanto possibile sintetica le informazioni provenienti dalla ricerca scientifica, offrendo al lettore una notevole bibliografia con la quale aumentare la propria conoscenza e farsi una propria idea della situazione presente, a nostro parere già inquietante. Le conclusioni a cui siamo giunti è che, se è vero che non si possono bloccare le innovazioni tecnologiche, esse devono essere tuttavia impiegate su larga scala solo dopo averne compiutamente considerato i possibili impatti ambientali e sanitari e solo dopo un efficace adeguamento delle normative in relazione alle conoscenze scientifiche, privilegiando la salute e l’ambiente prima di qualsiasi interesse economico. Per tutelare la salute pubblica si rende indispensabile recepire gli studi scientifici più recenti ed attuare quanto indicato dalla Raccomandazione 1815 dell’Assemblea Plenaria del Consiglio d’Europa del 2011, volta ad abbassare i limiti di esposizione alle radiofrequenza in relazione all’uso privato di telefoni mobili, telefoni DECT (cordless), WiFi, WLAN e WIMAX per computer, Baby Phones a 0,2 V/m sul “lungo termine”, mentre secondo il rapporto Bionitiative 2012 sulla base delle evidenze sperimentali e del principio di precauzione deve essere portato a 0,6 V/m nell’immediato. In relazione al 5G, fermi restando i presupposti di cui sopra, è necessaria una moratoria per valutare adeguatamente gli effetti sulla salute e sull’ambiente delle frequenze utilizzate, anche in relazione alla loro prevista onni-pervadenza. Vanno inoltre valutati i possibili effetti sulla sempre più folta comunità degli Elettrosensibili e sui soggetti potenzialmente più vulnerabili, come i bambini. Riteniamo inoltre doveroso, sulla base delle evidenze disponibili, il divieto di installazione di reti Wi-Fi negli asili e nelle scuole frequentate da bambini e ragazzi al di sotto dei 16 anni e il divieto di posizionamento di ripetitori di radiotelefonia in prossimità degli stessi luoghi.. Vi deve essere obbligo, per le Agenzie di Salute Pubblica, di valutare i rischi per la salute connessi alle radiofrequenze, selezionando studi scientifici indipendenti ed escludendo quelli finanziati dall’industria delle telecomunicazioni o da fondazioni ed enti finanziati dalla stessa. Riteniamo che debba essere sottoposto a Valutazione Ambientale Strategica l’intera Strategia per le Telecomunicazioni. Ricordiamo che il processo di VAS impone criteri ampi di partecipazione, tutela degli interessi legittimi e trasparenza del processo decisionale, attraverso il coinvolgimento e la consultazione dei soggetti competenti in materia ambientale e del pubblico che in interessato dall’iter decisionale. Auspichiamo la promozione di investimenti pubblici e detassazione per la connettività in fibra ottica e via cavo, che è la tecnologia più efficiente e sicura per la salute e per l’ambiente. Su questi presupposti siamo lieti di offrire al pubblico il nostro rapporto, svolto in modo del tutto indipendente. Gradiamo costruttivi feedback per migliorare ulteriormente la conoscenza di base e la divulgazione delle problematiche correlate all’incremento dei campi elettromagnetici artificiali e alla necessità di un adeguata normativa e di processi per quanto possibile trasparenti e partecipati di valutazione degli impatti delle nuove tecnologie.
Book
Full-text available
Il problema dell’invasività e dei rischi dei campi elettromagnetici ad alta frequenza è già stato trattato dalle nostre Associazioni. Nel corso degli anni si sono accumulate numerose evidenze sull’effetto nefasto di questa forma di inquinamento sulla salute umana e sull’ambiente. Nell’ultimo decennio sono state diffuse risoluzioni scientifiche e governative, consensi scientifici e documenti di posizione, rapporti di gruppi di scienziati indipendenti e appelli ai governi per invitare a limitare la diffusione dell’uso di tecnologie di comunicazione promuovendo standard di sicurezza per i campi elettromagnetici basati su evidenze biologiche. Alle raccomandazioni provenienti dal mondo scientifico, purtroppo, come nel caso dei pesticidi, delle emissioni in atmosfera e degli inquinanti organici persistenti (POP), è generalmente seguita una notevole inerzia normativa sia a livello europeo che nazionale. Ancora di più è trascurato, a livello politico e amministrativo, l’effetto sinergico di queste fonti di inquinamento, così come il Principio di Precauzione che dovrebbe guidare qualsiasi scelta in ambito gestionale. Nel frattempo i campi elettromagnetici artificiali e l’inquinamento diffuso hanno continuato ad aumentare significativamente per motivazioni più legate a interessi economici privati che a effettive necessità o al concreto interesse per la salute pubblica e la tutela ambientale. Negli ultimi tempi una notevole inquietudine si è diffusa anche presso i non addetti ai lavori per la nuova tecnologia 5G che minaccia, in un quadro già pericoloso almeno a livello locale, un ulteriore incremento dei campi elettromagnetici artificiali e l’utilizzo di frequenze mai utilizzate su così ampia scala in assenza di regole adeguate e di efficaci sistemi di monitoraggio dell’esposizione pubblica. Per questi motivi e per porre, ancora una volta, all’attenzione pubblica e ai mass media i rischi correlati a queste tecnologie abbiamo trattato in maniera per quanto possibile sintetica le informazioni provenienti dalla ricerca scientifica, offrendo al lettore una notevole bibliografia con la quale aumentare la propria conoscenza e farsi una propria idea della situazione presente, a nostro parere già inquietante. Le conclusioni a cui siamo giunti è che, se è vero che non si possono bloccare le innovazioni tecnologiche, esse devono essere tuttavia impiegate su larga scala solo dopo averne compiutamente considerato i possibili impatti ambientali e sanitari e solo dopo un efficace adeguamento delle normative in relazione alle conoscenze scientifiche, privilegiando la salute e l’ambiente prima di qualsiasi interesse economico. Per tutelare la salute pubblica si rende indispensabile recepire gli studi scientifici più recenti ed attuare quanto indicato dalla Raccomandazione 1815 dell’Assemblea Plenaria del Consiglio d’Europa del 2011, volta ad abbassare i limiti di esposizione alle radiofrequenza in relazione all’uso privato di telefoni mobili, telefoni DECT (cordless), WiFi, WLAN e WIMAX per computer, Baby Phones a 0,2 V/m sul “lungo termine”, mentre secondo il rapporto Bionitiative 2012 sulla base delle evidenze sperimentali e del principio di precauzione deve essere portato a 0,6 V/m nell’immediato. In relazione al 5G, fermi restando i presupposti di cui sopra, è necessaria una moratoria per valutare adeguatamente gli effetti sulla salute e sull’ambiente delle frequenze utilizzate, anche in relazione alla loro prevista onni-pervadenza. Vanno inoltre valutati i possibili effetti sulla sempre più folta comunità degli Elettrosensibili e sui soggetti potenzialmente più vulnerabili, come i bambini. Riteniamo inoltre doveroso, sulla base delle evidenze disponibili, il divieto di installazione di reti Wi-Fi negli asili e nelle scuole frequentate da bambini e ragazzi al di sotto dei 16 anni e il divieto di posizionamento di ripetitori di radiotelefonia in prossimità degli stessi luoghi.. Vi deve essere obbligo, per le Agenzie di Salute Pubblica, di valutare i rischi per la salute connessi alle radiofrequenze, selezionando studi scientifici indipendenti ed escludendo quelli finanziati dall’industria delle telecomunicazioni o da fondazioni ed enti finanziati dalla stessa. Riteniamo che debba essere sottoposto a Valutazione Ambientale Strategica l’intera Strategia per le Telecomunicazioni. Ricordiamo che il processo di VAS impone criteri ampi di partecipazione, tutela degli interessi legittimi e trasparenza del processo decisionale, attraverso il coinvolgimento e la consultazione dei soggetti competenti in materia ambientale e del pubblico che in interessato dall’iter decisionale. Auspichiamo la promozione di investimenti pubblici e detassazione per la connettività in fibra ottica e via cavo, che è la tecnologia più efficiente e sicura per la salute e per l’ambiente. Su questi presupposti siamo lieti di offrire al pubblico il nostro rapporto, svolto in modo del tutto indipendente. Gradiamo costruttivi feedback per migliorare ulteriormente la conoscenza di base e la divulgazione delle problematiche correlate all’incremento dei campi elettromagnetici artificiali e alla necessità di un adeguata normativa e di processi per quanto possibile trasparenti e partecipati di valutazione degli impatti delle nuove tecnologie.
Article
OBJECTIVE: To review and evaluate the recent literature on the health effects of exposure to mobile phone base station (MPBS) radiation. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of randomized human trials conducted in laboratory settings and of epidemiological studies that investigated the health effects of MPBS radiation in the everyday environment. FINDINGS: We included in the analysis 17 articles that met our basic quality criteria: 5 randomized human laboratory trials and 12 epidemiological studies. The majority of the papers (14) examined self-reported non-specific symptoms of ill-health. Most of the randomized trials did not detect any association between MPBS radiation and the development of acute symptoms during or shortly after exposure. The sporadically observed associations did not show a consistent pattern with regard to symptoms or types of exposure. We also found that the more sophisticated the exposure assessment, the less likely it was that an effect would be reported. Studies on health effects other than non-specific symptoms and studies on MPBS exposure in children were scarce. CONCLUSION: The evidence for a missing relationship between MPBS exposure up to 10 volts per metre and acute symptom development can be considered strong because it is based on randomized, blinded human laboratory trials. At present, there is insufficient data to draw firm conclusions about health effects from long-term low-level exposure typically occurring in the everyday environment.
Article
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Amaç: Bu derlemenin amacı baz istasyonlarının insan sağlığına etkilerini inceleyen uluslararası ve güncel bilimsel yayınları derleyerek bu konudaki bilimsel bilgi gereksinimini karşılamaya katkıda bulunmaktır. Yöntem: 27 Eylül 2012 tarihine dek PubMed ve Google Scholar arama motorunda “baz istasyonu”, “sağlık etkileri” anahtar sözcükleri kullanılarak bulunan yayınlar ve bu yayınların kaynakçalarından yararlanılarak elde edilen çalışmalar içinden toplam 22 orijinal araştırma makalesini derlemeye dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmaların 15’inde farklı sağlık göstergeleri ile elektromanyetik alan (EMA) arasında ilişki saptandığı görülmektedir. Çalışmaların dördünde herhangi bir ilişki saptanmamış, üçünde ise kurulan hipotez tam doğrulanmamıştır. Araştırmaların 11’i baz istasyonu kaynaklı EMA’nın akut, sekizi kronik, üçü de hem akut hem kronik sağlık etkilerini incelemiştir. Altı araştırmada EMA ölçümü yapılmamış, şiddetinin dolaylı göstergesi olarak mesafe kullanılmıştır. Bir çalışmada ölçüm yapılmış ancak sağlık verileri mesafe üzerinden değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmaların 12 tanesi bir kurum ya da kuruluştan finansal destek almıştır. Çalışmalardan iki tanesinin finansmanının yarısı cep telefonu firmaları tarafından yapılmıştır. Çalışmaların altı tanesi deneysel araştırma tipindedir ve üç çalışmada doz-yanıt ilişkisi bulunmaktadır. Sonuç ve Öneriler: Araştırmalar baz istasyonun sağlık riski taşıyabileceğine ilişkin işaretler göstermektedir. Uyku bozukluğu, depresif semptomlar, baş ağrısı, baş dönmesi, konsantrasyon güçlüğü, en sık tespit edilen semptomlardır. Bu alanda yapılacak ileriye dönük izlem çalışmalarına ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır. Baz istasyonlarıyla ilgili sınır değerler akut etkiler göz önünde bulundurularak yapılmıştır. Uzun erimde baz istasyonu antenlerinin ışıma açısı içinde kalan kişilerde, maruz kalınan süre, baz istasyonuna olan mesafe, yayılan elektromanyetik alanın şiddeti ve kişisel vücut dirençleri ile ilişkili olarak baz istasyonlarına bağlı sağlık etkilerinin gelişme olasılığı göz önünde bulundurularak toplumun sağlığını koruyacak yaklaşımlar benimsenmelidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Baz istasyonu, elektromanyetik alan, sağlık etkisi An update on the possible health effects of mobile phone base stations Objective: This study reviews the up-to-date international literature on the health impacts of mobile phone base stations. Methods: A literature search was conducted up to September 27, 2012 in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords "base station" and "health".The references in the articles found were also used and a total of 22 original research papers were identified and included in this review. Results: Among the studies found, 15 have detected an association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and different health indicators. Four of the studies have not found any association and the hypothesis was not totally confirmed. Eleven of the studies have investigated the acute, 8 the chronic and three both the acute and chronic effects of base stations on health. EMF measurements were not conducted in six of the studies and distance to base stations was used as a proxy instead. One of the studies measured EMF but used distance to investigate the health impacts. Twelve of the studies had received financial support from funds or institutions. Half of the funding of two studies was from cellular phone companies. Six of the studies were experimental and three of these found a dose-response relationship. Conclusions: Studies are showing signs of possible health risks due to base stations. Sleep disorders, depressive symptoms, headache, dizziness, concentration difficulties are the most frequently identified symptoms. There is need for prospective studies in this field. The international limit values regarding base stations are based on acute effects. In the long run, people living in the radiation angle of the phone masts may develop health problems depending on the time exposed, distance to base stations, the level of the EMF and their somatic resistance. In view of these possibilities, a protective approach towards community health should be adopted. Key Words: Base station, phone mast, electromagnetic field, health impacts/effects
Thesis
Zurzeit werden gesundheitliche Auswirkungen von Mobilfunkstrahlung auf den Menschen kontroversiell diskutiert. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersuchte mögliche Auswirkungen auf Befindlichkeit und psychische Variablen in zwei Studien. Es zeigte sich ein Trend bei einer Variable, es gab jedoch keine signifikanten Effekte. Bei den nicht-experimentellen Befunden wiesen Anrainer von Mobilfunksendeanlagen (self-rater) höhere psychische Belastung auf.
Article
Data from two previous studies were aggregated to provide a statistically powerful test of whether exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by telecommunication base stations negatively affects well-being in individuals who report idiopathic environmental illness with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and control participants. A total of 102 IEI-EMF and 237 controls participated in open provocation trials and 88 IEI-EMF and 231 controls went on to complete double-blind trials in which they were exposed to EMFs from a base station emitting either a Global System for Mobile Communication and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System or a Terrestrial Trunked Radio Telecommunications System signal. Both experiments included a comparison sham condition. Visual analog and symptom scales measured subjective well-being. Results showed that IEI-EMF participants reported lower levels of well-being during real compared to sham exposure during open provocation, but not during double-blind trials. Additionally, participants reported lower levels of well-being during high compared to low load trials and this did not interact with radiofrequency-EMF exposure. These findings are consistent with a growing body of literature indicating there is no causal relationship between short-term exposure to EMFs and subjective well-being in members of the public whether or not they report perceived sensitivity to EMFs. Bioelectromagnetics. 2015;9999:XX–XX. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Technical Report
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The Radiofrequency Toolkit was developed in response to requests from BC’s medical and environmental health officers to the BCCDC for assistance in assessing and communicating the risk to health from exposure to the many devices which emit radiofrequency waves. Students, public health residents, and specialists in epidemiology from outside BCCDC collaborated with staff from BCCDC and the National Collaborating Center for Environmental Health (NCCEH) on this project. The toolkit provides background on the physics of RF, its sources, measurement and exposure characteristics as well as an evaluation of the current scientific literature on potential biological and health effects associated with exposure to RF.
Conference Paper
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Background Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) remains a complex and unclear phenomenon, often characterized by the report of various, non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) when an EMF source is present or perceived by the individual. The lack of validated criteria for defining and assessing IEI-EMF affects the quality of the relevant research, hindering not only the comparison or integration of study findings, but also the identification and management of patients by health care providers. The objective of this review was to evaluate and summarize the criteria that previous studies employed to identify IEI-EMF participants. Methods An extensive literature search was performed for studies published up to June 2011. We searched EMBASE, Medline, Psychinfo, Scopus and Web of Science. Additionally, citation analyses were performed for key papers, reference sections of relevant papers were searched, conference proceedings were examined and a literature database held by the Mobile Phones Research Unit of King’s College London was reviewed. Results Sixty-three studies were included. “Hypersensitivity to EMF” was the most frequently used descriptive term. Despite heterogeneity, the criteria predominantly used to identify IEI-EMF individuals were: 1. Self-report of being (hyper)sensitive to EMF. 2. Attribution of NSPS to at least one EMF source. 3. Absence of medical or psychiatric/psychological disorder capable of accounting for these symptoms 4. Symptoms should occur soon (up to 24 hours) after the individual perceives an exposure source or exposed area. (Hyper)sensitivity to EMF was either generalized (attribution to various EMF sources) or source-specific. Experimental studies used a larger number of criteria than those of observational design and performed more frequently a medical examination or interview as prerequisite for inclusion. Conclusions Considerable heterogeneity exists in the criteria used by the researchers to identify IEI-EMF, due to explicit differences in their conceptual frameworks. Further work is required to produce consensus criteria not only for research purposes but also for use in clinical practice. This could be achieved by the development of an international protocol enabling a clearly defined case definition for IEI-EMF and a validated screening tool, with active involvement of medical practitioners.
Article
This paper quantitatively investigates the fractional condensate recovery and relative permeability following supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) injection, methane injection and the injection of their mixtures; and compositionally-sensitive reservoir gas relative permeability following SCCO2 injection. A high pressure high temperature experimental laboratory was established to simulate reservoir conditions and to perform relative permeability measurements on sandstone cores. All tests were made at measured miscible conditions of 5900psi, 95–160°C and constant flow velocity inside the cores of 10cm/h. Two sequences of coreflooding experiments were employed to replicate the displacement of reservoir gas by pure SCCO2 injection, and the displacement of condensate by injection of different SCCO2-methane concentrations. This work is part of an integrated enhanced gas and condensate recovery project conducted for a local reservoir in Western Australia. The results provide valuable insights into gas and condensate recovery following SCCO2 injection with various methane impurities. The results demonstrate that SCCO2 injection appears to offer less capillary instabilities and better mobility ratios resulting in a delayed breakthrough and favorable condensate sweep efficiency (79% recovery and 0.62 PV BT); as opposed to the injection of SCCO2-methane mixtures, or pure methane injection (45% recovery and 0.27 PV BT). Further, the relative permeability curves to condensate improve following SCCO2 injection due to decrease in condensate-to-gas viscosity ratio (curves cross at 58% gas saturation with SCCO2 injection compared to 24% gas saturation with methane injection). On the gas-gas side, experiments confirm that the greater the methane concentration in the reservoir gas (i.e. less CO2 contamination) the better relative permeability and sweep efficiency data become at the flooding temperatures and pressures (curves cross at 40% SCCO2 saturation when 90% methane is present in the reservoir compared to less than 5% SCCO2 saturation when only 25% methane is present in the porous medium). These data will help the operators develop operational and design strategies for their current and future EOR projects, as well as to input parameters for full-field simulation practices. Introduction Production from gas condensate reservoirs usually involves the simultaneous flow of two or more fluids when the reservoir pressure falls below the dew point. These fluids compete for the dynamical occupation of the micro-paths within the porous medium. On a laboratory scale, researchers1 have observed significant reductions of 70% to 95% in gas relative permeability in reservoir cores due to condensate build-up (often referred to as condensate banking or condensate blockage). The reduction in gas relative permeability was more pronounced during two-phase flow in the presence of water saturation due to the dual effect of condensate and water blockage. Condensate saturations in the near wellbore region can reach as high as 50–60% under pseudo steady-state flow conditions1. However, the severity of productivity index (PI) reduction is higher in low permeability cores. On a field scale, operators2 have reported that the accumulation of liquid saturation in the vicinity of a producing well can throttle the flow of gas, ultimately reduces the productivity of a well by a factor of two or more. Those figures clearly demonstrate that prediction capabilities of the dropout magnitude as well as remedial strategies are the crux of the reservoir engineering difficulties of managing gas condensate reservoirs.
Article
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Background Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) remains a complex and unclear phenomenon, often characterized by the report of various, non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) when an EMF source is present or perceived by the individual. The lack of validated criteria for defining and assessing IEI-EMF affects the quality of the relevant research, hindering not only the comparison or integration of study findings, but also the identification and management of patients by health care providers. The objective of this review was to evaluate and summarize the criteria that previous studies employed to identify IEI-EMF participants. Methods An extensive literature search was performed for studies published up to June 2011. We searched EMBASE, Medline, Psychinfo, Scopus and Web of Science. Additionally, citation analyses were performed for key papers, reference sections of relevant papers were searched, conference proceedings were examined and a literature database held by the Mobile Phones Research Unit of King’s College London was reviewed. Results Sixty-three studies were included. “Hypersensitivity to EMF” was the most frequently used descriptive term. Despite heterogeneity, the criteria predominantly used to identify IEI-EMF individuals were: 1. Self-report of being (hyper)sensitive to EMF. 2. Attribution of NSPS to at least one EMF source. 3. Absence of medical or psychiatric/psychological disorder capable of accounting for these symptoms 4. Symptoms should occur soon (up to 24 hours) after the individual perceives an exposure source or exposed area. (Hyper)sensitivity to EMF was either generalized (attribution to various EMF sources) or source-specific. Experimental studies used a larger number of criteria than those of observational design and performed more frequently a medical examination or interview as prerequisite for inclusion. Conclusions Considerable heterogeneity exists in the criteria used by the researchers to identify IEI-EMF, due to explicit differences in their conceptual frameworks. Further work is required to produce consensus criteria not only for research purposes but also for use in clinical practice. This could be achieved by the development of an international protocol enabling a clearly defined case definition for IEI-EMF and a validated screening tool, with active involvement of medical practitioners.
Article
For the last two decades, a large number of studies have investigated the effects of mobile phone radiation on the human brain and cognition using behavioral or neurophysiological measurements. This review evaluated previous findings with respect to study design and data analysis. Provocation studies found no evidence of subjective symptoms attributed to mobile phone radiation, suggesting psychological reasons for inducing such symptoms in hypersensitive people. Behavioral studies previously reported improved cognitive performance under exposure, but it was likely to have occurred by chance due to multiple comparisons. Recent behavioral studies and replication studies with more conservative statistics found no significant effects compared with original studies. Neurophysiological studies found no significant effects on cochlear and brainstem auditory processing, but only inconsistent results on spontaneous and evoked brain electrical activity. The inconsistent findings suggest possible false positives due to multiple comparisons and thus replication is needed. Other approaches such as brain hemodynamic response measurements are promising but the findings are few and not yet conclusive. Rigorous study design and data analysis considering multiple comparisons and effect size are required to reduce controversy in this important field of research.
Article
This study aims to address possible associations between excessive or dysfunctional use of mobile phones and certain psychological variables. Our study focuses on Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PU) in 196 young adults. A survey was arranged to measure PU, daily mobile phone use in minutes, use of short message service (SMS) and also included psychological and health variables (e.g., chronic stress, depression). Statistic analysis indicates that chronic stress, low emotional stability, female gender, young age, depression, and extraversion are associated with PU. Future research needs to clarify the causality of these findings and should also intend to develop concepts for a more meaningful use of mobile phone and related technologies.
Article
Microglia activation plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of central nervous system (CNS) insult. The aim of the present work was to investigate the activation of microglia and involvement of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in microglia activation after 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure. In this study, murine N9 microglial cells were exposed to 2.45 GHz EMF, the protein expressions of STAT3, Janus Tyrosine kinase 1 and 2(JAK1 and JAK2), phosphor-(Try705)STAT3 and DNA binding activity of STAT3 were examined by Western blot analysis and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). Levels of the nitric oxide (NO) derivative nitrite were determined in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were detected by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A significant increase of STAT3 DNA-binding ability was noted after exposure. Consistent with this, EMF rapidly induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and activated JAK1 and JAK2. In addition, EMF exposure increased transcription levels of the inflammation-associated genes, iNOS and TNF-alpha, which are reported to contain STAT-binding elements in their promoter region. P6, a JAK inhibitor, reduced induction of iNOS and TNF-alpha, nuclear factor binding activity, and activation of STAT3 in EMF-stimulated microglia. These results provide evidence that EMF exposure can initiate the activation of microglia cells and STAT3 signalling involves in EMF-induced microglial activation.
Article
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A health survey was carried out in Murcia, Spain, in the vicinity of a Cellular Phone Base Station working in DCS‐1800 MHz. This survey contained health items related to “microwave sickness” or “RF syndrome.” The microwave power density was measured at the respondents' homes. Statistical analysis showed significant correlation between the declared severity of the symptoms and the measured power density. The separation of respondents into two different exposure groups also showed an increase of the declared severity in the group with the higher exposure.
Article
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Many people in Norway and Sweden reported headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms experienced in connection with the use of a mobile phone (MP). Therefore, we initiated a cross-sectional epidemiological study among 17,000 people, all using an MP in their job. Thirty-one percent of the respondents in Norway and 13% of those in Sweden had experienced at least one symptom in connection with MP use. Next to the sensations of warmth on the ear and behind/around the ear, burning sensations in the facial skin and headaches were most commonly reported. Most symptoms usually began during or within half an hour after the call and lasted for up to 2 h. Relatively few had consulted a physician or been on sick leave because of the symptoms, but about 45% among those with an MP attributed symptom had taken steps to reduce the symptom. These results suggest an awareness of the symptoms, but not necessarily a serious health problem.
Article
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In 1995 many people reported symptoms such as headaches, feelings of discomfort, warmth behind/around or on the ear and difficulties concentrating while using mobile phones. The number of complaints was higher for people using the digital (GSM) system, i.e. with pulse modulated fields, than for those using the analogue (NMT) system. Our main hypothesis was that GSM users experience more symptoms than NMT users. An epidemiological investigation was initiated including 6379 GSM users and 5613 NMT 900 users in Sweden, and 2500 from each category in Norway. The adjusted odds ratio did not indicate any increased risk for symptoms for GSM users compared with NMT 900 users. Our hypothesis was therefore disproved. However, we observed a statistically significant lower risk for sensations of warmth on the ear for GSM users compared with NMT 900 users. The same trend was seen in Norway for sensations of warmth behind/around the ear and in Sweden for headaches and fatigue. Factors distinguishing the two systems (radio frequency emission, phone temperatures and various ergonomic factors) may be responsible for these results, as well as for a secondary finding: a statistically significant association between calling time/number of calls per day and the prevalence of warmth behind/around or on the ear, headaches and fatigue.
Article
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The objectives of this study were to assess whether people who report hypersensitivity to weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are better at detecting EMF under blind or double-blind conditions than nonhypersensitive individuals, and to test whether they respond to the presence of EMF with increased symptom reporting. An extensive systematic search was used to identify relevant blind or double-blind provocation studies. This involved searching numerous literature databases and conference proceedings, and examining the citations of reviews and included studies. The results of relevant studies were tabulated and metaanalyses were used to compare the proportions of "hypersensitive" and control participants able to discriminate active from sham EMF exposures. Thirty-one experiments testing 725 "electromagnetically hypersensitive" participants were identified. Twenty-four of these found no evidence to support the existence of a biophysical hypersensitivity, whereas 7 reported some supporting evidence. For 2 of these 7, the same research groups subsequently tried and failed to replicate their findings. In 3 more, the positive results appear to be statistical artefacts. The final 2 studies gave mutually incompatible results. Our metaanalyses found no evidence of an improved ability to detect EMF in "hypersensitive" participants. The symptoms described by "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" sufferers can be severe and are sometimes disabling. However, it has proved difficult to show under blind conditions that exposure to EMF can trigger these symptoms. This suggests that "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" is unrelated to the presence of EMF, although more research into this phenomenon is required.
Article
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To test whether people who report being sensitive to mobile phone signals have more symptoms when exposed to a pulsing mobile signal than when exposed to a sham signal or a non-pulsing signal. Double blind, randomised, within participants provocation study. Dedicated suite of offices at King's College London, between September 2003 and June 2005. 60 "sensitive" people who reported often getting headache-like symptoms within 20 minutes of using a global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone and 60 "control" participants who did not report any such symptoms. Participants were exposed to three conditions: a 900 MHz GSM mobile phone signal, a non-pulsing carrier wave signal, and a sham condition with no signal present. Each exposure lasted for 50 minutes. The principal outcome measure was headache severity assessed with a 0-100 visual analogue scale. Other outcomes included six other subjective symptoms and participants' ability to judge whether a signal was present. Headache severity increased during exposure and decreased immediately afterwards. However, no strong evidence was found of any difference between the conditions in terms of symptom severity. Nor did evidence of any differential effect of condition between the two groups exist. The proportion of sensitive participants who believed a signal was present during GSM exposure (60%) was similar to the proportion who believed one was present during sham exposure (63%). No evidence was found to indicate that people with self reported sensitivity to mobile phone signals are able to detect such signals or that they react to them with increased symptom severity. As sham exposure was sufficient to trigger severe symptoms in some participants, psychological factors may have an important role in causing this condition. ISRCTN81432775.
Article
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Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) of mobile communication systems are widespread in the living environment, yet their effects on humans are uncertain despite a growing body of literature. We investigated the influence of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) base station-like signal on well-being and cognitive performance in subjects with and without self-reported sensitivity to RF EMF. We performed a controlled exposure experiment (45 min at an electric field strength of 0, 1, or 10 V/m, incident with a polarization of 45 degrees from the left back side of the subject, weekly intervals) in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. A total of 117 healthy subjects (33 self-reported sensitive, 84 nonsensitive subjects) participated in the study. We assessed well-being, perceived field strength, and cognitive performance with questionnaires and cognitive tasks and conducted statistical analyses using linear mixed models. Organ-specific and brain tissue-specific dosimetry including uncertainty and variation analysis was performed. In both groups, well-being and perceived field strength were not associated with actual exposure levels. We observed no consistent condition-induced changes in cognitive performance except for two marginal effects. At 10 V/m we observed a slight effect on speed in one of six tasks in the sensitive subjects and an effect on accuracy in another task in nonsensitive subjects. Both effects disappeared after multiple end point adjustment. In contrast to a recent Dutch study, we could not confirm a short-term effect of UMTS base station-like exposure on well-being. The reported effects on brain functioning were marginal and may have occurred by chance. Peak spatial absorption in brain tissue was considerably smaller than during use of a mobile phone. No conclusions can be drawn regarding short-term effects of cell phone exposure or the effects of long-term base station-like exposure on human health.
Article
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There is a general concern on the possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations (RFR) emitted from mobile phone base station antennas on the human nervous system. To identify the possible neurobehavioral deficits among inhabitants living nearby mobile phone base stations. A cross-sectional study was conducted on (85) inhabitants living nearby the first mobile phone station antenna in Menoufiya governorate, Egypt, 37 are living in a building under the station antenna while 48 opposite the station. A control group (80) participants were matched with the exposed for age, sex, occupation and educational level. All participants completed a structured questionnaire containing: personal, educational and medical histories; general and neurological examinations; neurobehavioral test battery (NBTB) [involving tests for visuomotor speed, problem solving, attention and memory]; in addition to Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ). The prevalence of neuropsychiatric complaints as headache (23.5%), memory changes (28.2%), dizziness (18.8%), tremors (9.4%), depressive symptoms (21.7%), and sleep disturbance (23.5%) were significantly higher among exposed inhabitants than controls: (10%), (5%), (5%), (0%), (8.8%) and (10%), respectively (P<0.05). The NBTB indicated that the exposed inhabitants exhibited a significantly lower performance than controls in one of the tests of attention and short-term auditory memory [Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)]. Also, the inhabitants opposite the station exhibited a lower performance in the problem solving test (block design) than those under the station. All inhabitants exhibited a better performance in the two tests of visuomotor speed (Digit symbol and Trailmaking B) and one test of attention (Trailmaking A) than controls. The last available measures of RFR emitted from the first mobile phone base station antennas in Menoufiya governorate were less than the allowable standard level. Inhabitants living nearby mobile phone base stations are at risk for developing neuropsychiatric problems and some changes in the performance of neurobehavioral functions either by facilitation or inhibition. So, revision of standard guidelines for public exposure to RER from mobile phone base station antennas and using of NBTB for regular assessment and early detection of biological effects among inhabitants around the stations are recommended.
Article
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Five percent of the Swiss population attribute symptoms to electromagnetic fields (EMF). General practitioners (GPs) might play a key role in recognising an emerging health risk, since they are the first to observe and follow up persons who attribute symptoms to EMF. It is unclear to what extent EMFs have become an issue in general practice and which experiences GPs report from the consultations. We conducted telephone interviews in a random sample of GPs in Switzerland in order to assess the frequency of consultations in primary care due to EMF and the GPs' experience with these patients. 342 general practitioners were interviewed, corresponding to a response rate of 28.2%. 69% of the GPs reported at least one consultation due to EMF, but GPs with a certificate in complementary medicine were much more likely to report EMF consultations. The median of EMF consultation numbers within one year was three. An overview of the most recent EMF-related consultation per GP yielded sleep disorders, headaches and fatigue as the most often reported symptoms and mobile phone base stations, power lines and the own use of mobile phones as the main EMF sources suspected to be associated to symptoms. GPs judged the association between EMF and the symptoms to be plausible in 54% of the cases. There was no combination of symptoms and EMF sources that was remarkably and consistently judged to be a plausible cause of the symptoms. In our survey, GPs often judged the association between the health problems and the suspected exposure to be plausible. This plausibility assessment seems to be based on grounds of preventive positions in a situation of scientific uncertainty. More research effort is needed to obtain more insight on a potential association between long term EMF exposure and unspecific symptoms.
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Individuals with idiopathic environmental illness with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) believe they suffer negative health effects when exposed to electromagnetic fields from everyday objects such as mobile phone base stations. This study used both open provocation and double-blind tests to determine if sensitive and control individuals experience more negative health effects when exposed to base station-like signals compared with sham. Fifty-six self-reported sensitive and 120 control participants were tested in an open provocation test. Of these, 12 sensitive and 6 controls withdrew after the first session. The remainder completed a series of double-blind tests. Subjective measures of well-being and symptoms as well as physiological measures of blood volume pulse, heart rate, and skin conductance were obtained. During the open provocation, sensitive individuals reported lower levels of well-being in both the global system for mobile communication (GSM) and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) compared with sham exposure, whereas controls reported more symptoms during the UMTS exposure. During double-blind tests the GSM signal did not have any effect on either group. Sensitive participants did report elevated levels of arousal during the UMTS condition, whereas the number or severity of symptoms experienced did not increase. Physiological measures did not differ across the three exposure conditions for either group. Short-term exposure to a typical GSM base station-like signal did not affect well-being or physiological functions in sensitive or control individuals. Sensitive individuals reported elevated levels of arousal when exposed to a UMTS signal. Further analysis, however, indicated that this difference was likely to be due to the effect of order of exposure rather than the exposure itself.
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The data in the study by Eltiti et al. (2007) do not support their conclusion that The present data, along with current scientific evidence, leads to the conclusion that short-term rf-emf [radio frequency electromagnetic fields] exposure from mobile phone technology is not related to the levels of well-being or physical symptoms in IEI-EMF [idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields] individuals. In the study by Eltiti et al. (2007), the intensity of the radiation emitted by the mobile phone base station was 1 μW/cm2 (5 mW/m2 for 900 MHz and 5 mW/m2 for 1,800 MHz). The authors assumed that the participants would not react to higher intensities such as 10 or 20 μW/cm2, or even to intensities up to 900 μW/cm2, which are used in mobile phone technology. The exposure durations were too short to produce real effects at the biochemical and clinical levels. Ahmed et al. (2004) and Lai et al. (1992, 1994) concluded that the response depends on the duration of the radiation exposure. After 1 hr of exposure, alterations of certain biochemicals, which could be producing the symptoms, may or may not occur. For example, an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity is responsible for the levels of acetylcholine and with other neurotransmitters responsible for cognitive functions; with further exposure, this activity increases in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the striatum. Also, Johansson (2006) reported that electromagnetic fields may stimulate mast cells, which produce histamine, and then symptoms are produced in the skin and other organs. Furthermore, the effects of electromagnetic fields (Belyav 2005) may be related not only to intensity or duration of exposure but also to other parameters, such as frequency or modulation. To classify a clinical symptom as psychological, first we must exclude biochemical changes that could be triggered by the electromagnetic fields and cause neurobehavioral responses. This is supported by studies that show changes in neurotransmitters [e.g., acetylcholine (Ahmed et al. 2004), γ-aminobutyric acid (Kolomytkin et al. 1994), glutamate (Wieraszko et al. 2004)], histamine (Johansson 2006), and somatostatin (Johansson 2006)] as well as their correlation with the clinical symptoms.
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To investigate whether the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by digital radiotelephone handsets affects the brain, healthy, young subjects were exposed during an entire night-time sleep episode to an intermittent radiation schedule (900 MHz; maximum specific absorption rate 1 W/kg) consisting of alternating 15-min on-15-min off intervals. Compared with a control night with sham exposure, the amount of waking after sleep onset was reduced from 18 to 12 min. Spectral power of the electroencephalogram in non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased. The maximum rise occurred in the 10-11 Hz and 13.5-14 Hz bands during the initial part of sleep and then subsided. The results demonstrate that pulsed high-frequency EMF in the range of radiotelephones may promote sleep and modify the sleep EEG.
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24 volunteers participated in the experiments. The investigation of EEG reactions to cellular phone (EMF frequency 902.4 MHz and intensity 0.06 mW/cm2) was conducted. Two experiments were performed with each subject--cellular phone exposure and Placebo Duration of the experiment was 60 min: 15 min--background; 15 min--EMF exposure or Placebo; 30 min--afterexposure. EEG was recorded in 16 standard leads with "eyes open" and "eyes closed". Special software with non-linear dynamics was developed for EEG analyses. One parameter, multichannel (global) correlation dimension, was calculated. The changes of these parameters can be evidence of brain functional state changes. As a result of EEG record processing, a significant increase of global correlation dimension during the exposure and afterexposure period was discovered, more pronounced in the case of "eyes closed". That can be viewed as the manifestation of cortex activation under phone EMF exposure.
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The aim of the study was to investigate whether the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by digital radiotelephone handsets affects brain physiology. Healthy, young male subjects were exposed for 30 min to EMF (900 MHz; spatial peak specific absorption rate 1 W/kg) during the waking period preceding sleep. Compared with the control condition with sham exposure, spectral power of the EEG in non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased. The maximum rise occurred in the 9.75-11.25 Hz and 12.5-13.25 Hz band during the initial part of sleep. These changes correspond to those obtained in a previous study where EMF was intermittently applied during sleep. Unilateral exposure induced no hemispheric asymmetry of EEG power. The present results demonstrate that exposure during waking modifies the EEG during subsequent sleep. Thus the changes of brain function induced by pulsed high-frequency EMF outlast the exposure period.
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Microwave sickness (MWS) has been a disputed condition. The syndrome involves the nervous system and includes fatigue, headaches, dysaesthesia and various autonomic effects in radiofrequency radiation workers. This paper describes the early reports of the syndrome from Eastern Europe and notes the scepticism expressed about them in the West, before considering comprehensive recent reports by Western specialists and a possible neurological basis for the condition. It is concluded that MWS is a medical entity which should be recognized as a possible risk for radiofrequency radiation workers.
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An investigation was made of 8-hour EEG tracings of sleeping humans exposed to the electromagnetic field of a GSM-standard mobile phone. To analyze the EEG-patterns, manual scoring, nonlinear dynamics, and spectral analysis were employed. It was found that, when human beings were exposed to the electromagnetic field of a cellular phone, their cerebral cortex biopotentials revealed an increase in the alpha-range power density as compared to the placebo experiment. It was also found that the dimension of EEG correlation dynamics and the relation of sleep stages changed under the influence of the electromagnetic field of a mobile phone.
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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exposure to a mobile phone-like radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field on persons experiencing subjective symptoms when using mobile phones (MP). Twenty subjects with MP-related symptoms were recruited and matched with 20 controls without MP-related symptoms. Each subject participated in two experimental sessions, one with true exposure and one with sham exposure, in random order. In the true exposure condition, the test subjects were exposed for 30 min to an RF field generating a maximum SAR(1g) in the head of 1 W/kg through an indoor base station antenna attached to a 900 MHz GSM MP. The following physiological and cognitive parameters were measured during the experiment: heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV), respiration, local blood flow, electrodermal activity, critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), short-term memory, and reaction time. No significant differences related to RF exposure conditions were detected. Also no differences in baseline data were found between subject groups, except for the reaction time, which was significantly longer among the cases than among the controls the first time the test was performed. This difference disappeared when the test was repeated. However, the cases differed significantly from the controls with respect to HRV as measured in the frequency domain. The cases displayed a shift in low/high frequency ratio towards a sympathetic dominance in the autonomous nervous system during the CFFT and memory tests, regardless of exposure condition. This might be interpreted as a sign of differences in the autonomous nervous system regulation between persons with MP related subjective symptoms and persons with no such symptoms.
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The erection of mobile telephone base stations in inhabited areas has raised concerns about possible health effects caused by emitted microwaves. In a cross-sectional study of randomly selected inhabitants living in urban and rural areas for more than one year near to 10 selected base stations, 365 subjects were investigated. Several cognitive tests were performed, and wellbeing and sleep quality were assessed. Field strength of high-frequency electromagnetic fields (HF-EMF) was measured in the bedrooms of 336 households. Total HF-EMF and exposure related to mobile telecommunication were far below recommended levels (max. 4.1 mW/m2). Distance from antennae was 24-600 m in the rural area and 20-250 m in the urban area. Average power density was slightly higher in the rural area (0.05 mW/m2) than in the urban area (0.02 mW/m2). Despite the influence of confounding variables, including fear of adverse effects from exposure to HF-EMF from the base station, there was a significant relation of some symptoms to measured power density; this was highest for headaches. Perceptual speed increased, while accuracy decreased insignificantly with increasing exposure levels. There was no significant effect on sleep quality. Despite very low exposure to HF-EMF, effects on wellbeing and performance cannot be ruled out, as shown by recently obtained experimental results; however, mechanisms of action at these low levels are unknown.
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Hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields is frequently claimed to be linked to a variety of unspecific somatic and/or neuropsychological complaints. Whereas provocation studies often failed to demonstrate a causal relationship between electromagnetic field exposure and symptom formation, neurophysiological examinations highlight baseline deviations in people claiming to be electrosensitive. To elucidate a potential role of dysfunctional cortical regulations in mediating hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields, cortical excitability parameters were measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation in subjectively electrosensitive patients (n=23) and two control groups (n=49) differing in their level of unspecific health complaints. Electrosensitive patients showed reduced intracortical facilitation as compared to both control groups, while motor thresholds and intracortical inhibition were unaffected. This pilot study gives additional evidence that altered central nervous system function may account for symptom manifestation in subjectively electrosensitive patients as has been postulated for several chronic multisymptom illnesses sharing a similar clustering of symptoms.
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The number of people complaining about different symptoms that may be associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) has increased rapidly during past years. Students use both mobile phones and video display terminals frequently. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of mobile phone use and EMF health hazards. Basic demographic data and self-reported symptoms were sought using a questionnaire administered to all apparently healthy students at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS) and Vali-e-Asr University (VAU). Questions about some major confounding factors such as age, gender, amount of video display terminal work were also included. Exact Fischer Test was used for data analysis. Among self-reported symptoms, headache (53.5%), fatigue (35.6%), difficulties in concentration (32.5%), vertigo/dizziness (30.4%), attention disorders (28.8%), nervousness (28.1%), palpitation (14.7%), low back pain (14.3%), myalgia (12.4%), and tinnitus (9.9%) were the main self-reported symptoms. No significant differences in the prevalence of these symptoms were found between CRT users and those who did not use CRTs. A significant association was found between cordless phone use and difficulties in concentration (P < .05) or attention disorders (P < .05). However, after correction of the gender role, these differences were not significant. No association was found between mobile phone use and the above-mentioned symptoms. No significantly higher prevalence of self-reported symptoms was found in individuals who had used mobile phones, video display terminals or cordless phones more frequently than others. Mass-media's lack of interest in the possible hazards of exposure to EMF in developing countries can explain the difference observed between the results of this study and those of other researchers in some developed countries who have shown an association between EMF exposure and the prevalence of self-reported subjective symptoms. This finding can confirm the results obtained in provocative studies which indicated the role of psychological factors in electromagnetic hypersensitivity. More research is needed to clarify whether daily environmental EMF may cause health problems.
Article
Oftedal G, Straume A, Johnsson A & Stovner L J. Mobile phone headache: a double blind, sham-controlled provocation study. Cephalalgia 2007. London. ISSN 0333-1024 The objective was to test whether exposure to radio frequency (RF) fields from mobile phones may cause head pain or discomfort and whether it may influence physiological variables in individuals attributing symptoms to mobile phones, but not to electromagnetic fields in general. Seventeen eligible individuals, who experienced these symptoms in an open provocation test, took part in a double-blind, randomized provocation study with cross-over design. Sixty-five pairs of sham and mobile phone RF exposures were conducted. The increase in pain or discomfort (visual analogue scales) in RF sessions was 10.1 and in sham sessions 12.6 (P = 0.30). Changes in heart rate or blood pressure were not related to the type of exposure (P: 0.30–0.88). The study gave no evidence that RF fields from mobile phones may cause head pain or discomfort or influence physiological variables. The most likely reason for the symptoms is a nocebo effect.
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We investigated whether the pulsed high frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by a mobile phone has short term effects on the human motor cortex. We measured motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), before and after mobile phone exposure (active and sham) in 10 normal volunteers. Three sites were stimulated (motor cortex (CTX), brainstem (BST) and spinal nerve (Sp)). The short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) of the motor cortex reflecting GABAergic interneuronal function was also studied by paired pulse TMS method. MEPs to single pulse TMS were also recorded in two patients with multiple sclerosis showing temperature dependent neurological symptoms (hot bath effect). Neither MEPs to single pulse TMS nor the SICI was affected by 30 min of EMF exposure from mobile phones or sham exposure. In two MS patients, mobile phone exposure had no effect on any parameters of MEPs even though conduction block occurred at the corticospinal tracts after taking a bath. As far as available methods are concerned, we did not detect any short-term effects of 30 min mobile phone exposure on the human motor cortical output neurons or interneurons even though we can not exclude the possibility that we failed to detect some mild effects due to a small sample size in the present study. This is the first study of MEPs after electromagnetic exposure from a mobile phone in neurological patients.
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