Article

Biological effects from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays

Canadian Science Publishing
Environmental Reviews
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Abstract

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.

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... Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), on which Canada relies [4]. They are calling for them to be revised and for biocompatible exposure standards to be produced [4]. ...
... Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), on which Canada relies [4]. They are calling for them to be revised and for biocompatible exposure standards to be produced [4]. These calls, notably from Freiburg, Benevento and the Syndicate de Medicine Générale de France, are a call for precaution. ...
... These calls, notably from Freiburg, Benevento and the Syndicate de Medicine Générale de France, are a call for precaution. Against this problematic backdrop, in 2010 the French Council of State and the European Commission both adopted resolutions applying the precautionary principle to the deployment of telecommunications antennas [4]. Since Europe has been exposed to radio frequencies for longer than we have, the erection of antennae is a major public health concern (and not a collection of individual problems referred to psychiatry) [4]. ...
... Historically, the U.S. was the leader in EMF health and environmental research, but now most of that workand any accompanying public policy recommendationsare coming from Europe and elsewhere [92,93]. There is virtually no public or private funding in the U.S. for ambient EMF research into the effects on wildlife, despite appeals from federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service [94][95][96] to study the effects of EMF on nonhuman species, and requests to the U.S. EPA and FCC to address exposures to wildlife [94,[96][97][98][99][100]. Industry funded research cannot be considered unbiased. ...
... For the purposes of this paper we will therefore define low-intensity exposure to RFR for power density of 1 μW/cm 2 or a SAR of 0.001 W/kg. Many biological effects have been documented at low intensities comparable to what the populationand therefore wildlifeexperience within 200-500 ft (61-152 m) of a cell tower [100]. These can include effects seen in in vitro studies of cell cultures and in vivo studies of animals after exposures to low-intensity RFR. ...
... These can include effects seen in in vitro studies of cell cultures and in vivo studies of animals after exposures to low-intensity RFR. Reported effects include: genetic, growth, and reproductive alterations; increases in permeability of the blood brain barrier; stress protein increases; behavioral changes; molecular, cellular, and metabolic alterations; and increases in cancer risk (see Ref. [100], Table 1). ...
Article
Ambient levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have risen sharply in the last 80 years, creating a novel energetic exposure that previously did not exist. Most recent decades have seen exponential increases in nearly all environments, including rural/remote areas and lower atmospheric regions. Because of unique physiologies, some species of flora and fauna are sensitive to exogenous EMF in ways that may surpass human reactivity. There is limited, but comprehensive, baseline data in the U.S. from the 1980s against which to compare significant new surveys from different countries. This now provides broader and more precise data on potential transient and chronic exposures to wildlife and habitats. Biological effects have been seen broadly across all taxa and frequencies at vanishingly low intensities comparable to today’s ambient exposures. Broad wildlife effects have been seen on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and longevity and survivorship. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have been observed. The above issues are explored in three consecutive parts: Part 1 questions today’s ambient EMF capabilities to adversely affect wildlife, with more urgency regarding 5G technologies. Part 2 explores natural and man-made fields, animal magnetoreception mechanisms, and pertinent studies to all wildlife kingdoms. Part 3 examines current exposure standards, applicable laws, and future directions. It is time to recognize ambient EMF as a novel form of pollution and develop rules at regulatory agencies that designate air as ‘habitat’ so EMF can be regulated like other pollutants. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached. Long-term chronic low-level EMF exposure standards, which do not now exist, should be set accordingly for wildlife, and environmental laws should be strictly enforced.
... In big cities, however, RBSs are located very close to populated areas, above or between homes and businesses. The antennas are so close to homes that the multi-story windows of residential buildings, for example, are side by side to these antennas [9]. ...
... Despite the scarce knowledge on this subject, there are few resources allocated to investigating the role of exposure to electromagnetic fields from RBSs on human health. In the United States, for example, until 2010, no funding had been reserved by government agencies to study the possible health effects on people living near RBSs [9]. This study aims to estimate the rate of death for cancer according to RBS radiofrequency exposure, especially by breast, cervix, lung, and esophagus cancers, which are among the most common cancers in Brazil for men, women, or both sexes. ...
... Studies made in Stockholm (Sweden) indicate that high levels of environmental radiofrequency radiation are quite present in residential and commercial areas [23][24][25]. In the United Kingdom, at the beginning of 2009, there were 51,300 RBSs and two thirds were installed in existing buildings or other structures [9]. Dode et al., 2011, pointed that electromagnetic fields from telecommunication systems is an important environmental problem nowadays [8]. ...
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Background. This study aims to estimate the rate of death by cancer, according to Radio Base Stations (RBS) radiofrequency exposure, especially for the types of breast, cervix, lung and esophagus cancer. Methods. We collected information about the number of deaths by cancer, gender, age group, Gross Domestic Product per capita, death year and the amount of exposure over the lifetime. We investigated all cancer types and some specific types (breast, cervix, lung and esophagus cancers). Results. In capitals where RBS radiofrequency exposure was higher than 2,000/antennas-year, the average mortality rate was 112/100,000 for all cancers. The adjusted analysis showed that the higher the exposure to RBS radiofrequency, the higher cancer mortality. The highest adjusted risk was observed for cervix cancer (Rate Ratio = 2.18). The spatial analysis showed that the highest RBS radiofrequency exposure was observed in a city in southern Brazil, which also showed the highest mortality rate for all types of cancer and specifically for lung and breast cancer. Conclusion. The balance of our results indicates that the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from RBS increases the rate of death by all types of cancer.
... The first is ionizing radiation (IR) and the second is non-ionizing radiation (NIR), which includes telecommunication and data transfer antennas. [2]. According to the European Commission, the sources of NIR can be sorted into four fields; radio frequency (radio, television, smartphones, tablets and microwave ovens), intermediate frequency (video screens, antitheft devices, card readers, metal detectors), and extremely low frequency (power transmission lines, home wiring), and static (natural) [3]. ...
... Moreover, this area enclosed 5 cellular base stations operated by three different cellular companies, as shown in Figure 1. Each tower was identified by a numerical Arabic number (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). The EMR mapping was carried out as described previously [5,31,32] using radio frequency (EMF) strength meter (Extech Instruments frequency range 50 MHz to 3.5 GHz Model: 480836/USA). ...
... The amplified map showing the distribution of cellular stations with the tested (Hofa, Johfiah, and Habaka). Cell phone towers assigned by Arabic number(1)(2)(3)(4)(5). ...
Article
Full-text available
Abstract: Background: Electromagnetic pollution is a general health concern worldwide, as cell phone towers are ubiquitous and are located adjacent to or on the roof of schools, and hospitals. However, the health risks are still inconclusive. This cross-sectional study evaluated the potential effect of electromagnetic radiation generated from various resources including cell phone towers on blood glutathione S transferase activity (e-GST) and total antioxidant activity of the Jordanian population. Methods: The power density of three districts in the city of Irbid, Jordan was mapped to generate “outside the houses” and “inside the houses” maps. The effect of categorical variables (gender, using a cell phone, presence of Wi-Fi modem, previous exposure to medical imaging) and continuous variables (distance from the base station, the elevation of the house, the duration of stay in the house, power density outside houses, power density inside houses) on e-GST and total antioxidant activity were investigated. Results: The EMR generated outside the houses—including cell phone towers—did not reach inside the houses at the same power and had no significant influence on e-GST activity. The EMR inside the house, which primarily came from internal resources, has a significant effect on e-GST activity. The duration of stay inside the house, the use of cell phones, and the presence of a Wi-Fi modem had a proportional effect on e-GST activity. The total antioxidant activity was statistically equal between the tested and control groups. Conclusion: Several factors such as building materials restricted the penetration of EMR reaching inside the houses. EMR generated inside rather than outside the houses had a proportional effect on e-GST. The differences in e-GST were compensated successfully by other antioxidant mechanisms. Further research is needed to identify other possible sources of antioxidants, and to evaluate long-term effects and genetic polymorphism.
... Possible health hazards due to radiations from mobile phones are a recent topic of significant interest [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Human head absorbs some part of the radiation emitted from a cell phone [3,6,7]. ...
... We may now compute the Poynting vector for some typical symmetric 2d structures of dipoles. In Figure 1 has four oscillating dipoles (1,2,3,4) at the vertices of a square of side a. The Cartesian coordinates of the four dipoles may be expressed as ...
... Thermal effects are similar to that of cooking in the microwave oven while Nonthermal effects are not well defined but it has been reported that non-thermal effects are 3 to 4 times more harmful than thermal effects. Cell tower antennas transmit in the frequency range of 869 -894 MHz (CDMA), 935 -960 MHz (GSM900) and 1810 -1880 MHz (GSM1800) (Levitt and Lai, 2010) [2]. Mobile phone operators divide a region in large number of cells, and each cell is divided into number of sectors. ...
... Thermal effects are similar to that of cooking in the microwave oven while Nonthermal effects are not well defined but it has been reported that non-thermal effects are 3 to 4 times more harmful than thermal effects. Cell tower antennas transmit in the frequency range of 869 -894 MHz (CDMA), 935 -960 MHz (GSM900) and 1810 -1880 MHz (GSM1800) (Levitt and Lai, 2010) [2]. Mobile phone operators divide a region in large number of cells, and each cell is divided into number of sectors. ...
Article
Full-text available
Telecommunication masts are technologies that help in transmission of signal at a specific frequency. The basic objective of this research work is to assess, isolate, characterization and microbiologically identify the soil microbial flora found near telecommunication mast soil in two Nigerian cities (Oka Akoko and Owo, Ondo State). Two samples were collected from both regions (Oka and Owo) randomly and in each site, the samples were collected base on distance from the mast (0meter, 10meters, 20mters, 30mters, and 40meters). The total number of isolate was thirty four (34) for bacteria and thirty six (36) for fungi. The soil samples were serially diluted and 1ml of the dilution was transferred to separate labeled Petri dished according to Ajayi's methodology. Pour plate techniques was adopted and the isolates were identified based on cultural physiological and biochemical characteristic cs for bacteria isolates. The fungal propagules are either hyaline (co-lourless) or different colours and the hyaline mycelia /spores/conidia and cytoplasm were stained using Lactophenol and cotton blue, The stained specimens were observed under the light microscope (Magnus MLXi plus) for identification and microphotographs were taken under 10X × 40X magnification for the conidia, conidiophores and arrangement of spores The physico-chemical parameters were measured by standard methods. Physical and chemical parameters of soil such as pH, salinity and organic carbon were analyzed. The bacterial isolated were Alcaligenes species, like A. paradoxus, A. xylosoxidans, and A. latus. Actinomyces bovis. Atrobacter diversus. Bacillus species such as B. pumilus, B. magaterium, B. subtili, B. cereus and B. licheniformis. Citrobacter diververseus. Cellulomovas flavigena. Corynebacterium amycola-tum. Clostridium species. Such as C. tatani, C. sporogenes. Enterobacter dissolovens. Leuconostoc lactus. Listeria grayi. Micrococcus species such as M. agilis M. halobius. M. luteus. Pseudomonas species such as P. flourescens. P. alcaligenes. Streptobacillus moniformis. Sarcina ventriculi and sporolactobacillus inulinus for bacteria isolates and Fusarium equi-seti, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, Wallemia sebi, Saccharomycopsis fibuliger, Fusarium avenaceum, Sporobolomyces roseus, Fusarium equiseti, Chrysosporium xerophilum, Epicoccum ni-grum, Penicillium digitatum Sporobolomyces roseus for the fungi isolates. Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger is the most common species found in both regions (Oka and Owo) of study. It is recommended that further study should be taken on the effect of the non-ionizing radiation of the telecommunication mast on the soil microbial flora by the adoption of sequencing methodology, to know their ecological effect and activities both on soil and plants. It is evident in this research that the microorganisms found around the telecommunication mast are normal soil flora.
... Thermal effects are similar to that of cooking in the microwave oven while Nonthermal effects are not well defined but it has been reported that non-thermal effects are 3 to 4 times more harmful than thermal effects. Cell tower antennas transmit in the frequency range of 869 -894 MHz (CDMA), 935 -960 MHz (GSM900) and 1810 -1880 MHz (GSM1800) (Levitt and Lai, 2010) [2]. Mobile phone operators divide a region in large number of cells, and each cell is divided into number of sectors. ...
... Thermal effects are similar to that of cooking in the microwave oven while Nonthermal effects are not well defined but it has been reported that non-thermal effects are 3 to 4 times more harmful than thermal effects. Cell tower antennas transmit in the frequency range of 869 -894 MHz (CDMA), 935 -960 MHz (GSM900) and 1810 -1880 MHz (GSM1800) (Levitt and Lai, 2010) [2]. Mobile phone operators divide a region in large number of cells, and each cell is divided into number of sectors. ...
Article
Full-text available
Telecommunication masts are technologies that help in transmission of signal at a specific frequency. The basic objective of this research work is to assess, isolate, characterization and microbiologically identify the soil microbial flora found near 1/4/2021 IJCMCR-RAID -00174-International Journal of Clinical Studies & Medical Case Reports https://ijclinmedcasereports.com/ijcmcr-raid -00174/ 2/26 telecommunication mast soil in two Nigerian cities (Oka Akoko and Owo, Ondo State). Two samples were collected from both regions (Oka and Owo) randomly and in each site, the samples were collected base on distance from the mast (0meter, 10meters, 20mters, 30mters, and 40meters). The total number of isolate was thirty four (34) for bacteria and thirty six (36) for fungi. The soil samples were serially diluted and 1ml of the dilution was transferred to separate labeled Petri dished according to Ajayi's methodology. Pour plate techniques was adopted and the isolates were identified based on cultural physiological and biochemical characteristic cs for bacteria isolates. The fungal propagules are either hyaline (colourless) or different colours and the hyaline mycelia /spores/conidia and cytoplasm were stained using Lactophenol and cotton blue, The stained specimens were observed under the light microscope (Magnus MLXi plus) for identification and microphotographs were taken under 10X × 40X magnification for the conidia, conidiophores and arrangement of spores The physico-chemical parameters were measured by standard methods. Physical and chemical parameters of soil such as pH, salinity and organic carbon were analyzed. The bacterial isolated were Alcaligenes species, like A. paradoxus, A. xylosoxidans, and A. latus. Actinomyces bovis. Atrobacter diversus. Bacillus species such as B. pumilus, B. magaterium, B. subtili, B. cereus and B. licheniformis. Citrobacter diververseus. Cellulomovas flavigena. Corynebacterium amycolatum. Clostridium species. Such as C. tatani, C. sporogenes. Enterobacter dissolovens. Leuconostoc lactus. Listeria grayi. Micrococcus species such as M. agilis M. halobius. M. luteus. Pseudomonas species such as P. flourescens. P. alcaligenes. Streptobacillus moniformis. Sarcina ventriculi and sporolactobacillus inulinus for bacteria isolates and Fusarium equiseti, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, Wallemia sebi, Saccharomycopsis fibuliger, Fusarium avenaceum, Sporobolomyces roseus, Fusarium equiseti, Chrysosporium xerophilum, Epicoccum nigrum, Penicillium digitatum Sporobolomyces roseus for the fungi isolates. Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger is the most common species found in both regions (Oka and Owo) of study. It is recommended that further study should be taken on the effect of the non-ionizing radiation of the telecommunication mast on the soil microbial flora by the adoption of sequencing methodology, to know their ecological effect and activities both on soil and plants. It is evident in this research that the microorganisms found around the telecommunication mast are normal soil flora.
... The mechanism for causing cancer could be from observed genetic damage using the single cell gel electrophoresis assay assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes of individuals residing in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station and comparing it to that in healthy controls (Gandhi et al., 2014). In epidemiological studies that assessed negative health effects of mobile phone base stations (seven studies explored the association between base station proximity and neurobehavioral effects (Navarro et al., 2003;Hutter et al., 2006;Abdel-Rassoul et al., 2007;Berg-Beckhoff et al., 2009;Blettner et al., 2009;Gadzicka et al., 2006;Santini et al., 2002) and three investigated cancer (Wolf and Wolf, 2004;Havas, 2017;Levitt and Lai, 2010), 80% reported increased prevalence of adverse neurobehavioral symptoms or cancer in populations living at distances < 500 m from base stations (Navarro et al., 2003). ...
... A review article of the health effects near base stations concluded that deployment of base stations should be kept as efficient as possible to minimize exposure of the public to RFR and should not be located less than 500 m from the population, and at a height of 50 m (Levitt and Lai, 2010). This potentially presents a serious challenge to cell phone company RF engineers. ...
Article
Full-text available
The use of cellular phones is now ubiquitous through most of the adult global population and is increasingly common among even young children in many countries (e.g. Finland, where the market for smart phones is nearly saturated). The basic operation of cellular phone networks demands widespread human exposure to radio-frequency radiation (RFR) with cellular phone base stations providing cellular coverage in most areas. As the data needs of the population increase from the major shift in the source of Internet use from personal computers to smart phones, this coverage is widely predicted to increase. Thus, both the density of base stations and their power output is expected to increase the global human RFR exposure. Although direct causation of negative human health effects from RFR from cellular phone base stations has not been finalized, there is already enough medical and scientific evidence to warrant long-term liability concerns for companies deploying cellular phone towers. In order to protect cell phone tower firms from the ramifications of the failed paths of other industries that have caused unintended human harm (e.g. tobacco) this Current Issue summarizes the peer-reviewed literature on the effects of RFR from cellular phone base stations. Specifically the impacts of siting base stations are closely examined and recommendations are made for companies that deploy them to minimize their potential future liability.
... REW exposure increases free-radical production which causes metabolic, immunological and carcinogenic effects 17,18 . Symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, dizziness, memory loss, and increased risk of cancer were first reported as "Microwave sickness" in 1978 19 , which are now linked to the base stations in the vicinity of residential areas and excessive use of mobile phones. Childhood leukemia in children exposed to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields has already led to its inclusion as a "possible human carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published in "Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs", Volumes1-109. ...
Article
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Smart mobile phone usage is rapidly increasing among the students in colleges. Many new symptoms have emerged such as mobile phone addiction, nomophobia and ringxiety among users. The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of mobile phone use by medical students in a medical college in Oman and to see if the students were using their mobile phones safely. A questionnaire was constructed to get basic knowledge about the use of smart phone by the college students. 129 students responded, results showed that 100% of the students were using a mobile device, 50% of the students, who were mostly females, were using internet via WiFi on their mobile for more than 4 hours per day, and majority (83%) were using headphones. During lectures, 85% kept mobile phone 'on', 65% sent messages, 20% even played games and 7% received or made calls. While sleeping, 70% did not switch off their phones, 33% kept it under their pillow and 60% on a side table. When asked if their parents limit the use of their phone, 83% say no. 90% of the students were aware of the fact that mobile phones electromagnetic waves may cause health problem. We conclude that there is excessive usage of mobile phone among the medical students and more safety measures need to be introduced. It is time to make new rules and policies regulating its use in the campus to avoid adverse effects.
... Earlier works such as that conducted by [14] studied the biological impacts of cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays emitting electromagnetic radiation. A review of previous studies of people living or working near cellular infrastructure, as well as other relevant studies that potentially apply to long-term, low-level radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposures, was conducted as part of their research. ...
Article
Public Health awareness of the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (Rf-EMF) is necessary for epidemiological studies on possible bio-effects. The Knowledge will promote good health, reduce health risk factors, lower morbidity and mortality rates often associated with public health environment (PHE). Modeling EMF radiation variability and its application is vital given the prospective growth in both the number of mobile devices and equipment radiating electromagnetic fields (EMF) and the increasing concerns in the general public. The main goal of this work is to develop a framework based on Machine Learning (ML) approach to determine the exposure level on time-based variances within and during operational procedures of frequency bands used in mobile telecommunication, digital devices, transmitters, broadcasting terminals etc. The system adopts the measurements and instrumentation methodology, using a handheld Poniie pn8000 multi-field EMF metre and EME Spy exposimeter with a detection limit of 0.0066mW/m (2) with sampling at certain interval in a specific frequency ensemble. The measurements were synthesized as exposure coefficients with assessment based on EMF radiation from emitting devices and matching with International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standards endorsed by WHO. Consequently, obtained data was processed and segmented into training and test sets on 70:30 ratios respectively. Computing modeling of the system was performed with R programming language using data obtained from field measurements and records. The prosed system used Ensemble ML-Random Forest Algorithm and Decision Tree algorithm (DTA). Performance evaluation and results obtained clearly demonstrates 87% based on the Confusion Matrix (CM) outcomes for Random Forest and Decision Tree presents 56%. This justifies the capability of ML techniques in accurately classifying EMF radiation to mitigate exposure rate and improve healthcare throughput. The model was transformed and deployed in a production system API environment with Graphical User Interface (GUI) for flexibility. This work revealed relating potential health bio-effects associated with EMF exposure and the different parameters that are currently used for evaluating, limiting, and mitigating the impact of the exposure on the general public.
... It is known that changes in the level of natural background EMR may have an adverse effect on human health [1][2][3], especially under the conditions of abrupt changes in space weather [4]. Variations in the natural electromagnetic background fields are considered to be one of possible conductors of the biological effect of disturbances in solar activity [5]. ...
... Of note, mobile phone users are perpetually subjected to radiation emanating from their devices, even when the phone is not in active use. Additionally, the human body endures continuous electromagnetic (EM) exposure stemming from mobile communication infrastructures, especially from base station towers [3]. The proliferation of wireless network technologies, including wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspots and Wi-Fi networks, also escalates the potential for excessive radiation exposure in the radiofrequency EM spectrum [4]. ...
Article
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Introduction and objective: Mobile phones and Wi-Fi are the most commonly used forms of telecommunications. Initiated with the first generation, the mobile telephony is currently in its fifth generation without being screened extensively for any biological effects that it may have on humans or on animals. Some studies indicate that high frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone and Wi-Fi connection can have a negative effect upon human health, and can cause cancer, including brain tumour. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of 2.4 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on the proliferation and morphology of normal (human embryonic kidney cell line Hek-293) and cancer cells (glioblastoma cell line U-118 MG). Material and methods: The cell cultures were incubated in RF-EMF at the frequency of 2.4 GHz, with or without dielectric screen, for 24, 48 and 72h. In order to analyse the influence of the electromagnetic field on cell lines, Cytotoxicity test Cell Counting Kit-8 was performed. To protect cells against emission of the electromagnetic field, a dielectric screen was used. Results: It was found that 2.4 GHz RF electromagnetic field exposure caused a significant decrease in viability of U-118 MG and Hek-293 cells. The impact of the electromagnetic field was strongest in the case of cancer cells, and the decrease in their survival was much greater compared to the healthy (normal) cells of the Hek-293 line. Conclusions: Results of the study indicate that using a radio frequency electromagnetic field (2.4 GHz) has a clearly negative effect on the metabolic activity of glioblastoma cells. RF-EMF has much less impact on reducing the viability of normal cells (Hek -293) than cancer cells.
... As a stand-in for ambient exposures, power density and distance from a producing source are frequently used. Environmental assessments take into account a number of variables in addition to distance and a large number of sources, such as species, size, physical composition, the presence of metal items, topography, and orientation toward the transmitting source [24][25][26] .Studies carried out in actual field settings, though, must be undertaken with enough experimental exposure duration because the outcomes of exposures that last only a short time are likely to be ambiguous [27] CONCLUSION Background ambient EMF levels have substantially increased in four decades, resulting in a fresh vibrant exposure that at the surface of the Earth did not previously exist, lower under sea settings, or atmospheric levels. Recent exponential growth in practically everything during the past few decades. ...
... This value was tested by EMFexposures with the aim of maximal temperature increase of 0,5 K in a dead human body by 6 min exposure (A-Forschungszentrum Seibersdorf). Apart from this thermal effect there are biological reactions by some orders lower compared to the value range stipulated by ICNIRP [1]. ...
Article
Worldwide there is an increasing number of healthy problems by electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures, namely produced by wireless telecommunication techniques. But the safety guidelines by ICNIRP
... The mean electric and magnetic fields exceeded some standards for SI agencies ( Table 5). Absorption of RFR depends on transmission frequency, power density, distance from the radiating source, one's orientation towards the radiation, size, and mineral and water content of an organism [58]. Table 6. ...
Article
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In the frame of the strategic plan Egypt 2030- a goal to create a supportive workplace environment. Indoor environment quality (IEQ) is an important factor to identify building's performance and comfort level. Key environmental parametersrelated to IEQ of a multidisciplinary scientific research buildings were evaluated. Air biological (bacteria & fungi), chemical (PM, NO2, SO2, NH3, HCOH & VOCs) and physical (T°C, RH%, air velocity, noise, lighting & electromagnetic radiation) parameters were measured indoor/outdoor. The measurements were performed using integrated sampling and real-time portable data instruments. The 75th percentiles of airborne environmental bacteria, mesophilic bacteria and fungi were 5172 CFU/m3 , 1294 CFU/m3 and 634 CFU/m3 , respectively. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of VOCs, NH3 and PM were ≥1. However, I/O ratios of HCOH, SO2 and NO2were ≤ 1. Indoor temperature and relative humidity ranged between 17-35.6°C and 30- 66.5%, respectively. Operative temperature averaged 23°C; it located within the comfort zone ≥20 −≤24°C in only ~ 43% of the investigated sites. Noise value exceeded the minimum acceptable level of 60 dBA in ~77.7% of sites. Lighting intensity did not achieve the minimum acceptable level of 300 lox in~ 48.5% of sites. The electric and magnetic strengths significantly fluctuated, ranging between 1-242 V/m and 0.5-437A/m, respectively. Thermal comfort, indoor air quality, noise and lighting are used to calculate IEQ index (IIEQ). IIEQ simulation revealed that the majority of the investigated sites had good IEQ conditions. IIEQ helps identify ways to improve building environment.
... Studies assessing the effects of EMF on organisms range from vertebrates (11,12) to invertebrates (13,14) and humans (15,16). These studies indicate that EMFs lead to a higher mortality of different organisms, which may vary according to the identity of the taxa studied and the conditions of exposure to EMF, such as intensity, time, and source of exposure. ...
Article
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We assessed the effect that electromagnetic field (EMF) exerts on honeybees' pollination efficiency using field and laboratory experiments. First, we measured levels of gene and protein expression in metabolic pathways involved in stress and behavioral responses elicited by EMF. Second, we assessed the effect of EMF on honeybee behavior and seed production by the honeybee-pollinated California poppy and, lastly, by measuring the consequences of pollination failure on plants' community richness and abundance. EMF exposure exerted strong physiological stress on honeybees as shown by the enhanced expression of heat-shock proteins and genes involved in antioxidant activity and affected the expression levels of behavior-related genes. Moreover, California poppy individuals growing near EMF received fewer honeybee visits and produced fewer seeds than plants growing far from EMF. Last, we found a hump-shaped relationship between EMF and plant species richness and plant abundance. Our study provides conclusive evidence of detrimental impacts of EMF on honeybee's pollination behavior, leading to negative effects on plant community.
... Of the 14, three species have disappeared (migrated or may have been extinct), four are in deterioration, and seven are unchanging, just in the span of 10 years from 1997 to 2007, and several species of birds (Pica pica) were detected with many diseases in their different body parts. [18,[28][29][30] ...
Article
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The advancement of telecommunication technology is vital for our wireless connectivity and networking across the world, but not at the expense of the lives of other organisms because their extinction follows us. This review article highlighted the various communication systems and technologies implemented and their implications. The relevant keywords used for this review, including fifth generation (5G), electromagnetic radiation (EMR), telephone tower, 5G impacts on lives, 5G impacts on human health, animals, and birds, were used for inclusive search on trustworthy citation databases listed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 1993 to 2022. The findings revealed that the radiations range between radio frequency and electromagnetic frequency is causing detrimental effects on different species including their fertility and fetus development. Experts reported that birds use the earth's EMR to navigate in their flight, but when they are exposed to weak or microwave radiation from the telecommunication towers, they deviate from their path, confused, and even die from telephone tower collisions. The new movement in protecting the bird population from EMR is creating an awareness of "air as a habitat" for birds, and research reports show that it is experimentally proven, that such radiations affect the birds' lives in many ways. Authors believe that these critical surveillance data would create awareness among the readers and researchers about the consequences to human health due to the extensive use of new generation telecommunication and networking technologies. The World Health Organization mentioned the harmful effects of EMR in their report. It shows that a diffuse collection of symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, suicide and depression, nausea, fatigue, and loss of libido may be caused due to low levels of exposure to EMR at home.
... Apart from the electromagnetic spectrum, people should have a basic understanding of the technology which is related to cell towers in order to have more chances to promote an effective debate with the cell phone company (Levitt & Lai, 2010). Specifically, they should know the relation which exists between a source and a detector. ...
Article
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A number of diverse arguments have been proposed by researchers of science education regarding the reason science should be taught in schools. These arguments inevitably play a crucial role in the curriculum designed by policymakers. The present study turns its attention to the democratic argument. It explores its validity through a special socio-scientific issue that citizens are likely to encounter in their everyday life, that of radiation emitted from cell phones. In particular, it tries to study the required knowledge of physics that will enable individuals to effectively deal with the emission of radiation from cell phones. Moreover, drawing from sharp conflicts that have arisen during the last years around the world between citizens and cell phone companies regarding the installation of cell towers within residential areas, it tries to record information about different places in the world where the cell phone controversy has made headline news.
... Epidemiological studies and anecdotal observations indicate that people living near cell phone towers and antennas show a higher incidence of headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, concentration problems, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, depression and increased rates of suicides, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer [80]. Based on epidemiological studies and meta-analyses of electric and magnetic fields and long-term use of cell phones, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified wireless radiofrequencies as possibly carcinogenic to humans [81]. ...
Article
Living organisms have evolved within the natural electromagnetic fields of the earth which comprise atmospheric electricity, Schumann resonances and the geomagnetic field. Research suggests that the circadian rhythm, which controls several physiological functions in the human body, can be influenced by light but also by the earth's electromagnetic fields. Cyclic solar disturbances, including sunspots and seasonal weakening of the geomagnetic field, can affect human health, possibly by disrupting the circadian rhythm and downstream physiological functions. Severe disruption of the circadian rhythm increases inflammation which can induce fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms in a fraction of the population and worsen existing symptoms in old and diseased individuals, leading to periodic spikes of infectious and chronic diseases. Possible mechanisms underlying sensing of the earth's electromagnetic fields involve entrainment, light-dependent radical pair formation in retina cryptochromes, and paramagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. Factors such as electromagnetic pollution from wireless devices and antennas, shielding by non-conductive materials used in shoes and buildings, and local geomagnetic anomalies may also affect sensing of the earth's electromagnetic fields by the human body and contribute to circadian rhythm disruption and disease development.
... Thus, the coincidences of similar effects from studies with different sources of electromagnetic radiation (but with similar pulsed, polarized and modulated radiation), such as radar or radio/television antennas, reinforce the conclusions of this review. Non-ionizing EMF are among the fastest growing forms of environmental pollution, its increase around the world in recent years has been exponential (Bandara and Carpenter, 2018) and symptoms reported today may be classic microwave/RF sickness (Levitt and Lai, 2010). ...
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.
... A review by Khurana et al. (2010) found in 80% of the available studies neurobehavioral symptoms or cancer in populations living at distances <500 m from base stations (Khurana et al., 2010). In another review exposure from base stations and other antenna arrays showed changes in immunological and reproductive systems as well as DNA double strand breaks, influence on calcium movement in the heart and increased proliferation rates in human astrocytoma cancer cells (Levitt and Lai, 2010). ...
Article
In urban environment there is a constant increase of public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone base stations. With the placement of mobile phone base station antennas radiofrequency hotspots emerge. This study investigates an area at Skeppsbron street in Stockholm, Sweden with an aggregation of base station antennas placed at low level close to pedestrians' heads. Detailed spatial distribution measurements were performed with 1) a radiofrequency broadband analyzer and 2) a portable exposimeter. The results display a greatly uneven distribution of the radiofrequency field with hotspots. The highest spatial average across all quadrat cells was 12.1 V m⁻¹ (388 mW m⁻²), whereas the maximum recorded reading from the entire area was 31.6 V m⁻¹ (2648 mW m⁻²). Exposimeter measurements show that the majority of exposure is due to mobile phone downlink bands. Most dominant are 2600 and 2100 MHz bands used by 4G and 3G mobile phone services, respectively. The average radiofrequency radiation values from the earlier studies show that the level of ambient RF radiation exposure in Stockholm is increasing. This study concluded that mobile phone base station antennas at Skeppsbron, Stockholm are examples of poor radiofrequency infrastructure design which brings upon highly elevated exposure levels to popular seaside promenade and a busy traffic street.
... Electromagnetic waves, as the fourth source of environmental pollution, induce various biological effects in different organs (1). The mobile phone can be considered as a widely used device; hence, anybody can call anytime, and this makes some problems and troubles for others. ...
... Electromagnetic waves, as the fourth source of environmental pollution, induce various biological effects in different organs (1). The mobile phone can be considered as a widely used device; hence, anybody can call anytime, and this makes some problems and troubles for others. ...
Article
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Background: The central nervous system is sensitive to radiation exposure as environmental pollution. This project aimed to evaluate the influence of jammer exposure radiation on spatial learning and memory. Materials and Methods: 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. The experimental groups were exposed to jammer radiation for 2h/day once or 2h/day for two weeks. Sham groups were similar to the experimental groups which were exposed to switch-off. The distance from the jammer router to the animals’ cages was 30 cm. In the second phase, using Morris Water Maze, the effect of jammer exposure radiation on spatial learning and memory was studied. Results: Data showed that radiation exposure once a day for 2h caused a significant increase in the learning procedure in the experimental group1, but we observed an increase in the parameters of distance and escape latency in finding the platform for two weeks' exposure in the experimental group 2. Conclusion: Results indicated that probably the motivation of escape and use of the different cues led to learning in the animals, while disrupting mobile performance through jammer router from animal environment caused a better brain performance in the spatial learning and memory in short term jammer radiation-treated animals group. However, with the same test conditions, in long term jammer the radiation-treated animals’ motivation reduced, which affected the responses and performance and reduced the learning. Moreover, environmental conflicts such as radiofrequency waves lead to behavioral alternations.
... Note that the proposed HPM power densities in this study are extremely large and several orders of magnitude larger than power densities typically experienced by the public. As an illustrative example, at around 200 feet from a cell phone base station, a person will be exposed to a power density of only 0.001 mW/cm 2 or less (36). This study establishes a testable hypothesis between potential neurocognitive effects and the thermoelastic mechanism from HPM systems. ...
Article
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When considering safety standards for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) and microwave energy, the dominant concerns pertain to a thermal effect. However, in the case of high-power pulsed RF/microwave energy, a rapid thermal expansion can lead to stress waves within the body. In this study, a computational model is used to estimate the temperature profile in the human brain resulting from exposure to various RF/microwave incident field parameters. The temperatures are subsequently used to simulate the resulting mechanical response of the brain. Our simulations show that, for certain extremely high-power microwave exposures (permissible by current safety standards), very high stresses may occur within the brain that may have implications for neuropathological effects. Although the required power densities are orders of magnitude larger than most real-world exposure conditions, they can be achieved with devices meant to emit high-power electromagnetic pulses in military and research applications.
... This type of source constantly grew in the last years because of the large number of mobile services providers and antenna sites (James, 2009; Ioan and Claudiu, 2016). After long-term NIR exposure, common health risks might comprise "hypersensitivity syndromes, cognitive declines, autonomic dysfunctions, and brain tumors" (Croft et al., 2002;Levitt and Lai, 2010). Numerous studies also stated that high EMF exposure was connected with a greater danger of childhood leukemia (Kabuto et al., 2006). ...
Article
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The tremendous benefits of using cellular phones, which began to increase and unprecedented spread worldwide last decade, were accompanied by harmful effects on the environment due to the increase in electromagnetic radiation (EMR) which be emitted from mobile phone towers. This effect on humans, animals, and plants, which is considered a form of environmental pollution, was sensed by developed countries and Environmental protection organizations. These countries have established restrictions and enacted laws to reduce their negative impact on living beings. The field survey included six major hospitals and 38 schools were distributed over the central neighborhoods in Al-Najaf city. The results showed that power density (PD) measurements for 4 out of 6 hospitals and 27 out of 38 schools were higher than the biological limit (BL) adopted in this article. This limit is considered as an indicator of the onset of a harmful effect on brain and body tissues. The highest value for PD in hospitals was 5.62 mW/m2 recorded in Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital. PD measurements ranged from1.33 from 3.92 mW/m2 in the selected schools where its readings exceeded the BL. When comparing the PD measurements at the selected sites with limits set by the "International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)" they were less than the recommended limit in those specifications. All values of specific absorption rates (SAR) in W/Kg were below the ICNIRP Guidelines' limit. However, they were above the biological limit for four hospitals and several of the selected schools.
... Studies have also reported headaches, sleep disturbances, dizziness, skin rashes, insomnia, decreased libido, concentration issues, changes in memory, increased risk of cancer, tremors, increased suicide rates, and other neurophysiological effects in communities near base stations ( [7] Levitt, 2010). ...
Article
There has been an unprecedented growth in mobile technologies in recent years that connect millions of people, resulting in a remarkable increase in different communication devices. 5G will be launched worldwide and in Bangladesh very soon with some fascinating features to make our life more comfortable and faster. While 5G has excellent potential worldwide, radiation from a very dense network of antennas and transmitters (5G) and cell phones poses a detrimental risk to human health. This paper focuses on those impacts on Bangladesh's perspective by considering the effect of the existing 4G technology. This survey analysis was carried out using both the primary and secondary data. The most important finding of this study is that most cell phone antennas emit radiation beyond the permissible limits. Citizens face health issues related to radiation emitted from cell phones and BTS (Base Station) tower. Another important finding is that most citizens are not aware of the radiation emission from cell phones and BTS towers. Citizens must be educated, and awareness needs to be created regarding the hazardous radiation effects of mobile phones and BTS towers in human society.
... Nonionizing EMF are among the fastest growing forms of environmental pollution. [16][17] Cell phone usage with adults as well as even young children have become quite common globally. It has been proved by the scientists that smoking cause lung cancer and million people die every year throughout the world. ...
... Tissues in the body are exposed to the EMW radiation emitted from mobile phones or communications towers, especially if these frequencies are high. The intensity of this effect depends on the location of the person, and the characteristics of the cell's physiology [4]. In order to study the impacts of RF radiation on humans, it is essential to define the specific absorption rate (SAR). ...
Article
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In this paper, the emitted electromagnetic waves (EMW) from different cellular mobile base stations (BSs) have been measured and calculated in order to study their effects on public health. Moreover, a comparison between the effect of radiated power from the BSs on people who live near them and those who live away has been made by using OpenSignal software and calculated theoretically. The values of power density for different cells were also calculated to compare them with the maximum permissible exposure limit-the acceptable range values of power density. The measurements were done in Tikrit City considering ten cells and various locations and distances. The results show that most of the power density and EMV for the tested cells are within the acceptable range. However, power density and EMV for two of tested cells have hurtful effects in the long term for people who live near the BSs.
... There is a far-reaching history of research on the health effects of wireless radiation (Belpomme Hardell, Belyaev, Burgio, & Carpenter, 2018;Deruelle, 2020;Desai, Kesari, & Agarwal, 2009;Di Ciaula, 2018;Doyon & Johansson, 2017;Havas, 2017;Kaplan et al., 2016;Kostoff & Lau, 2013Lerchl et al., 2015;Levitt & Lai, 2010;Miller et al., 2019;Pall, 2016Pall, , 2018Panagopoulos, 2019;Panagopoulos, Johansson, & Carlo, 2015;Russell, 2018;Sage & Burgio, 2018;van Rongen et al., 2009;Yakymenko et al., 2016). Kostoff, Heroux, Aschner, & Tsatsakis (2020) summarize these findings reporting that exposure to radio frequency radiation below the American Federal ...
Preprint
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This study investigated whether the Croatian news website Index.hr manipulates information on the health effects of 5G. We constructed one experimental corpus, containing all articles by Index.hr on health effects of 5G, and two control corpora, one with articles about health effects of 5G published by reliable media, and one with articles about science published by Index.hr. Compared to Index.hr science articles, Index.hr 5G articles were 288.14 times likelier to express the author’s opinion, 16.95 times likelier to express a subjective opinion, 10.78 times likelier to contain no references, 10.78 times likelier to contain misinformation, and 4.20 times likelier to contain no scientific references. The simultaneous increase in misinformation and reduction in referencing suggeststhat the misinformation doesn’t stem from other sources, but that itis produced within Index.hr. An increase in opinion expression, and opinion subjectivity in the context of misinformation suggests that Index.hr is manipulating the information on health effects of 5G. Furthermore, all articles were written by different authors, indicating that this phenomenon is systematic within Index.hr. Still, the small sample size warrants a degree of caution.
... A vast literature published over the past sixty years shows adverse effects from wireless radiation applied in isolation or as part of a combination with other toxic stimuli. Extensive reviews of wireless radiation-induced biological and health effects have been published (Kostoff andLau, 2013, 2017;Belpomme et al., 2018;Desai et al., 2009;Di Ciaula, 2018;Doyon and Johansson, 2017;Havas, 2017;Kaplan et al., 2016;Lerchl et al., 2015;Levitt and Lai, 2010;Miller et al., 2019;Pall, 2016Pall, , 2018Panagopoulos, 2019;Panagopoulos et al., 2015;Russell, 2018;Sage and Burgio, 2018;van Rongen et al., 2009;Yakymenko et al., 2016;Bioinitiative, 2012). In aggregate, for the high frequency (radiofrequency-RF) part of the spectrum, these reviews show that RF radiation below the FCC guidelines can result in: ...
Article
This article identifies adverse effects of non-ionizing non-visible radiation (hereafter called wireless radiation) reported in the premier biomedical literature. It emphasizes that most of the laboratory experiments conducted to date are not designed to identify the more severe adverse effects reflective of the real-life operating environment in which wireless radiation systems operate. Many experiments do not include pulsing and modulation of the carrier signal. The vast majority do not account for synergistic adverse effects of other toxic stimuli (such as chemical and biological) acting in concert with the wireless radiation. This article also presents evidence that the nascent 5 G mobile networking technology will affect not only the skin and eyes, as commonly believed, but will have adverse systemic effects as well.
... The research studies have established a relation between radiation power density and the distance from the source of radiation such as cellphone tower (Levitt 2010, Panagopoulos 2010. However, it is not known how the surroundings of the tower affect the environmental radiation. ...
Article
The cell-phone radiation is a potential health hazard not only to the singular user but to the whole population through the environmental pollution. The environmental radiation density may vary from place to place depending upon its absorption or reflection by surroundings, e.g., trees, buildings, human population, water bodies, etc. The present work was taken to study the effect of population density and surroundings on the environmental radiation. The power density values of radiation were measured using a hand-held portable power density meter TES 593, and specific absorption rates (SAR) were estimated from the measured values. The SAR values were compared with the safe limit of 1 mW/kg above which biological system of humans and animals starts getting affected. The studies indicated that the average environmental radiation power density values were higher in unpopulated and open areas than densely populated regions by 300%. Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech. Website: www.neptjournal.com
... The research studies have established a relation between radiation power density and the distance from the source of radiation such as cellphone tower (Levitt 2010, Panagopoulos 2010. However, it is not known how the surroundings of the tower affect the environmental radiation. ...
Article
Full-text available
The cell-phone radiation is a potential health hazard not only to the singular user but to the whole population through the environmental pollution. The environmental radiation density may vary from place to place depending upon its absorption or reflection by surroundings, e.g., trees, buildings, human population, water bodies, etc. The present work was taken to study the effect of population density and surroundings on the environmental radiation. The power density values of radiation were measured using a hand-held portable power density meter TES 593, and specific absorption rates (SAR) were estimated from the measured values. The SAR values were compared with the safe limit of 1 mW/kg above which biological system of humans and animals starts getting affected. The studies indicated that the average environmental radiation power density values were higher in unpopulated and open areas than densely populated regions by 300%. Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech. Website: www.neptjournal.com
... As we know, microwave energy is not sufficient to break the chemical bonds in DNA directly, but adverse effects may be mediated by indirect mechanisms, such as generation of oxygen free radicals (Vrhovac et al., 2011;Yakymenko et al., 2011) or a disturbance in DNA-repair processes (Levitt and Lai, 2010;Deshmukh et al., 2013;Zhi et al., 2017). Observations to date suggest that oxidative stress and cancer are closely linked. ...
Article
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Objective: Microwave radiation is one of the most growing environmental workplace factors that exposes too many workers in the various workplaces. Regard to concerns about cancer incidence in these workers and lack of systematic or meta-analytic studies about this object, so, we conducted a meta-analysis to acquire an understanding of the association between cancer risk and occupational exposure to radar radiation. Methods: A systematic search was carried out on case-control, cohort and clinical control trial studies that published in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Google scholar databases that accomplished from March 2017 to March 2018 and updated on 30 September, 2018 in English and Persian articles without time limit in publication date. Keywords were selected based on PICO principle and collected from MeSH database. After removal of duplicated studied, taking into inclusion and exclusion criteria, the process of screening was carried out and data were extracted after preparation of the full text of included articles. Article collection was completed by manually searching for a reference list of eligible studies. For quality assessment of included studies, Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used. Results: a total of 533 studies was found in the first step of literature search, only 6 were included with 53,008 sample size according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Estimated pooled random effects size analysis showed no significant increasing effect of occupational exposure to radar radiation on mortality rate (MR=0.81, 95%CI: 0.78, 0.83) and relative risk (RR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.75, 0.99, P <0.0001) of cancer with a significant heterogeneity between the selected studies. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis study have shown no significant increase in overall mortality ratio and cancer risk ratio from occupational exposure to the radar frequency of workers. But, these results are not conclusive. As regards to some limitation such as fewer numbers of included studies, lack of data about exposure characterizations and demographic characterizations in this meta-analysis, this result is not certain and conclusive. It is recommended to conduct future studies.
... The exposure of tissues and organs to this EMR induces some modifications at the cellular and molecular levels. The severity of these effects depends on the duration of exposure to the EMR and the extent of tissue penetration [4]. There are several hundred million patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) around the world. ...
Article
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This study investigated the effects of exposure of diabetic rats to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of 900 MHz from cell phone base stations antenna for four weeks on plasma triglycerides and cholesterol. We also examined whether selenium administration into these rats affects the levels of these parameters. Our results showed that the exposure of diabetic rats to this EMR increased the plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and VLDL-c. The daily intraperitoneally injection of 2.0 µg selenium/kg body weight as sodium selenite into these rats decreased the triglycerides and VLDL-c levels compared to diabetic rats with EMR exposure. Selenium also restored the normal levels of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL-c as compared to control rats. In conclusion, selenium decreased the elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in diabetic rats exposed to EMR from cell phone base stations and hence it may decrease the development of some diabetic complications.
... Tissues in the body are exposed to the EMW radiation emitted from mobile phones or communications towers, especially if these frequencies are high. The intensity of this effect depends on the location of the person, and the characteristics of the cell's physiology [4]. In order to study the impacts of RF radiation on humans, it is essential to define the specific absorption rate (SAR). ...
Research
In this paper, the emitted electromagnetic waves (EMW) from different cellular mobile base stations (BSs) have been measured and calculated in order to study their effects on public health. Moreover, a comparison between the effect of radiated power from the BSs on people who live near them and those who live away has been made by using OpenSignal software and calculated theoretically. The values of power density for different cells were also calculated to compare them with the maximum permissible exposure limit-the acceptable range values of power density. The measurements were done in Tikrit City considering ten cells and various locations and distances. The results show that most of the power density and EMV for the tested cells are within the acceptable range. However, power density and EMV for two of tested cells have hurtful effects in the long term for people who live near the BSs.
... Tissues in the body are exposed to the EMW radiation emitted from mobile phones or communications towers, especially if these frequencies are high. The intensity of this effect depends on the location of the person, and the characteristics of the cell's physiology [4]. In order to study the impacts of RF radiation on humans, it is essential to define the specific absorption rate (SAR). ...
Research
Full-text available
In this paper, the emitted electromagnetic waves (EMW) from different cellular mobile base stations (BSs) have been measured and calculated in order to study their effects on public health. Moreover, a comparison between the effect of radiated power from the BSs on people who live near them and those who live away has been made by using OpenSignal software and calculated theoretically. The values of power density for different cells were also calculated to compare them with the maximum permissible exposure limit-the acceptable range values of power density. The measurements were done in Tikrit City considering ten cells and various locations and distances. The results show that most of the power density and EMV for the tested cells are within the acceptable range. However, power density and EMV for two of tested cells have hurtful effects in the long term for people who live near the BSs.
Article
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This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the biological hazards associated with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) using mobile phones as a case study, aiming to dispel ambiguities and provide practical insights grounded in scientific evidence. Delving into the intricate interplay between EMR and living organisms, the authors explore various biological effects, including DNA damage, oxidative stress, and neurological impacts, substantiated by a wealth of research studies. The conflicting findings and controversies in EMR research are critically examined, shedding light on methodological differences, confounding variables, and ethical considerations. Regulatory guidelines, safety standards, and precautionary approaches are evaluated, emphasizing the need for international collaboration and continued research. Furthermore, the article clearly describes mitigation strategies at individual, community, and policy levels, empowering readers with practical measures to minimize EMR exposure while maximizing the benefits of modern technology.
Article
Significant concerns have been raised about the potential harmful impact of radio frequencies (RF) transmitted from these devices, especially with the excessive usage of mobile telecommunication systems. A faraday cage was constructed to house cell culture plates in between a radio transmitter and its receiver. Three different cell lines were cultured on 10μg/mL of collagen and fibronectin and exposed to RF using an 8-bit encrypted pulse signal at 433 MHz, 1.02 (Amps) for 3 hours to determine the cell proliferation effects. The results demonstrated that HFF-1 on fibronectin with RF exposure compared to no exposure significantly increased the proliferation rate by 1.55-folds on days 3 and 1.53-folds on day 7, respectively. HFF-1 on collagen with radio transmission compared to no transmission, the proliferation rate significantly increased on 2.34-folds on day 3 and 2.18-folds on day 7 respectively. In contrast, the SKBR3 on fibronectin with radio transmission compared to no transmission the proliferation rate significantly increased by 2.63-folds on day 3 and significantly decreased by 1.68-folds on day 7. Likewise, SKBR3 on collagen with radio transmission unveiled the proliferation rate significantly increased by 1.11-folds on day 3 and significantly decreased by 6.49-folds on day 7. Moreover, L6 on fibronectin with RF exposure compared to no exposure, the proliferation rate significantly decreased by 1.54-folds on day 7. L6 on collagen with radio transmission, revealed the proliferation rate significantly increased by 1.69-folds on day 3 and significantly decreased by 1.64-folds on day 7. In conclusion, radio transmission exposure significantly increases the proliferation rate of HFF-1 cell-lines and significantly decreases the cell proliferation of both the SKBR3 and L6 cell lines overall.
Article
Barium titanium borate glasses doped with ytterbium with the chemical composition of B2O3-TiO2-BaO-Yb2O3 are described as shields exhibiting excellent performance for β and γ applications. This study used the Phy-X and XCOM codes and the GEANT4 toolkit to calculate and simulate the gamma attenuation factors in a 0.02-MeV to 15-MeV range. From the linear attenuation coefficient and mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values, the half-value layer (HVL), tenth value layer, mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Zeff), electronic cross-section, and atomic cross-section have been determined. In addition, the energy absorption build-up factors and exposure build-up factors values of glass samples were estimated for the energy spectrum spans from 0.02 MeV to 15 MeV and penetration depths up to 40 MFP. Additionally, we analyzed the heaviness (H%) of the selected samples, utilizing this crucial metric as a fundamental parameter to comprehend the distinctive properties of diverse materials. Furthermore, we determined the radiation protection efficiency (RPE), and observed that it is prominent at lower energies, gradually decreasing as the energy level rises. Incorporating Yb3O2 resulted in an augmentation of the RPE values, thereby enhancing the shielding capabilities of the glass system. The ESTAR program assessed the β-shielding action of the inspected glasses by determining the total stopping power (TSP) and the continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) range. The findings indicate that the incorporation of ytterbium positively impacts the density, consequently enhancing the shielding proficiency, of the sample against β- and γ-rays. In BTBaY4 glass, the variant with the greatest concentration of Yb2O3 exhibits the greatest values for MAC, Zeff, and the most minimal HVL. Moreover, this type of glass has low concentrations of Yb2O3 and is free from lead materials, but shows good shielding properties.
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In the current digital era, having connection to the internet is essential for economic opportunities, education, and communication. However, there is unequal access to these digital resources due to the ongoing global problem of the “digital divide”. In order to close this gap, this project investigates the creation of a satellite-connected, reasonably priced smartphone. Traditional terrestrial networks have their limitations, especially in isolated and rural locations where it can be difficult to access the internet. Furthermore, communication in metropolitan areas is hampered by worries about radiation from cellular towers. This method overcomes the constraints of conventional terrestrial networks to provide internet access to even the most remote locations by outfitting smartphones with satellite communication capabilities. This technology not only offers economic opportunities, education, and basic services, but it also lessens the need for traditional cellular towers in crowded places, which may allay worries about radiation exposure from towers. The study highlights how crucial it is to overcome technological obstacles, work with manufacturers, develop encouraging regulations, and run awareness efforts in order to promote the adoption of this ground-breaking strategy. The main conclusions indicate that, in addition to addressing connection and health issues, reasonably priced smartphones with satellite connectivity can make a substantial contribution toward bridging the digital divide and helping urban and impoverished communities. This study makes a very clear point: adopting smartphones with satellite capabilities can open the door to a more connected and just digital society.
Article
The electromagnetic background was measured in living quarters of station «Vostok» located on the Antarctic plateau distant from potential sources of technogenic electromagnetic fields. Level of E-radiation in the range from 0.8 to 8 GHz was determined using integral dosimeter MERA. Based on the results of long-term continuous (one to 4 months) measurements, the mean flux density was equal to 1.5 ± 0.8 nwatts/cm2 that is nearly 7 000 times lower than the admissible level for population adopted in Russia. Antarctic station «Vostok» can be considered as a plausible location of biomedical investigations into the effects of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
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One of the main issues facing environmental and human health protection is managing and further use of waste tires. Upcycling is a successful recycling strategy that aims to incorporate shredded discarded tires into polymer blends to create products with added value for different uses. Two-roll mill laboratories mixer were used to prepare low-cost, flexible magnetic composites based on an EPDM rubber/ground waste tyres (GRW) blend as a host matrix and waste iron powders (WIP) as dispersed filler. Tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness (shore A) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to evaluate the physico-mechanical properties of the produced blends. The thermal properties of the produced blends were also tested using thermo gravimetric analysis, and the morphology of the blends was observed using a scan electron microscope. The electrical and magnetic properties of the mixtures were also tested. The elemental analysis of the WIP sample showed that it contains about 2.19% SiO2, 76.57% Fe2O3 and 21.24% O2, respectively. Mainly, the investigated mechanical parameters (elongation at break & hardness) increased with increasing the WIP content. A notable decrease of tensile strength upon reaching 50phr WIP is noticed. Enhancement in the thermal stability of EPDM/WIP composites is noticed by increasing WIP content. SEM micrographs detect agglomerates at higher WIP content, resulting in mechanical properties' failure. Moreover, the values ε'& ε' improved by rising WIP content. Also, the electrical conductivity "σ" reaches 10− 4 S/cm for 60 phr WIP. Further, the EPDM/WIP composites may be appropriate for creating soft magnetic materials, which have several applications.
Thesis
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This study examines the gap between indifference to the environmental cause and the possibility of creating environmental consciousness among haredi women in two neighborhoods in Beit Shemesh, a city that has recently become a powerful magnet for the haredi population. Those areas occupy residents of two minority groups within the haredi society – newly repentant religious families: Mizrahi low income families and new immigrants, Anglo-Saxon middle class families.
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Background The preponderant use of wireless telecommunication in the twenty-first century has enabled ease and efficient communication and a pervasive occurrence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that has significantly impacted the ecosystem. This study looks at the effect of radiations from wireless telecommunication EMF on the distribution, diversity and abundance of some insects in Nigeria. The study was undertaken in Ilorin, Kwara State, which is located in the Guinea Savannah belt of Nigeria. The chosen choice of study area was one with a telecommunication mast devoid of residential and human interference within a 10 km radius. Five sampling stations were selected around the mast and a control station. EMR intensity levels and pollinating insect number were monitored daily for 22 weeks using an acoustimeter and malaise traps. Collected insects were identified morphologically using appropriate keys. Results The mean electromagnetic radiation (EMR) intensity was significantly ( P < 0.05) highest (1.58 ± 1.52 V/m) at sampling station B, and there was an increase in EMR intensity as the radius reduced around the mast. A total of 1878 insects were recovered from the study with the dominant species in terms of abundance of insects collected from the study being Musca domestica (0.39) followed by Apis mellifera (0.31) and Locusta migratoria (0.30), while the least dominant species Tetramorium caespitum (0.23). Conclusions Indeed, EMR intensity has an effect on the distribution, diversity and abundance of insects and there is a need to reduce the number of masts in use in the environment by encouraging telecommunication service providers to jointly use the same mast in an area for broadcast.
Article
This paper was performed to determine the electromagnetic waves (RFW) released by dissimilar cellular phones and to additional observe the belongings of these waves on the living cells. TriField meter Model 100XE was used to calculate the electromagnetic waves produced by dissimilar mobile phones while receiving a call. To discover the effects of electromagnetic waves on living cells, developing chick embryo was selected for this study. 40 chick fertilized eggs were uniformly divided into manage and an exposed group. 20 fertilized eggs were placed in an egg incubator with a mobile phone in quiet mode having vibration immobilize mode. Mobile was called for total of 50 minutes in 24 hours. 20 embryos each were sacrificed at day 10 and 15, and histology of liver was conducted. The control group, 20 eggs were protecting in the same conditions, having removed the battery from the phone. The TriField readings from dissimilar mobile phones were classified into four groups according to the strength of the waves. Downloading from the net using WiFi also exposed high attentiveness of the waves. Histology of the liver: Control group at day 10, showed developing hepatocytes, row not well formed, and few sinusoids in-between with few spotted RBSs. At day 15, well-formed anastomosing cords of hepatocytes with significant nucleus were experiential and well-formed sinusoids lined by epithelium showing well-formed RBCs can be seen clearly. In the exposed group, the sinusoids were less noticeable and necrosis of hepatocytes was seen. In all the embryos, hepatocytes showed marked penetration of fatty vacuoles in their cytoplasm, necrosis of few hepatocytes showing intensely stained nucleus, derangement of rows forming classic hepatic lobule, deficiency of sinusoids and few scattered RBSs. dissimilar mobile phones showed emission of electromagnetic waves whose strength was high in the old version of mobile phones. These waves affected the enlargement of liver in the chick embryo; hepatocytes exposed fatty change and derangement of sinusoids in the exposed group. This paper concludes that the electromagnetic waves of the mobile phones exaggerated the propagation of living cells in chick embryo.
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Mobile Phone Radiations as an Alarming Tool for Human Health: A Review
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A health survey was carried out in La Ñora, Murcia, Spain, in the vicinity of two GSM 900/1800 MHz cellular phone base stations. The E-field (~ 400 MHz - 3 GHz) measured in the bedroom was divided in tertiles (0.02 - 0.04 / 0.05 - 0.22 / 0.25 - 1.29 V/m). Spectrum analysis revealed the main contribution and variation for the E- field from the GSM base station. The adjusted (sex, age, distance) logistic regression model showed statistically significant positive exposure-response associations between the E-field and the following variables: fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeping disorder, depressive tendency, feeling of discomfort, difficulty in concentration, loss of memory, visual disorder, dizziness and cardiovascular problems. The inclusion of the distance, which might be a proxy for the sometimes raised "concerns explanation", did not alter the model substantially. These results support the first statistical analysis based on two groups (arithmetic mean 0,65 V/m versus 0,2 V/m) as well as the correlation coefficients between the E-field and the symptoms (Navarro et al, "The Microwave Syndrome: A preliminary Study in Spain", Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Volume 22, Issue 2, (2003): 161 - 169). Based on the data of this study the advice would be to strive for levels not higher than 0.02 V/m for the sum total, which is equal to a power density of 0.0001 µW/cm² or 1 µW/m², which is the indoor exposure value for GSM base stations proposed on empirical evidence by the Public Health Office of the Government of Salzburg in 2002.
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The concerns of people on possible adverse health effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) generated from mobile phones as well as their supporting transmitters (base stations) have increased markedly. RFR effect on oversensitive people, such as pregnant women and their developing fetuses, and older people is another source of concern that should be considered. In this study, oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation levels in the brain tissue of pregnant and non-pregnant New Zealand White rabbits and their newborns exposed to RFR were investigated. Thirteen-month-old rabbits were studied in four groups as non-pregnant-control, non-pregnant-RFR exposed, pregnant-control and pregnant-RFR exposed. They were exposed to RFR (1800 MHz GSM; 14 Vim as reference level) for 15 min/day during 7 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were analyzed. MDA and 8-OHdG levels of non-pregnant and pregnant-RFR exposed animals significantly increased with respect to controls (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test). No difference was found in the newborns (p > 0.05, Mann-Whitney). There exist very few experimental studies on the effects of RFR during pregnancy. It would be beneficial to increase the number of these studies in order to establish international standards for the protection of pregnant women from RFR.
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This paper describes the effect of weak microwave fields on the amounts of heat-shock proteins in cell cultures at various temperatures. The field was generated by signal simulation of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) of 960 Mhz, used in portable phones. Transformed human epithelial amnion (AMA) cells, growing on glass coverslips, were exposed in a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cell to a microwave field, generating a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2.1 mW.kg−1 in the cells. Exposure temperatures were 35, 37, and 40 ± 0.1°C, respectively, and the exposure time was 20 min. The heat-shock proteins Hsp-70 and Hsp-27 were detected by immuno-fluorescence. Higher amounts of Hsp-70 were present in the cells exposed at 35 and 37°C than in the sham-exposed cells. These effects can be considered to be athermal, since the field strength was much lower than the safety standard for absence of heat generation by microwave fields. There was no significant response in the case of Hsp-27.
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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.
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Biological effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) have been studied in Fischer 344 rats of both sexes. The rats were not anaesthetised during the exposure. All animals were sacrificed by perfusion–fixation of the brains under chloralhydrate anaesthesia after the exposure. The brains were perfused with saline for 3–4 minutes, and thereafter perfusion fixed with 4% formaldehyde for 5–6 minutes. Whole coronal sections of the brains were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 µm. Albumin and fibrinogen were demonstrated immunohistochemically and classified as normal versus pathological leakage. In the present investigation we exposed male and female Fischer 344 rats in a Transverse Electromagnetic Transmission line chamber to microwaves of 915 MHz as continuous wave (CW) and pulse‐modulated with different pulse power and at various time intervals. The CW‐pulse power varied from 0.001 W to 10 W and the exposure time from 2 min to 960 min. In each experiment we exposed 4–6 rats with 2–4 controls randomly placed in excited and non‐excited TEM‐cells respectively. We have in total investigated 630 exposed rats at various modulation frequencies and 372 controls. The frequency of pathological rats is significantly increased (p p p
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The data on biologic effects of nonthermal microwaves (MWs) from mobile telephones are diverse, and these effects are presently ignored by safety standards of the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). In the present study, we investigated effects of MWs of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) at different carrier frequencies on human lymphocytes from healthy persons and from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). We measured the changes in chromatin conformation, which are indicative of stress response and genotoxic effects, by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependence, and we analyzed tumor suppressor p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) and phosphorylated histone H2AX (gamma-H2AX), which have been shown to colocalize in distinct foci with DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), using immunofluorescence confocal laser microscopy. We found that MWs from GSM mobile telephones affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1/gamma-H2AX foci similar to heat shock. For the first time, we report here that effects of MWs from mobile telephones on human lymphocytes are dependent on carrier frequency. On average, the same response was observed in lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy subjects.
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The influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted from a circularly polarized antenna on the neuroendocrine system in healthy humans was investigated (900 MHz electromagnetic field, pulsed with 217 Hz, average power density 0.02 mW/cm2). Nocturnal hormone profiles of growth hormone (GH), cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and melatonin were determined under polysomnographic control. An alteration in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity was found with a slight, transient elevation in the cortisol serum level immediately after onset of field exposure which persisted for 1 h. For GH, LH and melatonin, no significant effects were found under exposure to the field compared to the placebo condition, regarding both total hormone production during the entire night and dynamic characteristics of the secretion pattern. Also the evaluation of the sleep EEG data revealed no significant alterations under field exposure, although there was a trend to an REM suppressive effect. The results indicate that weak high-frequency electromagnetic fields have no effects on nocturnal hormone secretion except for a slight elevation in cortisol production which is transient, pointing to an adaptation of the organism to the stimulus.
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An experiment has been made exposing eggs and tadpoles of the common frog (Rana temporaria) to electromagnetic radiation from several mobile (cell) phone antennae located at a distance of 140 meters. The experiment lasted two months, from the egg phase until an advanced phase of tadpole prior to metamorphosis. Measurements of electric field intensity (radiofrequencies and microwaves) in V/m obtained with three different devices were 1.8 to 3.5 V/m. In the exposed group (n = 70), low coordination of movements, an asynchronous growth, resulting in both big and small tadpoles, and a high mortality (90%) was observed. Regarding the control group (n = 70) under the same conditions but inside a Faraday cage, the coordination of movements was normal, the development was synchronous, and a mortality of 4.2% was obtained. These results indicate that radiation emitted by phone masts in a real situation may affect the development and may cause an increase in mortality of exposed tadpoles. This research may have huge implications for the natural world, which is now exposed to high microwave radiation levels from a multitude of phone masts.
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The increased bioactivity 'windows' of GSM 900 and 1800 MHz radiations, (Global System for Mobile telecommunications) revealed recently by us and published in this issue, manifesting themselves as a maximum decrease in the reproductive capacity of the insect Drosophila melanogaster, were examined to discover whether they depend on the intensity of radiation-fields. In each experiment, one group of insects were exposed to the GSM 900 or 1800 radiation at 30 or 20 cm distances, respectively, from the antenna of a mobile phone, where the bioactivity 'window' appears for each type of radiation and another group was exposed at 8 or 5 cm, respectively, behind a metal grid, shielding both microwave radiation and the extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields for both types of radiation in a way that radiation and field intensities were roughly equal between the two groups. Then the effect on reproductive capacity was compared between groups for each type of radiation. The decrease in the reproductive capacity did not differ significantly between the two groups. The bioactivity window seems to be due to the intensity of radiation-field (10 microW/cm(2), 0.6-0.7 V/m) at 30 or 20 cm from the GSM 900 or 1800 mobile phone antenna, respectively.
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To examine the bioactivity of GSM 900 and 1800 (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications) radiations, in relation to the distance from the antenna or to the radiation-field intensities. Drosophila melanogaster adult insects were exposed to the radiation of a GSM 900/1800 mobile phone antenna at different distances ranging from 0 to 100 cm, and the effect on their reproductive capacity and cell death induction in the gonads by the use of TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) assay, was studied. These radiations/fields decreased the reproductive capacity by cell death induction, at all the different distances tested. The effect diminished with the distance/decreasing intensities. An increased bioactivity 'window' was revealed at distances of 20-30 cm from the mobile phone antenna, (radiation intensity around 10 microW/cm(2)) where the effect became highest, in relation to smaller or longer distances. The effect diminished considerably for distances longer than 40-50 cm and became not evident for distances longer than 1 m or radiation intensities smaller than 1 microW/cm(2). GSM bioactivity is highest for intensities down to less than 10 microW/cm(2) and still evident until 1 microW/cm(2) exhibiting 'window' effects.
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The peak spatial specific absorption rate (SAR) assessed with the standardized specific anthropometric mannequin head phantom has been shown to yield a conservative exposure estimate for both adults and children using mobile phones. There are, however, questions remaining concerning the impact of age-dependent dielectric tissue properties and age-dependent proportions of the skull, face and ear on the global and local absorption, in particular in the brain tissues. In this study, we compare the absorption in various parts of the cortex for different magnetic resonance imaging-based head phantoms of adults and children exposed to different models of mobile phones. The results show that the locally induced fields in children can be significantly higher (>3 dB) in subregions of the brain (cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus) and the eye due to the closer proximity of the phone to these tissues. The increase is even larger for bone marrow (>10 dB) as a result of its significantly high conductivity. Tissues such as the pineal gland show no increase since their distances to the phone are not a function of age. This study, however, confirms previous findings saying that there are no age-dependent changes of the peak spatial SAR when averaged over the entire head.
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"Airwave" is the new communication system currently being rolled out across the United Kingdom for the police and emergency services, based on the Terrestrial Trunked Radio Telecommunications System (TETRA). Some police officers have complained about skin rashes, nausea, headaches, and depression as a consequence of using their Airwave handsets. In addition, a small subgroup in the population self-report being sensitive to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in general. We conducted a randomized double-blind provocation study to establish whether short-term exposure to a TETRA base station signal has an impact on the health and well-being of individuals with self-reported "electrosensitivity" and of participants who served as controls. Fifty-one individuals with self-reported electrosensitivity and 132 age- and sex-matched controls participated in an open provocation test; 48 sensitive and 132 control participants went on to complete double-blind tests in a fully screened semianechoic chamber. Heart rate, skin conductance, and blood pressure readings provided objective indices of short-term physiological response. Visual analog scales and symptom scales provided subjective indices of well-being. We found no differences on any measure between TETRA and sham (no signal) under double-blind conditions for either controls or electrosensitive participants, and neither group could detect the presence of a TETRA signal at rates greater than chance (50%). When conditions were not double blind, however, the self-reported electrosensitive individuals did report feeling worse and experienced more severe symptoms during TETRA compared with sham. Our findings suggest that the adverse symptoms experienced by electrosensitive individuals are due to the belief of harm from TETRA base stations rather than to the low-level EMF exposure itself.
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Common concern about the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) is increasing with the expansion of X-band microwaves (MW). The purpose of our work was to determine whether exposure to MW pulses in this range can induce toxic effects on human astrocytoma cells. Cultured astrocytoma cells (Clonetics line 1321N1) were submitted to 9.6 GHz carrier, 90% amplitude modulated by extremely low frequency (ELF)-EMF pulses inside a Gigahertz Transversal Electromagnetic Mode cell (GTEM-cell). Astrocytoma cultures were maintained inside a GTEM-incubator in standard culture conditions at 37+/-0.1 degrees C, 5% CO2, in a humidified atmosphere. Two experimental conditions were applied with field parameters respectively of: PW 100-120 ns; PRF 100-800 Hz; PRI 10-1.25 ms; power 0.34-0.60 mW; electric field strength 1.25-1.64 V/m; magnetic field peak amplitude 41.4-54.6 microOe. SAR was calculated to be 4.0 x 10-4 W/Kg. Astrocytoma samples were grown in a standard incubator. Reaching 70-80% confluence, cells were transferred to a GTEM-incubator. Experimental procedure included exposed human astrocytoma cells to MW for 15, 30, 60 min and 24 h and unexposed sham-control samples. Double blind method was applied. Our results showed that cytoskeleton proteins, cell morphology and viability were not modified. Statistically significant results showed increased cell proliferation rate under 24h MW exposure. Hsp-70 and Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins were observed in control and treated samples, while an increased expression of connexin 43 proteins was found in exposed samples. The implication of these results on increased proliferation is the subject of our current research.
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In parallel to evoking the accumulation of stress-related transcripts, exposure to low level 900 MHz EMF affected the levels of ATP, the main energy molecule of the cell. Its concentration dropped rapidly (27% after 30 min) in response to EMF exposure, along with a 18% decrease in the adenylate energy charge (AEC), a good marker of cell energy status. One could interpret this decrease in ATP and AEC in a classical way, i.e., as the result of an increase in cellular energy usage, but recent work brings exciting new insights in pointing out a signalling function for ATP, especially in the stress physiology context where it could trigger both reactive oxygen species and calcium movement (this latter being involved in plant responses to EMF exposure). In this addendum, we discuss our results within this new perspective for ATP function.
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The physiological impact of nonionizing radiation has long been considered negligible. However, here we use a carefully calibrated stimulation system that mimics the characteristics (isotropy and homogeneity) of electromagnetic fields present in the environment to measure changes in a molecular marker (mRNA encoding the stress-related bZIP transcription factor), and show that low amplitude, short duration, 900 MHz EMF evokes the accumulation of this mRNA. Accumulation is rapid (peaking 5-15 min after stimulation) and strong (3.5-fold), and is similar to that evoked by mechanical stimulations.
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Eight male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were trained to alternately press each of two bars in an operant conditioning task. After stable baseline performance was achieved, changes in this operant behavior were observed in sessions immediately following exposure to 2450 MHz continuous wave (CW) microwave irradiation. Rats were tested after 55-min or 15-hr exposures to 2450 MHz CW irradiation at incident power levels of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mW/cm2, and after 55-min exposures to 25 and 30 mW/cm2. Exposures to 15 and 20 mW/cm2 for 15 hr greatly suppressed the rate of bar press alternations, but exposures to the same power levels for only one hour did not suppress the behavior as much. This study indicates that microwave power densities just above the allowable occupational exposure levels for humans can adversely alter animal behavior. Results of this study also suggest that even under conditions of constant environmental temperature and humidity, exposure duration is an important variable in determining microwave behavioral effects.
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A multimode microwave (MW) exposure chamber was employed to investigate the effects of low-intensity CW radiation on one innate and two learned behaviors of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Relative to sham-irradiated controls, exposure to 2. 45-GHz radiation at an averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2. 3 mW/g was associated with: (a) statistically significant increases in locomotor activity, (b) statistically reliable evidence of disrupted differential responding during tests of an appetitively reinforced operant behavior, but (c) no differential effects on the performance of a Sidman avoidance response. The observed effects emerged almost immediately following the onset of MW radiation and persisted throughout the course of a 22-week sequence of exposures to radiation.
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The result of the study shows that the proportion of newly developing cancer cases was significantly higher among those patients who had lived during the past ten years at a distance of up to 400 metres from the cellular transmitter site, which has been in operation since 1993, compared to those patients living further away, and that the patients fell ill on average 8 years earlier. In the years 1999-2004, ie after five years' operation of the transmitting installation, the relative risk of getting cancer had trebled for the residents of the area in the proximity of the installation compared to the inhabitants of Naila outside the area.
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A survey study using questionnaire was conducted in 530 people (270 men, 260 women) living or not in vicinity of cellular phone base stations, on 18 Non Specific Health Symptoms. Comparisons of complaints frequencies (CHI-SQUARE test with Yates correction) in relation with distance from base station and sex, show significant (p<0.05) increase as compared to people living > 300 m or not exposed to base station, till 300 m for tiredness, 200 m for headache, sleep disturbance, discomfort, etc. 100 m for irritability, depression, loss of memory, dizziness, libido decrease, etc. Women significantly more often than men (p<0.05) complained of headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, depression, discomfort and visual perturbations. This first study on symptoms experienced by people living in vicinity of base stations shows that, in view of radioprotection, minimal distance of people from cellular phone base stations should not be < 300 m.
Article
The effects of microwave irradiation at two different frequencies (1.28 and 5.62 GHz) on observing-behavior of rodents were investigated. During daily irradiation, eight male hooded rats performed on a two-lever task; depression of one lever produced one of two different tones and the other lever produced food when depressed in the presence of the appropriate tone. At 5.62 GHz, the observing-response rate was not consistently affected until the power density approximated 26 mW/cm2 at 1.28 GHz, the observing-response rate of all rats was consistently affected at a power density of 15 mW/cm2. The respective whole-body specific absorption rates (SARs) were 4.94 and 3.75 W/kg. Measurements of localized SAR in a rat-shaped model of simulated muscle tissue revealed marked differences in the absorption pattern between the two frequencies. The localized SAR in the model's head at 1.28 GHz was higher on the side distal to the source of radiation. At 5.62 GHz the localized SAR in the head was higher on the proximal side. It is concluded that the rat's observing behavior is disrupted at a lower power density at 1.28 than at 5.62 GHz because of deeper penetration of energy at the lower frequency, and because of frequency-dependent differences in anatomic distribution of the absorbed microwave energy.
Article
For 25 months 100 male SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) rats were exposed to pulsed 2450-MHz circularly polarized microwaves at an average power density of .480 microwave/sq cm; 100 rats served as sham-exposed controls. Analysis of daily body weight and food and water consumption failed to distinguish the treatment groups. Periodic assessment of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory quotient also failed to reliably differentiate the groups. Whole-body carcass analyses, including organ mass, fatty acid profile, and mineral content, were conducted on 20 rats killed after 13 months exposure and 20 killed at termination of the project. With one exception, these measures did not indicate significant differences between the treatment groups. A 75% increase in adrenal mass were shown for the exposed animals at the termination kill. When the animals with adrenal tumors were excluded, there was no statistical significant difference between the exposed and sham groups. Respiratory gas exchange measures were obtained from an additional 36 young male rats during a subsequent 3-month period of exposure. No consistent significant effects were observed in these young animals. Originator supplied keywords include: Body weight; Pulsed microwave; 2450 MHz; and Adrenals.
Article
No significant alterations in overall behavioral response or corticosterone content were apparent in rats after 2 years of exposure to pulsed-microwave radiation. A reduction in open-field activity by the exposed animals during the first assessment period correspond with an increase in serum corticosterone.
Article
We investigated the effects of exposure to environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in 1170 subjects. Neutrophil phagocytosis was enhanced in the low-intensity exposure groups, but reduced significantly at relatively high intensities. Visual reaction time was prolonged and the scores of short-term memory tests were lower in some high-intensity exposure groups. EMFs may affect the central nervous and immune systems in man. © 1989 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.
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The effects of repeated treatment with weak microwaves (MW) (8.15–18 GHz, 1 µW/cm2, 1.5 h daily) and diet with antioxidants (AO) (β-carotene, α-tocopherol, and ubiquinone Q9) on production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in macrophages and T lymphocytes of healthy and tumor-bearing mice (TBM) were studied. Tumor size and mortality of TBM were also followed. Microwave radiation and antioxidant diet stimulated production of TNF in cells from healthy mice. At early stages, tumor growth induced TNF production in mouse cells; however, this effect decreased as tumors grew. In TBM exposed to MW, TNF production was higher than in unirradiated TBM. Oppositely, AO diet induced TNF production in healthy mice but did not affect TNF secretion in TBM. Accordingly, prolonged treatment of TBM to MW, but not to AO diet, decreased tumor growth rate and increased overall animal longevity. These results suggest that diminished tumor growth rate due to extremely low-level MW exposure of mice carrying tumors, at least in part, was caused by enhancement in TNF production and accumulation of plasma TNF.
Article
The effect of 8.15-18 GHz (1 Hz within) microwave radiation at a power density of 1 microW/cm2 on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and immune response was tested. A single 5 h whole-body exposure induced a significant increase in TNF production in peritoneal macrophages and splenic T cells. The mitogenic response in T lymphocytes increased after microwave exposure. The activation of cellular immunity was observed within 3 days after exposure. The diet containing lipid-soluble nutrients (beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and ubiquinone Q9) increased the activity of macrophages and T cells from irradiated mice. These results demonstrate that irradiation with low-power density microwaves stimulates the immune potential of macrophages and T cells, and the antioxidant treatment enhances the effect of microwaves, in particular at later terms, when the effect of irradiation is reduced.
Article
Whole body microwave sinusoidal irradiation of male NMRI mice with 8.15-18 GHz (1 Hz within) at a power density of 1 microW/cm2 caused a significant enhancement of TNF production in peritoneal macrophages and splenic T lymphocytes. Microwave radiation affected T cells, facilitating their capacity to proliferate in response to mitogenic stimulation. The exposure duration necessary for the stimulation of cellular immunity ranged from 5 h to 3 days. Chronic irradiation of mice for 7 days produced the decreasing of TNF production in peritoneal macrophages. The exposure of mice for 24 h increased the TNF production and immune proliferative response, and these stimulatory effects persisted over 3 days after the termination of exposure. Microwave treatment increased the endogenously produced TNF more effectively than did lipopolysaccharide, one of the most potential stimuli of synthesis of this cytokine. The role of microwaves as a factor interfering with the process of cell immunity is discussed.
Article
Abstract Significant concern has been raised about possible health effects from exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields, especially after the rapid introduction of mobile telecommunications systems. Parents are especially concerned with the possibility that children might develop cancer after exposure to the RF emissions from mobile telephone base stations erected in or near schools. The few epidemiologic studies that did report on cancer incidence in relation to RF radiation have generally presented negative or inconsistent results, and thus emphasize the need for more studies that should investigate cohorts with high RF exposure for changes in cancer incidence. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an increased cancer incidence in populations, living in a small area, and exposed to RF radiation from a cell-phone transmitter station.
Article
The effects of the mobile phone (MP) electromagnetic fields on electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERP) were examined. With regard to the reported effects of MP on sleep, 22 patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy were exposed or sham exposed for 45 min to the MP (900 MHz, specific absorption rate 0.06 W/kg) placed close to the right ear in a double blind study. There were no changes of the EEG recorded after the MP exposure. A subgroup of 17 patients was studied on visual ERP recorded during the MP exposure. Using an adapted “odd-ball” paradigm, each patient was instructed to strike a key whenever rare target stimuli were presented. There were three variants of target stimuli (horizontal stripes in (i) left, (ii) right hemifields or (iii) whole field of the screen). The exposure enhanced the positivity of the ERP endogenous complex solely in response to target stimuli in the right hemifield of the screen (P < 0.01). The reaction time was shortened by 20 ms in response to all target stimuli (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the electromagnetic field of MP may suppress the excessive sleepiness and improve performance while solving a monotonous cognitive task requiring sustained attention and vigilance. Bioelectromagnetics 22:519–528, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.