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Hypothesis on how to measure electromagnetic hypersensitivity

DOI:10.3109/15368378.2012.712586
Authors:
Andreas Tuengler
Andreas Tuengler
Andreas Tuengler
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Lebrecht von Klitzing at Environmental and Medical Physics, Wiesenthal/Rhön, Germany
Lebrecht von Klitzing
  • Environmental and Medical Physics, Wiesenthal/Rhön, Germany
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Abstract and Figures

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is an ill-defined term to describe the fact that people who experience health symptoms in the vicinity of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) regard them as causal for their complaints. Up to now most scientists assume a psychological cause for the suffering of electromagnetic hypersensitive individuals. This paper addresses reasons why most provocation studies could not find any association between EMF exposure and EHS and presents a hypothesis on diagnosis and differentiation of this condition. Simultaneous recordings of heart rate variability, microcirculation and electric skin potentials are used for classification of EHS. Thus, it could be possible to distinguish "genuine" electromagnetic hypersensitive individuals from those who suffer from other conditions.
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Open Access, Volume 3
Healthy disorders by WLAN-exposure
Clinical Image
www.jcimcr.org
Journal of
Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports
Received: Dec 15, 2021
Accepted: Jan 31, 2022
Published: Feb 07, 2022
Archived: www.jcimcr.org
Copyright: © Klitzing L (2022).
DOI: www.doi.org/10.52768/2766-7820/1639
*Corresponding Author: Lebrecht von Klitzing
Medical Physicist, Instute of Environmental and
Medical Physic, Schwimmbadweg 21, DE-36466
Wiesenthal, Germany.
Tel: +49 36964 863446,
Email: vonklitzing@umweltphysik.com
ISSN 2766-7820
Lebrecht von Klitzing*
Instute of Environmental and Medical Physic, DE-36466 Wiesenthal, Germany.
Background
WLAN (wireless local area network; resp. WiFi) is used as an
important worldwide communicaon-technique. By this always
there is an exposure by 10 Hz-modulated electromagnec elds.
In contrast to the ICNIRP-safety guidelines, whereby no bioeect
is possible by these low-energec electromagnec elds, we
found arcial signals in the nervous and cardiovascular system
by WLAN-exposure.
Method
The relaxed paents were tested in an HF-shielded lab under
following experimental setup:
Step 1: control
Step 2: acve WLAN-router
Step 3: control aer exposure
Each epoch was about 9 min, the electromagnec immission
by WLAN at the head was about 25-30 µW/m². EMG was
sampled by a special electrode matrix xed at the lower arm
skin, ECG-recording at ICR-4-posion. The data were sampled
connuously by a LabView-System with following frequency
analysis (FFT). The test person has no informaon of WLAN
“on/o”. It was tested, that there is no interference with the
analyzing system during acve WLAN.
R Paent (A)
(with clinical diagnosis “burn-out”)
Abstract
By a diagnosc roune of a “burn-out”-paent, addionally
claiming an electrosensivity, there was tested the acvity of the
autonomic nervous system by electromyogram (EMG). Analyzing
the frequency we found an arcial 10 Hz-component like those of
WLAN-emiers as a dominant signal. By the following anamnesc
discussion, the paent told about a longme exposure to an
acve WLAN-equipment in oce. Tesng other paents using this
communicaon-technique, there was a great number with the same
10 Hz-arfact in EMG. Addionally, some of these paents point
out an arcial ECG. Theses data demonstrate the conicts with the
ICNIRP safety guidelines for this type of electromagnec exposures.
Keywords: WLAN; EMG; electrosensivity; safety guidelines
(ICNIRP).
Figure 1a: Control EMG aer longme WLAN-exposure one day
before.
le: EMG; me-series (upper curve: ECG for me-compare).
right: EMG; frequency domain by fast-fourier-transformaon
(FFT).
Hz
E
M
G
F
F
T
www.jcimcr.org Page 2
Citaon: Klitzing L. Healthy disorders by WLAN-exposure. J Clin Images Med Case Rep. 2022; 3(2): 1639.
Paent (B)
(unwellness by longme “home-oce”)
Paent (C)
(disclaiming “cardiac arrhytmia” during home-oce)
Figure 1b: Same data-processing as in gure 1a; during new.
WLAN-exposure (record aer 2 min).
Figure 1c: Same as in gure 1a; 30 s later.
Figure 1d: Control, 6 min aer exposure.
Figure 3a: ECG / EMG – data before WLAN-exposure.
Figure 3b: Aer 6 min WLAN- exposure.
Figure 3c: Same as in gure 3b (record.-me: 2 s).
Figure 2a: Control: EMG aer WLAN-exposure by “home-oce”
about 10 h before.
Figure 2b: Same as in Fig. 2a; 2 min later.
In this case, there was found several spontaneous 10 Hz-arfacts in
EMG aer WLAN-exposure one day before.
Hz
Hz
Hz
<20 s>
<20 s>
<2 s>
About 30 h aer WLAN-exposure during oce-acvity there
is a 10 Hz-arfact in EMG-signal (Figure 1a). By a following
WLAN-exposure this arfact disappeared aer about 3 min.
As well during following exposure and subsequent control this
10 Hz-arfact was not to detect. One day later the whole test-
program was repeated with the same arfacts in EMG. These
data point to a remembrance eect in EMG by exposures in
low-frequent-electromagnec elds.
During WLAN-exposure in this case there was not found
any inuence on EMG but there are ECG-events poinng to a
threatening cardiovascular problem by this electromagnec eld.
www.jcimcr.org Page 3
Conclusions
The inuences in EMG during and aer WLAN-exposure are
obviously depending of the individual biosystem as demonstrated
by the dierent data. That means: there is no uniform eect
on biosystem by WLAN-exposure. But by these demonstrated
eects there must be a discussion about the consequence of
arcial signals in the nervous system with following interacons
of biofuncons, e.g. in cardiovascular system.
The demonstrated data point to the necessity for a
new discussion about healthy eects by low-energec
electromagnec exposures. That especially under the
background of longme WLAN-exposure in “home-oce” or
in schools by “digital-learning”. The precauons by ICNIRP-
guidelines are not relevant.
... In some provocation studies, EHS patients have been unable to distinguish an active radio signal from a sham exposure by objectively detectable changes. In other studies, the experimental design has been improved, and changes in heart rate variability (HRV), erythrocyte damage, and impaired glucose metabolism in the brain have been identified, pointing to the presence of some sort of sensitization [1,6]. The effect of radio-frequency waves on the brain has been studied both objectively and accurately e.g., using various neuroscience techniques such as stereology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy as well as approaches investigating cellular functions at the ultrastructural level but these have not currently been adopted into clinical practice [7]. ...
... One hypothesis on how to measure EHS has been proposed [6]; it was speculated that the measurement of bioregulation of the autonomous nervous system after the exposure to the EMF could be detected objectively. Furthermore, these investigators suggested that it would be beneficial to measure heart rate variability (HRV), electric skin potential and oscillation of the microcirculation, or capillary blood flow, functions all fundamentally regulated by the autonomous nervous system. ...
... 1. We present data on a small cohort of patients with EHS; 2. The EHS was self-reported, e.g., the objective measurements suggested by Tuengler and von Klitzing [6] were not applied. In the future, it would be of major importance to use validated physiological measurements that are beyond voluntary control or autologous activity of the patient [6]. ...
Autoantibodies in Females Exposed to Indoor Air Dampness Microbiota and Complaining of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity- The Case Control Report
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2022
We hypothesized that prolonged or cumulative exposure to indoor air dampness microbiota in moisture-damaged buildings and daily exposure to wireless telecommunication devices would potentiate the risk of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), which is poorly defined. We performed a nested comparative analysis within an age- and sex-matched study of females who were exposed to dampness microbiota with self-reported complaints compatible with EHS (n=11). Their levels of autoantibodies towards 13 different autoantigens were measured. EHS presented as multiple chemical sensitivity, profound fatigue, memory disturbances in all subjects (11/11), and cognitive impairment in the majority (9/11). When comparing the patients to controls, no difference was detected between the levels of the following autoantibodies: angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1), endothelin receptor type A (ETAR), adrenergic receptors α1AR, α2AR, β1AR, β2AR and cholinergic muscarinic receptors m1AChR, m2AChR, m3AChR and m5AChR. In contrast, IgG levels towards m4AChR and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), and IgM autoantibodies against glycosylated moieties of heparan and heparan sulphate (TS-HDS) were significantly decreased in the study cohort, p=0.008; p=0.032, p<0.001, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating an imbalance in the nervous system autoantibodies in patients with EHS. The clinical significance of these altered responses remains to be clarified.
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... Such positive data obtained by provocation tests have also been independently shown in two earlier different EHS case reports [56,57] and more recently in two studies showing in EHS patients the objective effect of pulsed microwave radiation on heart rate variability in a double-blind provocation study [58] and more generally the effects of RFR on the blood, the heart and the autonomic nervous system [59]. Similar objective endpoints were also provided independently by two German scientists-Andreas Tuengler and Lebrecht von Klitzing-who considered that heart rate variability, microcirculation (capillary blood flow) and electric skin potentials [135] and electromyogram (EMG) recording [136] were suitable non-invasive methods for use in provocation studies as an objective endpoint assessment. ...
... By contrast, in so-called "psychological" provocation tests, the presumption is that subjects are conscious of their exposure, whether it is real or sham. This is an erroneous, non-objective presupposition because as indicated above there may be a significant delay from the exposure to the occurrence of any perceivable effect and because the subject may not be aware that the adverse effects are really taking place, whereas possibly biomarkers and the previously reported neurologic-and skin-based objective response (as measured by heart rate variability, microcirculation, electric skin potentials or altered EMG) indicate the occurrence of induced i.e., causal, effect [135][136][137]. ...
... Could these tests support the concept of EHS patients' hypersensitivity to EMF, i.e., that EHS patients are more sensitive to EMF than "healthy" subjects? A preamble to this important question is that it has been reported that healthy subjects would not show any change in heart rate variability, microcirculation and electric skin potentials under exposure to EMF in comparison with the unexposed state, whereas EHS patients exhibit typical changes in these three parameters overtime and thereafter [135]; this supposition has to be seriously discussed (see below). In fact, demonstrating hypersensitivity to EMF (i.e., the specific pathophysiological identification of EHS) should be the main objective of provocation tests in EHS patients. ...
The Critical Importance of Molecular Biomarkers and Imaging in the Study of Electrohypersensitivity. A Scientific Consensus International Report
Article
Full-text available
Clinical research aiming at objectively identifying and characterizing diseases via clinical observations and biological and radiological findings is a critical initial research step when establishing objective diagnostic criteria and treatments. Failure to first define such diagnostic criteria may lead research on pathogenesis and etiology to serious confounding biases and erroneous medical interpretations. This is particularly the case for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and more particularly for the so-called “provocation tests”, which do not investigate the causal origin of EHS but rather the EHS-associated particular environmental intolerance state with hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, because those tests depend on multiple EMF-associated physical and biological parameters and have been conducted in patients without having first defined EHS objectively and/or endpoints adequately, they cannot presently be considered to be valid pathogenesis research methodologies. Consequently, the negative results obtained by these tests do not preclude a role of EMF exposure as a symptomatic trigger in EHS patients. Moreover, there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects. This international consensus report pleads for the acknowledgement of EHS as a distinct neuropathological disorder and for its inclusion in the WHO International Classification of Diseases.
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... Moreover, these symptoms can usually be attributable to alternative etiologies [4]. For instance, one study found that sleep disturbances reported by individuals with IEI-EMF were more likely to stem from other underlying psychological factors than EMF [5]. ...
Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study
Article
Full-text available
Background The biological association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) has not been established. To assess the physiological changes and symptoms associated with exposure to EMF, we conducted a randomized crossover provocation study. Methods We recruited 58 individuals with IEI-EMF (IEI-EMF group) and 92 individuals without IEI-EMF (control group). In a controlled environment, all participants received EMF signals mimicking those from mobile phone base stations in a randomized sequence under the blinded condition. During the course, participants reported their symptoms and whether they perceived EMF, and we monitored their physiological parameters, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability. Results The IEI-EMF and control groups reported similar frequencies of symptoms during both the provocation and sham sessions. No participant could accurately identify the provocation. In both groups, physiological parameters were similar between the two sessions. The control group, but not the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure. Conclusions No symptoms or changes in physiological parameters were found to be associated with short-term exposure to EMF, and no participant could accurately detect the presence of EMF. Moreover, the participants in the control group, but not those in the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF.
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... There is some evidence of objective cardiovascular changes after exposure to EMF. Havas (2013) and Tuengler and von Klitzing (2013) reviewed the literature and cited occupational studies of workers with excess exposure to EMF who had higher frequency of resting and 24-h ECG abnormalities and an excess of ventricular premature beats. ...
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS, microwave syndrome) – Review of mechanisms
Article
  • Mar 2020
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), known in the past as “Microwave syndrome”, is a clinical syndrome characterized by the presence of a wide spectrum of non-specific multiple organ symptoms, typically including central nervous system symptoms, that occur following the patient's acute or chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields in the environment or in occupational settings. Numerous studies have shown biological effects at the cellular level of electromagnetic fields (EMF) at magnetic (ELF) and radio-frequency (RF) frequencies in extremely low intensities. Many of the mechanisms described for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) apply with modification to EHS. Repeated exposures result in sensitization and consequent enhancement of response. Many hypersensitive patients appear to have impaired detoxification systems that become overloaded by excessive oxidative stress. EMF can induce changes in calcium signaling cascades, significant activation of free radical processes and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells as well as altered neurological and cognitive functions and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Magnetite crystals absorbed from combustion air pollution could have an important role in brain effects of EMF. Autonomic nervous system effects of EMF could also be expressed as symptoms in the cardiovascular system. Other common effects of EMF include effects on skin, microvasculature, immune and hematologic systems. It is concluded that the mechanisms underlying the symptoms of EHS are biologically plausible and that many organic physiologic responses occur following EMF exposure. Patients can have neurologic, neuro-hormonal and neuro-psychiatric symptoms following exposure to EMF as a consequence of neural damage and over-sensitized neural responses. More relevant diagnostic tests for EHS should be developed. Exposure limits should be lowered to safeguard against biologic effects of EMF. Spread of local and global wireless networks should be decreased, and safer wired networks should be used instead of wireless, to protect susceptible members of the public. Public places should be made accessible for electrohypersensitive individuals.
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... Psychosomatic processes might be associated with NSPS in IEI-EMF (Johansson et al., 2010;Koteles et al., 2012;Landgrebe et al., 2008;Rubin et al., 2008;Rubin et al., 2010;Witthoft and Rubin, 2013), not necessarily as a cause, but rather as conditioned response from the onset of symptoms, and reinforcing the attribution to EMF (Dieudonne, 2016). The variability of symptoms reactions between and within individuals could explain the lack of a clear association (Tuengler and von Klitzing, 2013). However, the possibility of a causal effect of RF-EMF exposure cannot be completely dismissed yet, because of methodological and conceptual limitations in previous studies (Baliatsas and Rubin, 2014). ...
Individual variation in temporal relationships between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms: A new approach in studying 'electrosensitivity'
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2018
Background: Everyday exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted from wireless devices such as mobile phones and base stations, radio and television transmitters is ubiquitous. Some people attribute non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) such as headache and fatigue to exposure to RF-EMF. Most previous laboratory studies or studies that analyzed populations at a group level did not find evidence of an association between RF-EMF exposure and NSPS. Objectives: We explored the association between exposure to RF-EMF in daily life and the occurrence of NSPS in individual self-declared electrohypersensitive persons using body worn exposimeters and electronic diaries. Methods: We selected seven individuals who attributed their NSPS to RF-EMF exposure. The level of and variability in personal RF-EMF exposure and NSPS were determined during a three-week period. Data were analyzed using time series analysis in which exposure as measured and recorded in the diary was correlated with NSPS. Results: We found statistically significant correlations between perceived and actual exposure to wireless internet (WiFi - rate of change and number of peaks above threshold) and base stations for mobile telecommunications (GSM + UMTS downlink, rate of change) and NSPS scores in four of the seven participants. In two persons a higher EMF exposure was associated with higher symptom scores, and in two other persons it was associated with lower scores. Remarkably, we found no significant correlations between NSPS and time-weighted average power density, the most commonly used exposure metric. Conclusions: RF-EMF exposure was associated either positively or negatively with NSPS in some but not all of the selected self-declared electrohypersensitive persons.
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... One skin characteristic that is often reported to be associated with VDT use is the "sensitive skin syndrome" in which subjects are more likely to react to lactic acid with itching, burning, and stinging. Complaints of tightness, stinging, burning, and itching sensations as well as erythema and facial dryness have been previously reported for video display workers (Eriksson et al. 1997) Overall, VDT workers report skin symptoms more frequently than non-VDT office employees, and the term "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" has been coined to describe people who experience health symptoms in the vicinity of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and who regard them as causal for their complaints (Tuengler and von Klitzing 2013). The fraction of the population with electromagnetic hypersensitivity has been estimated to be as high as 9%, and projected to be up to 50% by the year 2017 (Hallberg and Oberfeld 2006). ...
Logistic regression analysis differentiates high from low computer users by facial skin conditions in a population of Chinese women
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2017
In the past few decades, video display terminals (VDTs) and computer use have been associated with various skin symptoms in several published reports. In addition, internet beauty sites report that extended computer use leads to acne or accelerated facial aging. For example, the term “computer face” is used to describe premature aging caused by sitting for long periods of time in front of the screen (http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a12937/computer-screen-skin-problems/). We wished to determine, using instrumental and expert assessment, if prolonged/extended computer use could be associated with certain skin conditions. This study focused on long-term (10 years or more) office VDT work and was designed to include a wide range of confounding variables. One hundred Chinese women were recruited, 50 in each of two groups characterized as either (a) computer users with 8 or more hours per day, or (b) non-users who use computers 1 h or less per day. All subjects lived in Guangzhou and worked in the same building. Confounders were assessed by survey, and included age, smoking, sun exposure history, exercise, and other factors. Skin conditions, which included acne, sebum, wrinkles, and pigment spots, were assessed by instrumental measurements and blinded dermatologist assessment. Age and skin conditions were subjected to logistic regression analysis to determine major contributors which could separate, or distinguish, the computer group from the non-computer group. From this analysis, the office computer users were found to be statistically significantly associated with a higher incidence of acne, higher sebum levels, and a higher risk of self-reported sensitive skin when compared with the non-computer group. The final model suggests that the major contributors in separating the two groups are acne and pigmented spots (UV and brown). These results indicate that facial skin of women within the Chinese population who use computers for 8 h or more a day may be at higher risk for acne; however, they had lower levels of attributes associated with photoaging, such as lentigines and facial wrinkles. Separate pairwise assessment of other variables such as lifetime cumulative sun exposure, sleep quality, smoking behavior, exercise, and cosmetic product use or procedures showed no significant differences between the two groups. This indicates that the results obtained from objective and subjective measurements were not biased due to these potential confounders, but does not reveal the mechanism for the observed differences in skin conditions between computer/VDT users and non-users.
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... A French research group headed by Belpomme (207) There is increasing evidence in the scientific literature of various subjective and objective physiological alterations, e.g. heart-rate variability (HRV) as apparent in some persons with EHS claiming to suffer after exposure to certain frequencies of RF like DECT or Wi-Fi (211)(212)(213)(214)(215). Analysis of the data available on the exposure of people living near mobile phone base stations has yielded clear indications of adverse health effects like fatigue, depression, difficulty in concentrating, headaches, dizziness, etc. (216)(217)(218)(219)(220). A synopsis of 30 studies on mobile phone base stations is given in the document "Leitfaden Senderbau" (221). ...
EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses
Article
Full-text available
Chronic diseases and illnesses associated with non-specific symptoms are on the rise. In addition to chronic stress in social and work environments, physical and chemical exposures at home, at work, and during leisure activities are causal or contributing environmental stressors that deserve attention by the general practitioner as well as by all other members of the health care community. It seems necessary now to take "new exposures" like electromagnetic fields (EMF) into account. Physicians are increasingly confronted with health problems from unidentified causes. Studies, empirical observations, and patient reports clearly indicate interactions between EMF exposure and health problems. Individual susceptibility and environmental factors are frequently neglected. New wireless technologies and applications have been introduced without any certainty about their health effects, raising new challenges for medicine and society. For instance, the issue of so-called non-thermal effects and potential long-term effects of low-dose exposure were scarcely investigated prior to the introduction of these technologies. Common electromagnetic field or EMF sources: Radio-frequency radiation (RF) (3 MHz to 300 GHz) is emitted from radio and TV broadcast antennas, Wi-Fi access points, routers, and clients (e.g. smartphones, tablets), cordless and mobile phones including their base stations, and Bluetooth devices. Extremely low frequency electric (ELF EF) and magnetic fields (ELF MF) (3 Hz to 3 kHz) are emitted from electrical wiring, lamps, and appliances. Very low frequency electric (VLF EF) and magnetic fields (VLF MF) (3 kHz to 3 MHz) are emitted, due to harmonic voltage and current distortions, from electrical wiring, lamps (e.g. compact fluorescent lamps), and electronic devices. On the one hand, there is strong evidence that long-term exposure to certain EMFs is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and male infertility. On the other hand, the emerging electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is more and more recognized by health authorities, disability administrators and case workers, politicians, as well as courts of law. We recommend treating EHS clinically as part of the group of chronic multisystem illnesses (CMI), but still recognizing that the underlying cause remains the environment. In the beginning, EHS symptoms occur only occasionally, but over time they may increase in frequency and severity. Common EHS symptoms include headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, depression, a lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. A comprehensive medical history, which should include all symptoms and their occurrences in spatial and temporal terms and in the context of EMF exposures, is the key to making the diagnosis. The EMF exposure is usually assessed by EMF measurements at home and at work. Certain types of EMF exposure can be assessed by asking about common EMF sources. It is very important to take the individual susceptibility into account. The primary method of treatment should mainly focus on the prevention or reduction of EMF exposure, that is, reducing or eliminating all sources of high EMF exposure at home and at the workplace. The reduction of EMF exposure should also be extended to public spaces such as schools, hospitals, public transport, and libraries to enable persons with EHS an unhindered use (accessibility measure). If a detrimental EMF exposure is reduced sufficiently, the body has a chance to recover and EHS symptoms will be reduced or even disappear. Many examples have shown that such measures can prove effective. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, the broad range of other environmental factors that contribute to the total body burden should also be addressed. Anything that supports homeostasis will increase a person's resilience against disease and thus against the adverse effects of EMF exposure. There is increasing evidence that EMF exposure has a major impact on the oxidative and nitrosative regulation capacity in affected individuals. This concept also may explain why the level of susceptibility to EMF can change and why the range of symptoms reported in the context of EMF exposures is so large. Based on our current understanding, a treatment approach that minimizes the adverse effects of peroxynitrite - as has been increasingly used in the treatment of multisystem illnesses - works best. This EMF Guideline gives an overview of the current knowledge regarding EMF-related health risks and provides recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and accessibility measures of EHS to improve and restore individual health outcomes as well as for the development of strategies for prevention.
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Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment
Article
Much of the controversy over the cause of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) lies in the absence of recognized clinical and biological criteria for a widely accepted diagnosis. However, there are presently sufficient data for EHS to be acknowledged as a distinctly well-defined and objectively characterized neurologic pathological disorder. Because we have shown that 1) EHS is frequently associated with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in EHS patients, and 2) that both individualized disorders share a common pathophysiological mechanism for symptom occurrence; it appears that EHS and MCS can be identified as a unique neurologic syndrome, regardless its causal origin. In this overview we distinguish the etiology of EHS itself from the environmental causes that trigger pathophysiological changes and clinical symptoms after EHS has occurred. Contrary to present scientifically unfounded claims, we indubitably refute the hypothesis of a nocebo effect to explain the genesis of EHS and its presentation. We as well refute the erroneous concept that EHS could be reduced to a vague and unproven “functional impairment”. To the contrary, we show here there are objective pathophysiological changes and health effects induced by electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in EHS patients and most of all in healthy subjects, meaning that excessive non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly noxious for health. In this overview and medical assessment we focus on the effects of extremely low frequencies, wireless communications radiofrequencies and microwaves EMF. We discuss how to better define and characterize EHS. Taken into consideration the WHO proposed causality criteria, we show that EHS is in fact causally associated with increased exposure to man-made EMF, and in some cases to marketed environmental chemicals. We therefore appeal to all governments and international health institutions, particularly the WHO, to urgently consider the growing EHS-associated pandemic plague, and to acknowledge EHS as a new real EMF causally-related pathology.
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Functional brain MRI in patients complaining of electrohypersensitivity after long term exposure to electromagnetic fields
Article
  • Jan 2017
Introduction: Ten adult patients with electromagnetic hypersensitivity underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans. All scans were abnormal with abnormalities which were consistent and similar. It is proposed that fMRI brain scans be used as a diagnostic aid for determining whether or not a patient has electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Over the years we have seen an increasing number of patients who had developed multi system complaints after long term repeated exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These complaints included headaches, intermittent cognitive and memory problems, intermittent disorientation, and also sensitivity to EMF exposure. Regular laboratory tests were within normal limits in these patients. The patients refused to be exposed to radioactivity. This of course ruled out positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scanning. This is why we ordered fMRI brain scans on these patients. We hoped that we could document objective abnormalities in these patients who had often been labeled as psychiatric cases. Materials and methods: Ten patients first underwent a regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan, using a 3 Tesla Siemens Verio MRI open system. A functional MRI study was then performed in the resting state using the following sequences: A three-dimensional, T1-weighted, gradient-echo (MPRAGE) Resting state network. The echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequences for this resting state blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) scan were then post processed on a 3D workstation and the independent component analysis was performed separating out the various networks. Arterial spin labeling. Tractography and fractional anisotropy. Results: All ten patients had abnormal functional MRI brain scans. The abnormality was often described as hyper connectivity of the anterior component of the default mode in the medial orbitofrontal area. Other abnormalities were usually found. Regular MRI studies of the brain were mostly unremarkable in these patients. Conclusion: We propose that functional MRI studies should become a diagnostic aid when evaluating a patient who claims electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and has otherwise normal studies. Interestingly, the differential diagnosis for the abnormalities seen on the fMRI includes head injury. It turns out that many of our patients indeed had a history of head injury which was then followed sometime later by the development of EHS. Many of our patients also had a history of exposure to potentially neurotoxic chemicals, especially mold. Head injury and neurotoxic chemical exposure may make a patient more vulnerable to develop EHS.
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EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2015 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses
Article
Full-text available
Chronic diseases and illnesses associated with unspecific symptoms are on the rise. In addition to chronic stress in social and work environments, physical and chemical exposures at home, at work, and during leisure activities are causal or contributing environmental stressors that deserve attention by the general practitioner as well as by all other members of the health care community. It seems certainly necessary now to take "new exposures" like electromagnetic field (EMF) into account. Physicians are increasingly confronted with health problems from unidentified causes. Studies, empirical observations, and patient reports clearly indicate interactions between EMF exposure and health problems. Individual susceptibility and environmental factors are frequently neglected. New wireless technologies and applications have been introduced without any certainty about their health effects, raising new challenges for medicine and society. For instance, the issue of so-called non-thermal effects and potential long-term effects of low-dose exposure were scarcely investigated prior to the introduction of these technologies. Common EMF sources include Wi-Fi access points, routers and clients, cordless and mobile phones including their base stations, Bluetooth devices, ELF magnetic fields from net currents, ELF electric fields from electric lamps and wiring close to the bed and office desk. On the one hand, there is strong evidence that long-term-exposure to certain EMF exposures is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease and male infertility. On the other hand, the emerging electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is more and more recognized by health authorities, disability administrators and case workers, politicians, as well as courts of law. We recommend treating EHS clinically as part of the group of chronic multisystem illnesses (CMI) leading to a functional impairment (EHS), but still recognizing that the underlying cause remains the environment. In the beginning, EHS symptoms often occur only occasionally, but over time they may increase in frequency and severity. Common EHS symptoms include headaches, concentration difficulties, sleeping problems, depression, lack of energy, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. A comprehensive medical history, which should include all symptoms and their occurrences in spatial and temporal terms and in the context of EMF exposures, is the key to the diagnosis. The EMF exposure can be assessed by asking for typical sources like Wi-Fi access points, routers and clients, cordless and mobile phones and measurements at home and at work. It is very important to take the individual susceptibility into account. The primary method of treatment should mainly focus on the prevention or reduction of EMF exposure, that is, reducing or eliminating all sources of EMF at home and in the workplace. The reduction of EMF exposure should also be extended to public spaces such as schools, hospitals, public transport, and libraries to enable persons with EHS an unhindered use (accessibility measure). If a detrimental EMF exposure is reduced sufficiently, the body has a chance to recover and EHS symptoms will be reduced or even disappear. Many examples have shown that such measures can prove effective. Also the survival rate of children with leukemia depends on ELF magnetic field exposure at home. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, the broad range of other environmental factors that contribute to the total body burden should also be addressed. Anything that supports a balanced homeostasis will increase a person's resilience against disease and thus against the adverse effects of EMF exposure. There is increasing evidence that EMF exposure has a major impact on the oxidative and nitrosative regulation capacity in affected individuals. This concept also may explain why the level of susceptibility to EMF can change and why the number of symptoms reported in the context of EMF exposures is so large. Based on our current understanding, a treatment approach that minimizes the adverse effects of peroxynitrite - as has been increasingly used in the treatment of multisystem disorders - works best. This EMF Guideline gives an overview of the current knowledge regarding EMF-related health risks and provides concepts for the diagnosis and treatment and accessibility measures of EHS to improve and restore individual health outcomes as well as for the development of strategies for prevention.
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Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity
Chapter
Full-text available
  • Feb 2009
Electromagnetic hypersensitive persons (EHS) attribute their nonspecific health symptoms to environmental electromagnetic fields (EMF) of different sources in or outside their homes. In general, causal attribution is not restricted to specific EMF frequencies but involves a wide range from extremely low frequencies (ELF) up to radio frequencies (RF) including mobile telecommunication microwaves and radar. EHS argue that existing exposure limits were not low enough to account for their increased sensitivities. Results of measurement campaigns are summarized. They demonstrate that environmental fields in the ELF and RF range are usually orders of magnitudes below exposure limits. The rational and biological background of recommended exposure limits are described. The existing scientific studies are reviewed, including investigations on the prevalence of EHS among the general population, ability of EHS to perceive and/or react to exposures to weak EMF (assessed in laboratory provocational studies or to the vicinity of EMF sources studied by epidemiologic approaches), and the existence of a specific symptom cluster, which could characterize a suspected EHS syndrome, or individual EHS-specific factors such as electric perception thresholds, neurophysiologic parameters, and cognitive performance and behavior. However, in spite of the variety of scientific attempts, a causal role of EMF remains yet unproven. This does not mean that the suffering could be ignored. It is recognized that EHS cases deserve help. Therapeutic approaches are described and the conclusion of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is summarized.
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Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Evidence for a Novel Neurological Syndrome
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2011
We sought direct evidence that acute exposure to environmental-strength electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could induce somatic reactions (EMF hypersensitivity). The subject, a female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity, was exposed to an average (over the head) 60-Hz electric field of 300 V/m (comparable with typical environmental-strength EMFs) during controlled provocation and behavioral studies. In a double-blinded EMF provocation procedure specifically designed to minimize unintentional sensory cues, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 s after initiation of EMF exposure (p < .05). The symptoms were caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the presence of the field, as assessed by comparing the frequency and severity of the effects of pulsed and continuous fields in relation to sham exposure. The subject had no conscious perception of the field as judged by her inability to report its presence more often than in the sham control. The subject demonstrated statistically reliable somatic reactions in response to exposure to subliminal EMFs under conditions that reasonably excluded a causative role for psychological processes. EMF hypersensitivity can occur as a bona fide environmentally inducible neurological syndrome.
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Disturbance of the immune system by electromagnetic fields-A potentially underlying cause for cellular damage and tissue repair reduction which could lead to disease and impairment
Article
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A number of papers dealing with the effects of modern, man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the immune system are summarized in the present review. EMFs disturb immune function through stimulation of various allergic and inflammatory responses, as well as effects on tissue repair processes. Such disturbances increase the risks for various diseases, including cancer. These and the EMF effects on other biological processes (e.g. DNA damage, neurological effects, etc.) are now widely reported to occur at exposure levels significantly below most current national and international safety limits. Obviously, biologically based exposure standards are needed to prevent disruption of normal body processes and potential adverse health effects of chronic exposure. Based on this review, as well as the reviews in the recent Bioinitiative Report [http://www.bioinitiative.org/] [C.F. Blackman, M. Blank, M. Kundi, C. Sage, D.O. Carpenter, Z. Davanipour, D. Gee, L. Hardell, O. Johansson, H. Lai, K.H. Mild, A. Sage, E.L. Sobel, Z. Xu, G. Chen, The Bioinitiative Report-A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF), 2007)], it must be concluded that the existing public safety limits are inadequate to protect public health, and that new public safety limits, as well as limits on further deployment of untested technologies, are warranted.
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Electromagnetic fields and health complaints - Interdisciplinary case evaluations in an environmental medicine counselling project
Article
  • Jan 2005
Background: During 2001, persons who attributed their health problems to environmental exposures, e.g. electromagnetic fields (EMF), were counselled in an interdisciplinary environmental medicine pilot project in the Basel area. Methods: All participants had a medical and a psychological-psychiatric examination and were visited at home by an environmental hygienist. High and low frequency EMF measurements were conducted at the homes of those participants who attributed their health complaints specifically to EMF. The plausibility of a relation between health complaints and EMF exposure was discussed in joint case conferences Plausibility was judged on the basis of the following criteria: EMF levels had to exceed a tenth of the Swiss threshold values to be considered in the case conference (low frequency: 10 V/m, 0.1 μT, high frequency: 0.6 V/m). The exposure had to occur in an area where the participant spent at least several hours or more every day. Prerequisite was that the exposure occurred before the onset of symptoms. Results: 25 of 63 (40%) of participants suspected EMF as cause of their health complaints. All EMF measurements yielded fields below the Swiss threshold values. Despite of the difficulties in assessing an exposure-response relation in an individual case and the controversial scientific evidence related to health effects of EMF exposures, the project team concluded that in 8 of the 25 (32%) participants, at least one of the reported symptoms was plausibly related to the EMF exposure. An evaluation interview half a year after counselling yielded that around 45% of the participants reported that they had benefited from the project and their health problems had improved following participation. Conclusions: Although none of the threshold values was exceeded, the project team rated an EMF exposure a plausible cause of the reported health complaints of few participants. Due to the high complexity in these cases, only an interdisciplinary team is likely to be able to adequately diagnose environmental related health problems and provide suitable advice to concerned persons.
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Experts and Anecdotes: The Role of ''Anecdotal Evidence'' in Public Scientific Controversies
Article
‘‘Anecdotal evidence’’ has become a central point of contention in two recent controversies over science and technology (We follow Nelkin (1992, 10) in referring to our cases as controversies over science and technology.) in the United Kingdom and a contact point between individuals, expert institutions, and policy decisions. We argue that the term is central to the management of the boundary between experts and nonexperts, with consequences for ideas of public engagement and participation. This article reports on two separate pieces of qualitative social research into recent UK public risk controversies with the aim of unfolding the processes by which anecdotal evidence comes to be defined. We do not define anecdotal evidence as an epistemic category that exists prior to the public controversies themselves; rather, we aim to show how the term is constructed and contested by expert and nonexpert actors. We find that anecdotal evidence comes to be accepted (albeit in different ways) by the main actors as an epistemic category, yet that it is multidimensional, open to interpretation as subjective reports, as an indicator of expert ignorance, as a source of novel hypotheses and as a set of political claims for recognition and inclusion. We conclude that the flexibility of anecdotal evidence at the boundary between science and its publics can offer opportunities for participation and engagement, as well as exclusion and alienation.
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Analysis of the mobile phone effect on the heart rate variability by the calculation of correlation dimension
Conference Paper
  • Jun 2009
In this work, the effect of the electromagnetic radiation generated by mobile phone, on the heart rate variability (HRV) has been investigated using correlation dimension calculation which is a nonlinear analysis method. The 17 volunteer subjects participated to our work and the experiment is designed as three periods and each period have 7 minutes. The electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded from volunteers who are in the sitting position between the base station and mobile phone and mobile phone attached to the right ear of the subject by a bone. The mobile phone is continuously called by another mobile phone at the second period for 9 subjects and at the third period for 8 subjects, randomly. Mobile phone was open and standby condition, at the other periods. The HRV signals were obtained from ECG signals and correlation dimension analysis has been performed. The student-t test was applied to the correlation dimension values calculated from mobile phone calling and standby conditions. The correlation dimension that belongs to mobile phone calling condition is found higher than mobile phone standby condition (p<0.05). The correlation dimension gives the minimum number of independent variables necessary to generate the system dynamics. The results show that the number of variables managed to the cardiovascular system behavior increase by reason of electromagnetic radiation generated by mobile phone.
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Analysis of the Mobile Phone Effect on the Heart Rate Variability by Using the Largest Lyapunov Exponent
Article
  • Dec 2010
In this study, the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by GSM900 based mobile phones (MPs) on the heart rate variability (HRV) were examined by using nonlinear analysis methods. The largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) calculation was used to evaluate the effect of MP under various real exposure conditions. Sixteen healthy young volunteers were exposed to EMFs emitted by GSM900 based MP at two levels from a very low EMF (MP at stand-by) to a higher EMF (MP at pre-ring handshaking and ringing). A blind experimental protocol was designed and utilized with consideration to the physiological and psychological factors that may affect HRV. The results showed that the LLE values increased slightly with higher EMF produced by MP (P < 0.05). This change indicates that the degree of chaos in the HRV signals increased at higher EMF compared to low level EMF. Consequently, we have concluded that high level EMF changed the complexity of cardiac system behavior, significantly.
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Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance Attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (Formerly 'Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity'): An Updated Systematic Review of Provocation Studies
Article
Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF; formerly 'electromagetic hypersensitivity') is a medically unexplained illness in which subjective symptoms are reported following exposure to electrical devices. In an earlier systematic review, we reported data from 31 blind provocation studies which had exposed IEI-EMF volunteers to active or sham electromagnetic fields and assessed whether volunteers could detect these fields or whether they reported worse symptoms when exposed to them. In this article, we report an update to that review. An extensive literature search identified 15 new experiments. Including studies reported in our earlier review, 46 blind or double-blind provocation studies in all, involving 1175 IEI-EMF volunteers, have tested whether exposure to electromagnetic fields is responsible for triggering symptoms in IEI-EMF. No robust evidence could be found to support this theory. However, the studies included in the review did support the role of the nocebo effect in triggering acute symptoms in IEI-EMF sufferers. Despite the conviction of IEI-EMF sufferers that their symptoms are triggered by exposure to electromagnetic fields, repeated experiments have been unable to replicate this phenomenon under controlled conditions. A narrow focus by clinicians or policy makers on bioelectromagnetic mechanisms is therefore, unlikely to help IEI-EMF patients in the long-term.
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Hypersensitivity to RF fields emitted from CDMA cellular phones: A provocation study
Article
With the number of cellular phone users rapidly increasing, there is a considerable amount of public concern regarding the effects that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from cellular phones have on health. People with self-attributed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) complain of subjective symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, and memory loss, and attribute these symptoms to radio frequency (RF) radiation from cellular phones and/or base stations. However, EHS is difficult to diagnose because it relies on a person's subjective judgment. Various provocation studies have been conducted on EHS caused by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) phones in which heart rate and blood pressure or subjective symptoms were investigated. However, there have been few sham-controlled provocation studies on EHS with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) phones where physiological parameters, subjective symptoms, and perception of RF radiation for EHS and non-EHS groups were simultaneously investigated. In this study, two volunteer groups of 18 self-reported EHS and 19 non-EHS persons were tested for both sham and real RF exposure from CDMA cellular phones with a 300 mW maximum exposure that lasted half an hour. We investigated not only the physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, and heart rate variability (HRV), but also various subjective symptoms and the perception of EMF. In conclusion, RF exposure did not have any effects on physiological parameters or subjective symptoms in either group. As for EMF perception, there was no evidence that the EHS group better perceived EMF than the non-EHS group.
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