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Mortality by neoplasia and cellular telephone base stations in the Belo Horizonte municipality, Minas Gerais state, Brazil
Abstract
Pollution caused by the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of radio frequencies (RF) generated by the telecommunication system is one of the greatest environmental problems of the twentieth century. The purpose of this research was to verify the existence of a spatial correlation between base station (BS) clusters and cases of deaths by neoplasia in the Belo Horizonte municipality, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, from 1996 to 2006 and to measure the human exposure levels to EMF where there is a major concentration of cellular telephone transmitter antennas. A descriptive spatial analysis of the BSs and the cases of death by neoplasia identified in the municipality was performed through an ecological-epidemiological approach, using georeferencing. The database employed in the survey was composed of three data banks: 1. death by neoplasia documented by the Health Municipal Department; 2. BSs documented in ANATEL ("Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações": 'Telecommunications National Agency'); and 3. census and demographic city population data obtained from official archives provided by IBGE ("Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística": 'Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics'). The results show that approximately 856 BSs were installed through December 2006. Most (39.60%) of the BSs were located in the "Centro-Sul" ('Central-Southern') region of the municipality. Between 1996 and 2006, 7191 deaths by neoplasia occurred and within an area of 500 m from the BS, the mortality rate was 34.76 per 10,000 inhabitants. Outside of this area, a decrease in the number of deaths by neoplasia occurred. The greatest accumulated incidence was 5.83 per 1000 in the Central-Southern region and the lowest incidence was 2.05 per 1000 in the Barreiro region. During the environmental monitoring, the largest accumulated electric field measured was 12.4 V/m and the smallest was 0.4 V/m. The largest density power was 40.78 μW/cm(2), and the smallest was 0.04 μW/cm(2).
... Mobile phone-derived electromagnetic fields are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans [3,6,7]. The intensity of the RBS radiofrequency fields is higher near the antenna and decreases as the distance from it is greater [1,8]. In big cities, however, RBSs are located very close to populated areas, above or between homes and businesses. ...
... 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]. The authors detected 6724 deaths by neoplasia occurring within an area of 500 m from the RBS and 320 deaths within an area between 500 and 1000 m. ...
... 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]. The authors detected 6724 deaths by neoplasia occurring within an area of 500 m from the RBS and 320 deaths within an area between 500 and 1000 m. ...
Background:
this study aims to estimate the rate of death by cancer as a result of Radio Base Station (RBS) radiofrequency exposure, especially for breast, cervix, lung, and esophagus cancers.
Methods:
we collected information on the number of deaths by cancer, gender, age group, gross domestic product per capita, death year, and the amount of exposure over a 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 2000/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 was. 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 that 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 exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from RBS increases the rate of death for all types of cancer.
... Mobile phone-derived electromagnetic fields are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans [3,6,7]. The intensity of the RBS radiofrequency fields is higher near the antenna and decreases as the distance from it is greater [1,8]. In big cities, however, RBSs are located very close to populated areas, above or between homes and businesses. ...
... 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]. The authors detected 6724 deaths by neoplasia occurring within an area of 500 m from the RBS and 320 deaths within an area between 500 and 1000 m. ...
... 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]. The authors detected 6724 deaths by neoplasia occurring within an area of 500 m from the RBS and 320 deaths within an area between 500 and 1000 m. ...
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.
... Distance to nearest antenna: One of the most basic approaches to assess RF-EMF exposure is computing distance to nearest mobile phone base station (Dode et al. 2011;Eskander et al. 2012;Santini et al. 2003). Even though this approach may seem intuitive as RF-EMF levels decrease with distance from base stations, there are several major shortcomings. ...
... (Li et al. 2012) used an ecological approach to estimate individual exposure to RF-EMF from mobile phone base stations, by computing the density of base stations per township. Some studies used self-reported or measured distance from base stations as a proxy for exposure (Dode et al. 2011;Eskander et al. 2012). However, distance from base stations has been demonstrated to correlate poorly with actual measured exposure (Bornkessel et al. 2007;Mann et al. 2000;Neitzke et al. 2007;, making these studies largely uninformative. ...
... Performing measurements could be perceived as a superior approach to obtain exposure estimates for study participants Thomas et al. 2008;Viel et al. 2009), but is very time intensive and can therefore be prohibitive in large epidemiological studies. Other studies have applied surrogate measures as proxies for exposure, such as average density and power output of antennas per area (Li et al. 2012), or distance to the closest mobile phone base station (Dode et al. 2011;Eskander et al. 2012). However, such simple exposure proxies have been shown to correlate poorly with measured exposure levels , which means that study participants are likely to be misclassified hampering the assessment of the presence or absence of health effects. ...
... Public exposure to microwave/radiofrequency (MW/RF) radiation has been increasing rapidly since the development and proliferation of wireless technologies [1][2][3][4][5][6], resulting in widespread health concerns [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. According to International Telecommunication Union's estimates (Figure 1), in 2001 there were 962 million cellular phone users across the globe, in 2010 5,290 million and in 2015 7,085 million. ...
... The proliferation of MW/RF radiation has been a health concern for years [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Thus, in an early study by Milham [15], television and radio repairmen had an increased risk of leukemia mortality. ...
... In a study published three years later, Ha [11] found an increased risk of lymphocytic leukemia among children residing in areas surrounded by AM radio transmitters whilst in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Dode [12] found higher mortality among residents whose homes were located within a radius of 500 meters from base stations, when compared with the average mortality rate of the city as a whole. ...
... Most of the studies investigating cancer risk in populations around fixed RF transmitters have found positive evidence. Older studies were around radio/TV/ radar towers [15], while later studies focused on more common mobile phone base stations (MPBS) [16]. An investigation of 7191 cancer deaths in a Brazilian city found the mortality rate to increase with proximity to MPBS [16]. ...
... Older studies were around radio/TV/ radar towers [15], while later studies focused on more common mobile phone base stations (MPBS) [16]. An investigation of 7191 cancer deaths in a Brazilian city found the mortality rate to increase with proximity to MPBS [16]. ...
... High ambient exposure was found at several places, and particularly at the Järntorget square in the Old Town, that was measured in April, 2016 [mean, 24,277.1 µW/m 2 (3.03 V/m); median, 19,990.0 µW/m 2 (2.75 V/m); ranging from 257.0 µW/m 2 (0.31 V/m) to 173,301.8 µW/m 2 (8.08 V/m)] (9). ...
... A study from Brazil included 7,191 cancer deaths during 1996 to 2006, most of these, 93.5%, within an area of 500 m from the base stations (24). The mortality rate decreased outside that area. ...
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the frequency range 30 kHz to 300 GHz was evaluated in 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO to be a 'possible human carcinogen' Group 2B. The conclusion was based on human epidemiological studies on an increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma. In previous measurement studies, we found high environmental RF radiation levels at certain public places and also in an apartment in Stockholm, Sweden. One such place was the Järntorget square in the Stockholm Old Town. The EME Spy exposimeter was used for these studies. We have now conducted a field spatial distribution measurement with a radiofrequency broadband analyser. The maximum E-field topped at 11.6 V/m at the centre of the square, where the antenna was focused. Järntorget's mean value was 5.2 V/m, median 5.0 V/m, range 1.2-11.6 V/m. Of interest is that this level can be compared to a lifespan carcinogenicity study on rats exposed to 1.8 GHz GSM environmental radiation performed at the Ramazzini Institute (RI) in Italy. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant schwannoma in the heart was found in male rats at the highest dose, 50 V/m. In treated female rats at the highest dose, the incidence of malignant glial tumours was increased, although this was not statistically significant. On the whole, the findings of this study showed that RF radiation levels at one square, Järntorget, in Sweden, were only one order of magnitude lower than those showing an increased incidence of tumours in the RI animal study. An increased cancer risk cannot be excluded for those working in the proximity of Järntorget for longer time periods.
... High ambient exposure was found at several places, and particularly at the Järntorget square in the Old Town, that was measured in April, 2016 [mean, 24,277.1 µW/m 2 (3.03 V/m); median, 19,990.0 µW/m 2 (2.75 V/m); ranging from 257.0 µW/m 2 (0.31 V/m) to 173,301.8 µW/m 2 (8.08 V/m)] (9). ...
... A study from Brazil included 7,191 cancer deaths during 1996 to 2006, most of these, 93.5%, within an area of 500 m from the base stations (24). The mortality rate decreased outside that area. ...
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the frequency range 30 kHz to 300 GHz was evaluated in 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO to be a 'possible human carcinogen' Group 2B. The conclusion was based on human epidemiological studies on an increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma. In previous measurement studies, we found high environmental RF radiation levels at certain public places and also in an apartment in Stockholm, Sweden. One such place was the Järntorget square in the Stockholm Old Town. The EME Spy exposimeter was used for these studies. We have now conducted a field spatial distribution measurement with a radiofrequency broadband analyser. The maximum E-field topped at 11.6 V/m at the centre of the square, where the antenna was focused. Järntorget's mean value was 5.2 V/m, median 5.0 V/m, range 1.2-11.6 V/m. Of interest is that this level can be compared to a lifespan carcinogenicity study on rats exposed to 1.8 GHz GSM environmental radiation performed at the Ramazzini Institute (RI) in Italy. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant schwannoma in the heart was found in male rats at the highest dose, 50 V/m. In treated female rats at the highest dose, the incidence of malignant glial tumours was increased, although this was not statistically significant. On the whole, the findings of this study showed that RF radiation levels at one square, Järntorget, in Sweden, were only one order of magnitude lower than those showing an increased incidence of tumours in the RI animal study. An increased cancer risk cannot be excluded for those working in the proximity of Järntorget for longer time periods.
... Out of the 57 studies collected, 4 studies were excluded because they did not contain epidemiologic analysis [22,23] reported a very high result that masked results of other studies in disproportion [there was one underlying cause of death due to leukemia compared with 0.2 expected (standard mortality ratio [SMR] = 437, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 11-2433), and two multiple listed causes of death due to leukemia compared with 0.3 expected (SMR = 775, 95% CI = 94-2801) [24]] or used a case series method with no epidemiological ratios and/or probability values [25]. Out of the remaining 53 studies, described in Table 1, we discarded for use in the meta-analysis 6 studies without information on confidence intervals or indications on how to extract them [26][27][28][29][30][31] and one study in which the CI was reported to be higher than the actual measure of association [RR = 4.15 95% CI 40.1, 217.2 [17]]. From the total collected, we used 46 studies (81%) for the meta-analysis. ...
... Our results are consistent with the review by Yekymenko et al. [6] and (Levitt and Lai 2010) [9], who revealed evidence about increased risk of cancer associated with exposure to MW/RF radiation. Reviews by Elwood [10], Breckenkamp et al. [12] and Ahlbom [11], who found that evidence for cancer associated with MW/RF radiation was inconsistent just a decade ago, were published before more up to date results on increased risk of all site cancers were published [16,17,31,41], as well as specific cancer studies [35,42]. Other researchers have recognized the need for a more precautionary approach vs. the current standards, after taking into account recent data [6,8,13,14]. ...
... The study concluded that it is a mistake to explain the damage caused by this radiation, based exclusively on the thermal factor. Other effects of exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation/mobile telephony such as neoplasms (ovary, breast, lung), sleep disorders, headache, infertility, and others have been reported in the literature 15,16,17 . ...
... Using a mobile phone with weak signal coverage, a habit reported by most of our interviewees, is worrisome, since the reduced number of available channels due to overcrowding of users involves a higher field level and thus higher power in the device, which increases automatically in the attempt to locate another mobile phone base stations to keep the call going. Several studies 7,8,17 have indicated an association between exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation/ mobile phone base stations and health effects, only considering exposure to mobile phone base stations and overlooking exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation resulting from mobile phones use and thus APC. ...
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations and psychiatric symptoms. In a cross-sectional study in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, 440 individuals were interviewed. Psychiatric complaints and diagnoses were the dependent variables and distance from the individual's residence to the base station was considered the main independent variable. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess confounding. An association was observed between psychiatric symptoms and residential proximity to the base station and different forms of mobile phone use (making calls with weak signal coverage, keeping the mobile phone close to the body, having two or more chips, and never turning off the phone while sleeping), and with the use of other electronic devices. The study concluded that exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations and other electronic devices was associated with psychiatric symptoms, independently of gender, schooling, and smoking status. The adoption of precautionary measures to reduce such exposure is recommended.
... Accordingly, in (Wolf et al 2004), exposure to GSM from a base station resulted in cancer incidence being multiplied by 4 in the second year after start-up of the transmitter in Netanya, at 5 mW/m2 corresponding to the transient pro-cancer effect of all when the bandwidth of the wave is lower than their bandwidth condition, whilst their power response does not exhibit as brutal a threshold. This strong response/non-response contrast may yield a stronger anti-cancer effect under Table [ The study in (Dode et al 2011) might have been impacted by pro-cancer effects (i) and (iii) in view of measured power levels reaching 0.4 W/m2 at ground level and in view of the use of CDMA, but is unreliable due to methodological issues (Appendix C). Therefore effects (i) and (iii) cannot be considered as statistically confirmed. ...
... The conclusion of a pro-cancer effect in (Dode et al 2011) is unreliable because it is dominantly determined by the balance between over-estimation and under-estimation (issues A,B,C). This does not exclude the possibility of a procancer effect having taken place in Belo Horizonte during the period of the study, but such effect is not reliably reflected in the study. ...
... Figure 1. Concurrency network for the search equation ("health *" AND ("* radiation") AND "electromagnetic" AND ("mobile phone$" OR "base station$") AND "exposure"), generated with VOSviewer [20] Some studies have looked for the relationship that may exist between emissions from NIR sources with health effects, by correlating the locations of NIR emission devices, more specifically telecommunication base stations (BTS), with cases of deaths from some diseases [13], with psychological and psychobiological reactions [17], and with anxiety and depression [12]. In that sense, to have a geographic information system (GIS) that allows to store, to visualize and to analyze the levels of contamination EM emitted by the sources of NIR and the parameters of health that are wanted to consider, that is to say, a system of geographic information for analysis of contamination EM, can be an important instrument to continue deepening in the studies of spatial and temporal correlation between the emissions of NIR and affectations of the health. ...
span lang="EN-US">Currently, telecommunications systems have become more widespread and there is still a discrepancy between whether or not non-ionizing radiation produces health problems in living beings at cellular level. From an experimental point of view, it is interesting to raise the correlation of high levels of electromagnetic pollution with health problems in urban populations which would make it possible to clearly determine the effects of this type of radiation on human health and the environment. By means of remote sensing, a geographic information system (GIS) has been developed for the analysis of electromagnetic pollution levels generated by emissions from non-ionizing radiation (NIR) sources in a city. A method for measuring electromagnetic pollution was applied, which allows the generation of a table of attributes of the GIS that is the input to generate by inverse distance weighting (IDW), the layer of electromagnetic pollution. The method, as a case study, was applied in the city of Manizales, located in Colombia, obtaining as a result a layer that allows evidence that the highest levels of electromagnetic pollution are concentrated in the most central area of the city. In this way, the effects of NIR on public health can be analyzed by means of correlations.</span
... In a review by Khurana et al. [127] two of three studies reported increased incidence of cancer at a distance < 350 m [128] or < 400 m [129] from a base station. Dode et al. [130] reported increased cancer mortality in an area within 500 m from a base station in Belo ...
... 34 Ayrıca kanser riskinin artışını gösteren çalışmalar da bulunmaktadır. [35][36][37] Bu alanda yapılan çalışmaların sonucunda bilim dünyasında iki görüş oluşmuştur. Bunlardan ilki bu tür ışımanın sağlığa olumsuz etkileri olduğunu savunan görüş, diğeri ise bu tür ışımanın sağlığa herhangi bir zararı olmadığını savunan görüş. ...
ABSTRACT 30-50% of cancer cases are preventable. Preventing exposure to cancer-causing factors and raising awareness is the most appropriate strategy to prevent cancer formation. Smoking, physical inactivation, nutrition, obesity and viruses are the risk factors cited for cancer preventing. In addition to these risk factors, environmental carcinogens constitute a group that is neglected to be discussed in cancer causality and closely related to today's forms of economic production. The aim of this review is to identify environmental carcinogens that are common in daily life and threaten public health, and discuss ways to prevent these factors by pointing out the cancers they cause. Outdoor air pollution, pesticide use, exposure to radon, ultraviolet and other sources of ionizing radiation should be reduced. Reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields, eating food additives by giving fewer places to ready-made foods in diets and lowering aflatoxin exposure by consuming as much fresh, locally produced products as possible will be beneficial in preventing the formation of new cancer cases. In addition to increasing knowledge and awareness about environmental factors, the supervisory, policymaking, regulatory role and public health protection perspective of public institutions is vital.
... Free radicals may play an important role in many diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular, immunological and endocrine diseases (21). A spatial correlation between mortality in cancer and distance to a mobile phone base station was found in a study in Brazil (22). Also in a review, 2 of 3 studies showed augmented cancer incidence for people living near mobile base stations (23). ...
We measured the radiofrequency (RF) radiation at central parts in Stockholm, Sweden in March and April 2017. The same measurement round tour was used each time. We used EME Spy 200 for the measurements as in our previous studies in Stockholm. The results were based on 11,482 entries, corresponding to more than 12 h measurements. The total mean level was 5,494 µW/m² (median 3,346; range 36.6-205,155). The major contributions were down links from LTE 800 (4G), GSM + UMTS 900 (3G), GSM 1800 (2G), UMTS 2100 (3G) and LTE 2600 (4G). Regarding different places, the highest RF radiation was measured at the Hay Market with a mean level of 10,728 µW/m² (median 8,578; range 335-68,815). This is a square used for shopping, and both retailers and visitors may spend considerable time at this place. Also, the Sergel Plaza had high radiation with a mean of 7,768 µW/m². All measurements exceeded the target level of 30-60 µW/m² based on non-thermal (no heating) effects, according to the BioInitiative Report. Based on short-term thermal effects, The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection established guideline 2 of 10 W/m² (2,000,000-10,000,000 µW/m²) depending on frequency in 1998, and has not changed it despite solid evidence of non-thermal biological effects at substantially lower exposure levels. These environmental RF radiation levels are expected to increase with the introduction of 5G for wireless communication.
... The effects of RFR combined with one other stressor in lab tests can result in damage at lower RFR exposures than RFR exposures shown to cause serious damage when measured in isolation. The effects of RFR combined with myriad other stressors, as reflected in epidemiology studies, (e.g., [26][27][28]) can result in serious damage at RFR exposures orders of magnitude less than RFR exposures shown to cause serious damage when measured in isolation. ...
This editorial addresses the effects of toxic stimuli combinations on determination of safe Exposure Limits. Examination of thousands of Medline abstracts showed typically that combinations of toxic stimuli can produce damage even when the exposure level of each member of the combination is less than the lowest exposure level of the member that produced damage when tested in isolation. The synergy of the toxic stimuli in combination means less of each component stimulus is required to cause damage compared to exposure levels when tested in isolation. This Editorial concludes there is no reason to believe today that the Exposure Limits on potentially toxic stimuli that have been set by the regulatory agencies are fully protective against serious adverse health effects in all real life exposure scenarios. The conclusion is applicable to essentially all potential contributing factors to disease amenable to Exposure Limits, including not only chemicals but other types of exposures such as radiofrequency radiation (RFR).
... To date, many epidemiological studies assessing health effects of RF exposure have been focused on specific sources, such as use of mobile or cordless phones (Abramson et al., 2009;Aydin et al., 2011b;Cardis, 2010;Divan et al., 2008;Redmayne et al., 2013;Sadetzki et al., 2014;Schüz et al., 2011;Thomas et al., 2010) (most of them considering selfreported use), and on distance to some far-field sources (mobile phone base stations, television and radio antennas, whose radiation is contributing to people's exposure in the far field of the source) (Dode et al., 2011;Wolf and Wolf, 2004). These methods to assess exposure have limitations. ...
Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) fields are widely used and, while it is still unknown whether children are more vulnerable to this type of exposure, it is essential to explore their level of exposure in order to conduct adequate epidemiological studies. Personal measurements provide individualized information, but they are costly in terms of time and resources, especially in large epidemiological studies. Other approaches, such as estimation of time-weighted averages (TWAs) based on spot measurements could simplify the work. Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess RF exposure in the Spanish INMA birth cohort by spot measurements and by personal measurements in the settings where children tend to spend most of their time, i.e., homes, schools and parks; to identify the settings and sources that contribute most to that exposure; and to explore if exposure assessment based on spot measurements is a valid proxy for personal exposure. Methods: When children were 8 years old, spot measurements were conducted in the principal settings of 104 participants: homes (104), schools and their playgrounds (26) and parks (79). At the same time, personal measurements were taken for a subsample of 50 children during 3 days. Exposure assessment based on personal and on spot measurements were compared both in terms of mean exposures and in exposure-dependent categories by means of Bland-Altman plots, Cohen's kappa and McNemar test. Results: Median exposure levels ranged from 29.73 (in children's bedrooms) to 200.10 μW/m2 (in school playgrounds) for spot measurements and were higher outdoors than indoors. Median personal exposure was 52.13 μW/m2 and median levels of assessments based on spot measurements ranged from 25.46 to 123.21 μW/m2. Based on spot measurements, the sources that contributed most to the exposure were FM radio, mobile phone downlink and Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial, while indoor and personal sources contributed very little (altogether
... Headache and cognitive impairment have been reported at maximum RF exposure of 4.1 × 10 −3 W/m (5) , activation of stress responses has been found at 2.1 × 10 −3 W/m (6) , neuro-psychiatric problems including headache, dizziness, tremor, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms have been reported at 5.4 × 10 −2(7) , while irritability, poor concentration along with a host of other symptoms of 'microwave syndrome' at 1.1 × 10 −3 W/m (8,9) . Furthermore, an increased cancer mortality rate near mobile phone base stations (MPBS) (10) and higher risk of childhood leukemia near radio transmitters (11) have been reported at comparable exposure levels. These needed to be addressed in any meaningful study of RF-EMR exposure in schools. ...
There are some serious errors and gaps in the study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and published as ‘Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields From WiFi in Australian Schools’ by Karipidis et al. We examine in detail the errors in methodology, interpretation of results and inaccurate/misleading conclusions. In conclusion, contrary to the assurances implied by Karipidis et al., existing scientific evidence clearly indicates that there are potential health risks for students and staff from microwave RF-EMR exposure levels found at schools from internal and external wireless infrastructure. ARPANSA should immediately recommend that schools use wired Internet instead of WiFi as several responsible government agencies in other parts of the world have already done to reduce exposure of children, a sensitive population that need particular protection.
... Nonetheless, the study's main difficulty is the rare number of cases due to the reduced incidence of the disease; therefore in future studies it is intended to apply other alternative methods of analysis, for example, Application of the Double Kernel Density Approach (Davarashvili et al., 2016). The obtained results would question the studies which, if any type of correlation were found, would be exclusively based in the location of the emission sources (Atzmon et al., 2012;Dode et al., 2011;Elliott and Savitz, 2008;Shahbazi-Gahrouei et al., 2014;Stewart et al., 2012). However, since this deals with the first epidemiological study which analyzes the incidence of the RF-EMF on specific tumors (gliomas, meningiomas and lymphomas) in a city, it is not possible to compare the results with other research papers. ...
Simultaneously with the increase of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) in recent decades, there has been increasing concern about their potential relation with the etiology of several tumors. At this time, the techniques of spatial data analysis jointly with the study of the personal exposure to these fields offer a new approach to the problem. This paper presents the results of a preliminary epidemiological study, combining Epidemiology, Statistics and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), in which we analyzed the correlation between exposure to RF-EMF in the city of Albacete (166,000 inhabitants, southeast Spain) and the incidence of several cancers with unspecific causes (lymphomas, and brain tumors). We used statistical tools to analyze the spatial point patterns and aggregate data with the aim to study the spatial randomness and to determine the zones with the highest incidence from 95 tumors studied (65 lymphomas, 12 gliomas and 18 meningiomas). We also perform a correlation (Spearman) study between the personal exposure to RF-EMF in 14 frequency bands, recorded by an EME Spy 140 (Satimo) exposimeter in the city's administrative regions, and the incidence of the tumors registered from January 2012 to May 2015. The studied cancer cases have a random spatial distribution inside the city. On the other hand, and by means of an ecological study, we verified that the exposure to RF-EMF registered in the city of Albacete shows little correlation with the incidence of the studied tumors (gliomas (ρ=0.15), meningiomas (ρ=0.19) and lymphomas (ρ=-0.03)). The proposed methodology inaugurates an unexplored analysis path in this field.
... Simple proxies have been used for exposure assessment, such as the distance between fixed-site transmitters and the home address (17,18), but these are not sufficiently accurate (19,20). Use of a 3-dimensional geospatial model is currently the preferred method for assessing personal exposure to far-field RF-EMF exposure from base stations in large populations (19,21), but application of these models in epidemiologic studies has so far been limited. ...
We assessed associations between modeled and perceived exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile-phone base stations and the development of nonspecific symptoms and sleep disturbances over time. A population-based Dutch cohort study, the Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort Study (AMIGO) (n = 14,829; ages 31-65 years), was established in 2011/2012 (T0), with follow-up of a subgroup (n = 3,992 invited) in 2013 (T1; n = 2,228) and 2014 (T2; n = 1,740). We modeled far-field RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations at the home addresses of the participants using a 3-dimensional geospatial model (NISMap). Perceived exposure (0 = not at all; 6 = very much), nonspecific symptoms, and sleep disturbances were assessed by questionnaire. We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, including fixed-effects regression. We found small correlations between modeled and perceived exposure in AMIGO participants at baseline (n = 14,309; rSpearman = 0.10). For 222 follow-up participants, modeled exposure increased substantially (>0.030 mW/m2) between T0 and T1. This increase in modeled exposure was associated with an increase in perceived exposure during the same time period. In contrast to modeled RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations, perceived exposure was associated with higher symptom reporting scores in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, as well as with sleep disturbances in cross-sectional analyses.
... 1. Residential RF/MW exposure and cancers near cell phone base stations, broadcast antennas, and radar installations (Dolk et al., 1997;Goldsmith, 1997;Michelozzi et al., 2002;Park et al., 2004;Wolf and Wolf, 2004;Ha et al., 2007;Khurana et al., 2010;Dode et al., 2011;Inskip et al., 2010;Levitt and Lai, 2010;Yakymenko et al., 2011). 2. Occupational RF/MW exposure and cancers, such as testicular cancer, breast cancer, brain tumors, and leukemia (Davis and Mostofi, 1993;Szmigielski, 1996;Finklestein, 1998;Milham, 2004); 3. Long-term (10 plus years) mobile phone use and ipsilateral tumors including parotid gland tumors; acoustic neuromas, gliomas and possibly meningiomas (Hardell et al., 2005(Hardell et al., , 2008Sadetzki et al., 2008;Cardis et al., 2011;INTERPHONE study Group, 2010Coureau et al., 2014;Morgan et al., 2015); as well as breast cancer among women who keep their cell phone in their bra (West et al., 2013). ...
This paper attempts to resolve the debate about whether non-ionizing radiation (NIR) can cause cancer–a debate that has been ongoing for decades. The rationale, put forward mostly by physicists and accepted by many health agencies, is that, “since NIR does not have enough energy to dislodge electrons, it is unable to cause cancer.” This argument is based on a flawed assumption and uses the model of ionizing radiation (IR) to explain NIR, which is inappropriate. Evidence of free-radical damage has been repeatedly documented among humans, animals, plants and microorganisms for both extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) and for radio frequency (RF) radiation, neither of which is ionizing. While IR directly damages DNA, NIR interferes with the oxidative repair mechanisms resulting in oxidative stress, damage to cellular components including DNA, and damage to cellular processes leading to cancer. Furthermore, free-radical damage explains the increased cancer risks associated with mobile phone use, occupational exposure to NIR (ELF EMF and RFR), and residential exposure to power lines and RF transmitters including mobile phones, cell phone base stations, broadcast antennas, and radar installations.
... Evidence of radiation damage was even found in potted plants inside patient homes (Waldmann-Selsam and Eger, 2013). Thus, this study is certainly complementary to the study by Eger and Jahn (2010) and other research that has shown effects on the health of people by phone masts located in their vicinity (Santini et al., 2002;Eger et al., 2004;Wolf and Wolf, 2004;Abdel-Rassoul et al., 2007;Khurana et al., 2010;Dode et al., 2011;Gómez-Perretta et al., 2013;Shahbazi-Gahrouei et al., 2014;Belyaev et al., 2015). ...
In the last two decades, the deployment of phone masts around the world has taken place and, for many years, there has been a discussion in the scientific community about the possible environmental impact from mobile phone base stations. Trees have several advantages over animals as experimental subjects and the aim of this study was to verify whether there is a connection between unusual (generally unilateral) tree damage and radiofrequency exposure. To achieve this, a detailed long-term (2006-2015) field monitoring study was performed in the cities of Bamberg and Hallstadt (Germany). During monitoring, observations and photographic recordings of unusual or unexplainable tree damage were taken, alongside the measurement of electromagnetic radiation. In 2015 measurements of RF-EMF (Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields) were carried out. A polygon spanning both cities was chosen as the study site, where 144 measurements of the radiofrequency of electromagnetic fields were taken at a height of 1.5m in streets and parks at different locations. By interpolation of the 144 measurement points, we were able to compile an electromagnetic map of the power flux density in Bamberg and Hallstadt. We selected 60 damaged trees, in addition to 30 randomly selected trees and 30 trees in low radiation areas (n=120) in this polygon. The measurements of all trees revealed significant differences between the damaged side facing a phone mast and the opposite side, as well as differences between the exposed side of damaged trees and all other groups of trees in both sides. Thus, we found that side differences in measured values of power flux density corresponded to side differences in damage. The 30 selected trees in low radiation areas (no visual contact to any phone mast and power flux density under 50μW/m(2)) showed no damage. Statistical analysis demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone masts is harmful for trees. These results are consistent with the fact that damage afflicted on trees by mobile phone towers usually start on one side, extending to the whole tree over time.
Paper in:
http://media.withtank.com/592b5448ab/waldmann-selsam_2016_scitotenv572p554-569_rf__trees.pdf
http://kompetenzinitiative.net/KIT/KIT/baeume-in-bamberg/
http://kompetenzinitiative.net/KIT/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Trees-in-Bamberg-and-Hallstadt-Documentation-2006-2016.pdf
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mobilfunk_newsletter/5r37cJ-EqPI
... Ondorio gisa, sakelako telefonoaren erabileran ordu gehien pilatuta zituztenen artean (1640 ordu baino gehiago) soilik ikusi zen gliomaren arriskuaren handitzea, baina ez zen dosi-efektu gisako erantzunik aurkitu [37]. [42] korrelazioa ikusi zuten minbiziaren ondoriozko hilkortasuna eta telefono-antenen arteko distantziaren artean. Gainera, hilkortasun tasa handiagoak ikusi ziren 500 metroko distantzietan. ...
Gure bizimoduan gero eta ohikoagoak dira erradiazio ezionizatzaileko eremu elektromagnetikoak (EEI-EEM) sortzen dituzten iturriak, eta bere horretan dirau eremu horiek osasunean izan ditzaketen efektuen inguruko eztabaidak. Artikulu honetan laburbildu egin nahi ditugu EEI-EEMen eraginen inguruko ikerketa esperimentalen eta epidemiologikoen bidez lortu diren emaitzak. Nahiz eta ikerketa eta proiektu ugari egon gaiaren inguruan, kontu ugari daude argitzeke, batez ere metodologia-mugek sortzen dituzten arazoek ez dutelako ondorio argirik ateratzeko aukera ematen. Aurrerantzean, ahalegin handiagoak egin beharko lirateke eremu elektromagnetikoen esposizioaren estimazio egokiagoa egite aldera.
... Among the emission sources, we highlight the mobile phone antennas due to their high number, which have been the object of numerous studies (Röösli et al., 2010). However, almost the majority of these studies, which have dealt with the potential effects of the emitted radiation on health, have focused on the location of the antennas and exclusively in the proximity of the cases of disease (Atzmon et al., 2012;Dode et al., 2011;Elliott et al., 2011Elliott et al., , 2010Shahbazi-Gahrouei et al., 2014;Stewart et al., 2012). Although the use of the distance to the antenna as an exposure indicator has been questioned in several work papers (Foster and Trottier, 2013), few alternatives have been presented for the execution of epidemiological studies on the potential effects of the RF-EMF generated by the telephone antennas. ...
In recent years, numerous epidemiological studies, which deal with the potential effects of mobile phone antennas on health, have almost exclusively focused on their distance to mobile phone base stations. Although it is known that this is not the best approach to the problem, this situation occurs due to the numerous difficulties when determining the personal exposure to the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).
... According to a Brazilian study, mortality rates and relative risk of cancer were higher for the residents living within 500 m from the base station compared to the average mortality rate of the entire city. Among the people who lived away from the base station, a decreased dose-response gradient was noted (Dode et al., 2011). Unlike the Scandinavian countries, which were the early manufacturers and adopters of this technology, India, Chennai in particular, has a long way to go, but there has been an unprecedented explosive growth in mobile telephony and wireless devices. ...
... Regarding indirect methods for assessing ELF radiation, initial studies estimated the exposure to this type of magnetic field (ELF-MF) using classification systems which take into account the proximity to high voltage power lines and the size and configuration of electrical wiring among other variables [4,5]. On the other hand, indirect methods for assessing exposure to RF fields have mainly considered the use of mobile or cordless phones [6][7][8][9][10][11][12], assessed using a questionnaire, or the distance between the home and the mobile phone base stations [13][14][15]. These indirect methodologies have been widely criticised since exposure estimated in these ways often does not correspond to levels obtained using exposimeters [16,17], being the use of the last ones the most accurate procedure for individual exposure classification. ...
Background
Analysis of the association between exposure to electromagnetic fields of non-ionising radiation (EMF-NIR) and health in children and adolescents is hindered by the limited availability of data, mainly due to the difficulties on the exposure assessment. This study protocol describes the methodologies used for characterising exposure of children to EMF-NIR in the INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente- Environment and Childhood) Project, a prospective cohort study.
Methods/Design
Indirect (proximity to emission sources, questionnaires on sources use and geospatial propagation models) and direct methods (spot and fixed longer-term measurements and personal measurements) were conducted in order to assess exposure levels of study participants aged between 7 and 18 years old. The methodology used varies depending on the frequency of the EMF-NIR and the environment (homes, schools and parks). Questionnaires assessed the use of sources contributing both to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency (RF) exposure levels. Geospatial propagation models (NISMap) are implemented and validated for environmental outdoor sources of RFs using spot measurements. Spot and fixed longer-term ELF and RF measurements were done in the environments where children spend most of the time. Moreover, personal measurements were taken in order to assess individual exposure to RF. The exposure data are used to explore their relationships with proximity and/or use of EMF-NIR sources.
Discussion
Characterisation of the EMF-NIR exposure by this combination of methods is intended to overcome problems encountered in other research. The assessment of exposure of INMA cohort children and adolescents living in different regions of Spain to the full frequency range of EMF-NIR extends the characterisation of environmental exposures in this cohort. Together with other data obtained in the project, on socioeconomic and family characteristics and development of the children and adolescents, this will enable to evaluate the complex interaction between health outcomes in children and adolescents and the various environmental factors that surround them.
... Epidemiological studies have shown the expected increases in cancer, miscarriage, and reproductive adverse effects. [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62] Three plausible biological mechanisms may be involved. 13 Increased free radical activity and genetic damage to DNA and chromosomes may occur (i) as a response to the exposure 25-62 and (ii) because of an induced reduction in the free radical scavenger melatonin, for which there is both animal 63,64 and human evidence. ...
Rao and Thakur have shown that the antioxidants melatonin and alma (Emblica officinales, Indian gooseberry) are effective, both individually and in combination, against fluoride-induced genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells, which was first described in humans in 1994. Some animal and human work also suggests that fluoride (F) can impair the defensive response to genotoxicity by being deposited in high concentrations in the pineal gland and, through an enzyme-inhibiting action, reducing the secretion of melatonin, a powerful antioxidant able to eliminate free radicals and protect DNA. In having the capacity to be both genotoxic and impair melatonin secretion, F is similar to electromagnetic radiation, at power line frequencies and above, and both have very low or zero thresholds for causing toxicity. In view of the seriousness of neoplasia, the effect of fluoride on melatonin secretion warrants further research.
... The significant increase in micronuclei in the erythrocytes of cattle grazing near transmitters has been interpreted as an indication of the genotoxic effect of exposure (Balode, 1996), and changes in cell proliferation as a result of RF exposure have also been described (Velizarov et al., 1999). A decrease in the survival of children with leukaemia near television antennae and a significantly reduced risk of leukaemia with increasing distance from the antennae of television (Hocking et al., 1996), or radio (Michelozzi et al., 1998) has been reported, as well as an increase in mortality due to neoplasia near cellular telephone base stations (Dode et al., 2011). Recent studies indicate that RFs can have carcinogenic effects on animals and humans (Tillmann et al., 2010;Coureau et al., 2014;Lerchl et al., 2015). ...
Radio transmitters and associated devices may induce negative effects that can bias the results of ongoing research. The main documented effects of radio transmitters on animals include reduced survival, decreased productivity, changes in behaviour and movement patterns and a biased sex ratio. The only factors that have claimed responsibility for these possible damages are the weight of the radio transmitter and associated devices, and the attachment type. The electromagnetic radiation produced by radio transmitters has not been considered so far in research. There have been no studies evaluating the effects of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation (radiofrequency signals) necessary for tracking, although the problems found were significantly associated with the length of time that animals had been carrying their radio transmitters. Similar problems as those in radiotracked animals have been found in numerous studies with animals exposed to radiofrequency radiation for a sufficient amount of time. Laboratory scientists investigating the orientation of animals know they have to shield the place where experiments are performed to prevent interference from man-made radiation, as anthropogenic signals may distort the results. It is paradoxical that, at the same time, field scientists investigating the movements and other aspects of animal biology are providing animals with radio transmitters that emit the same type of radiation, since this may affect the results concerning their orientation and movement. This paper identifies gaps in the knowledge that should be investigated in-depth. The possibility that the radiofrequency radiation from radiotracking devices is responsible for the findings should be considered. Considering this factor may allow researchers to best understand the long-term effects found.
... Around three TV/radio broadcasting towers in northern Sydney where ambient RFR levels were higher than in neighbouring areas, a statistically significant association between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortality and proximity to TV towers was found 8 . Similarly, other studies have shown increased cancer around TV/radio transmitters 92 , mobile base stations 93,94 and also associated with occupational exposure to RFR 16,[95][96][97][98] . The scientific evidence from several lines indicate that cytotoxic effects of EMR contribute to a general pro-inflammatory scenario with chronic exposures, the extent of which would differ based on other environmental/dietary factors as well as one' s genetic and biochemical differences. ...
Exposure to man-made non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the form of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) emitted by power lines and electrical appliances as well as high frequency radiowaves (including microwaves) emanating from modern wireless communication systems and devices has been investigated in light of its possible impact on human health. This article focuses on radio frequency radiation (RFR) - an environmental pollutant that has increased exponentially in most parts of the world over the last couple of decades due to a rapid expansion of mobile/wireless/satellite technologies. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RFR as a 2B possible human carcinogen in 2011. A large number of cell culture (in vitro) studies and animal (in vivo) studies have so far shown increased levels of endogenous oxidative stress markers and affected antioxidant levels in various tissue/cell types upon exposure to RFR. Some studies have further demonstrated ameliorative effects upon supplementation with a range of antioxidant. These findings are complemented by a limited number of human studies where exposure to RFR has shown increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant status.
A review of the existing scientific literature indicates oxidative stress as a central mechanism underlying cytotoxic effects related to RFR exposure, such as DNA damage and micronuclei formation as well as induction of stress proteins. Existing literature provides evidence for altered in immune/nervous/endocrine and metabolic functions upon exposure. With multi-system effects, implications in public health are substantial.
... Around three TV/radio broadcasting towers in northern Sydney where ambient RFR levels were higher than in neighbouring areas, a statistically significant association between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortality and proximity to TV towers was found 8 . Similarly, other studies have shown increased cancer around TV/radio transmitters 92 , mobile base stations 93,94 and also associated with occupational exposure to RFR 16,[95][96][97][98] . The scientific evidence from several lines indicate that cytotoxic effects of EMR contribute to a general pro-inflammatory scenario with chronic exposures, the extent of which would differ based on other environmental/dietary factors as well as one' s genetic and biochemical differences. ...
Exposure to man-made non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the form of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) emitted by power lines and electrical appliances as well as high frequency radiowaves (including microwaves) emanating from modern wireless communication systems and devices has been investigated in light of its possible impact on human health. This article focuses on radio frequency radiation (RFR) - an environmental pollutant that has increased exponentially in most parts of the world over the last couple of decades due to a rapid expansion of mobile/wireless/satellite technologies. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RFR as a 2B possible human carcinogen in 2011. A large number of cell culture (in vitro) studies and animal (in vivo) studies have so far shown increased levels of endogenous oxidative stress markers and affected antioxidant levels in various tissue/cell types upon exposure to RFR. Some studies have further demonstrated ameliorative effects upon supplementation with a range of antioxidant. These findings are complemented by a limited number of human studies where exposure to RFR has shown increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant status.
A review of the existing scientific literature indicates oxidative stress as a central mechanism underlying cytotoxic effects related to RFR exposure, such as DNA damage and micronuclei formation as well as induction of stress proteins. Existing literature provides evidence for altered in immune/nervous/endocrine and metabolic functions upon exposure. With multi-system effects, implications in public health are substantial.
... Around three TV/radio broadcasting towers in northern Sydney where ambient RFR levels were higher than in neighbouring areas, a statistically significant association between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortality and proximity to TV towers was found 8 . Similarly, other studies have shown increased cancer around TV/radio transmitters 92 , mobile base stations 93,94 and also associated with occupational exposure to RFR 16,[95][96][97][98] . The scientific evidence from several lines indicate that cytotoxic effects of EMR contribute to a general pro-inflammatory scenario with chronic exposures, the extent of which would differ based on other environmental/dietary factors as well as one' s genetic and biochemical differences. ...
Impaired Public Health in the Wireless Age – a Challenge for Environmental and Dietary Medicine in the 21st Century.
Priyanka Bandara
Ayubowan Health & Lifestyle Education Service, Sydney, Australia and the Environmental Health Trust, Wyoming, USA
Exposure to man-made non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the form of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) emitted by power lines and electrical appliances as well as high frequency radiowaves (including microwaves) emanating from modern wireless communication systems and devices has been investigated in light of its possible impact on human health. This article focuses on radio frequency radiation (RFR) - an environmental pollutant that has increased exponentially in most parts of the world over the last couple of decades due to a rapid expansion of mobile/wireless/satellite technologies. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RFR as a 2B possible human carcinogen in 2011. A large number of cell culture (in vitro) studies and animal (in vivo) studies have so far shown increased levels of endogenous oxidative stress markers and affected antioxidant levels in various tissue/cell types upon exposure to RFR. Some studies have further demonstrated ameliorative effects upon supplementation with a range of antioxidant. These findings are complemented by a limited number of human studies where exposure to RFR has shown increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant status.
A review of the existing scientific literature indicates oxidative stress as a central mechanism underlying cytotoxic effects related to RFR exposure, such as DNA damage and micronuclei formation as well as induction of stress proteins. Existing literature provides evidence for altered in immune/nervous/endocrine and metabolic functions upon exposure. With multi-system effects, implications in public health are substantial.
... Dode el ál. 15 encontraron correlación espacial entre mortalidad por cáncer y proximidad a estaciones base de telefonía. Se observó una mayor tasa de mortalidad en las áreas situadas a 500 m de estaciones de telefonía. ...
En Europa, la recomendación 1999/519/EC establece las restricciones y niveles de referencia para la exposición del público general
a campos electromagnéticos (0 Hz –300 GHz). Varios países europeos, incluido España, han establecido límites más restrictivos o
medidas adicionales en áreas denominadas “espacios sensibles” en base a la duración de la exposición y a la presencia de población
sensible.
El objetivo de este estudio es describir el emplazamiento y la proximidad de las antenas de telefonía móvil a espacios sensibles en
los municipios del Proyecto INMA-Gipuzkoa.
Se georreferenciaron las antenas y los espacios sensibles (escuelas, centros de salud, residencias y parques públicos). Se crearon
áreas de influencia de 50, 100, 300 y 600 m alrededor de los espacios sensibles y se contabilizaron las antenas de telefonía móvil
en cada una de ellas.
Se contabilizaron 247 espacios sensibles y 156 antenas. El 54 % de las antenas se localizaron dentro de las áreas de influencia
establecidas. A excepción de un centro sanitario y un parque, el resto de espacios sensibles no presentó ninguna antena en un
radio de 100 m. El 47 % de espacios sensibles presentó al menos una antena en un radio de 600 m, el 20,6 % contaban con 1 a 3 y
el 21,5 % con 3 a 6 antenas.
Únicamente dos espacios sensibles tienen alguna antena en las áreas de influencia próximas (0 - 100 m). Sin embargo, la distancia
no es la única variable que afecta a la exposición, por lo que futuros estudios deberían medir los niveles de exposición en estas áreas.
... Other methods typically estimate exposure at the home address as a proxy of personal exposure. Simple methods such as the distance between nearby transmitters and the home address as a proxy of personal exposure to RF-EMF ( Blettner et al., 2009;Dode et al., 2011;Eskander et al., 2012) are insufficiently accurate ( Frei et al., 2010;Neitzke et al., 2007). Frei et al. (2010) showed that using a model to estimate exposure at the home address is currently the most appropriate method for estimating RF-EMF exposure in large epidemiological studies. ...
... This fact alone does not necessarily mean the existence of danger. A biological effect will become a security risk when a fault occurs in a person's health or their descendants [2]. The consequences of the mechanisms of interaction of non-ionizing electromagnetic waves with biological systems can be classified into two groups: @BULLET Thermal effects: are caused by tissue heating as a result of absorption of part of the incident wave; @BULLET Non-thermal Effects: are due to direct interaction of electromagnetic fields induced in the body. ...
The concern about the health risks that wireless technology can provide has grown globally thanks to the growing use of the devices by the population, by the finding that the public exposure to EMFs from the devices can be enhanced by the reflection of the microwave indoors. This paper will assess the distribution of electromagnetic field in a car, in order to provide a basis for future research and to estimate the actual level of exposure to which humans are submitted. There were a number of electrical measurements to determine the electromagnetic field produced by various electromagnetic sources. From the results observed, it is possible to see that, in a car, the exposure of humans to EMF is intensified by the reflection of electromagnetic waves in metallic structures. The observed values do not exceed the values recommended by the regulation, but in the face of scientific uncertainty on this issue, is motivated to continue studying the effect of the reflection of microwaves in closed environments, in order to investigate the possible impacts on health.
... At the present time, there are reasonable grounds for believing that microwave radiation constitutes an environmental and health hazard. It is necessary to open specific lines of research to confirm or refute the experimental results cited above, since similar findings were obtained in studies with cattle (Hässig et al., 2014) and humans (Khurana et al., 2010;Dode et al., 2011;Gómez-Perretta et al., 2013), although some governmental reports denied that electromagnetic radiation has adverse effects on human health (e.g. ARPANSA, 2014). ...
Despite the widespread use of wireless telephone networks around the world, authorities and researchers have
paid little attention to the potential harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on wildlife. This paper briefly
reviews the available scientific information on this topic and recommends further studies and specific lines of
research to confirm or refute the experimental results to date. Controls must be introduced and technology
rendered safe for the environment, particularly, threatened species.
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.
Based on the understanding of the radiation impact of 5G application base station construction on the environment, this paper simulated the electromagnetic radiation level of the environment after 5G application base station construction by establishing three numerical models. The study found that the prediction model based on population and mobile phone traffic characteristics can be used to predict the radiation environment of the whole region on the premise that 5G communication has been widely used by people, and this model is also suitable for the prediction and simulation of 3G/4G radiation environment.
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.
This is a review of the research on the genetic effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic field (EMF), mainly on radiofrequency radiation (RFR) and static and extremely low frequency EMF (ELF-EMF). The majority of the studies are on genotoxicity (e.g., DNA damage, chromatin conformation changes, etc.) and gene expression. Genetic effects of EMF depend on various factors, including field parameters and characteristics (frequency, intensity, wave-shape), cell type, and exposure duration. The types of gene expression affected (e.g., genes involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and stress responses, heat-shock proteins) are consistent with the findings that EMF causes genetic damages. Many studies reported effects in cells and animals after exposure to EMF at intensities similar to those in the public and occupational environments. The mechanisms by which effects are induced by EMF are basically unknown. Involvement of free radicals is a likely possibility. EMF also interacts synergistically with different entities on genetic functions. Interactions, particularly with chemotherapeutic compounds, raise the possibility of using EMF as an adjuvant for cancer treatment to increase the efficacy and decrease side effects of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs. Other data, such as adaptive effects and mitotic spindle aberrations after EMF exposure, further support the notion that EMF causes genetic effects in living organisms.
Background
Exposure of the general population to electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone base stations is one of the greater concerns of residents affected by the proximity of these structures due to the possible relationship between radiated levels and health indicators.
Objectives
This study aimed to find a possible relationship between some health indicators and electromagnetic radiation measurements.
Methods
A total of 268 surveys, own design, were completed by residents of a Madrid neighborhood surrounded by nine telephone antennas, and 105 measurements of electromagnetic radiation were taken with a spectrum analyzer and an isotropic antenna, in situ and in real – time, both outside and inside the houses.
Results
It was shown statistically significant p - values in headaches presence (p = 0.010), nightmares (p = 0.001), headache intensity (p < 0.001), dizziness frequency (p = 0.011), instability episodes frequency (p = 0.026), number of hours that one person sleeps per day (p < 0.001) and three of nine parameters studied from tiredness. Concerning cancer, there are 5.6% of cancer cases in the study population, a percentage 10 times higher than that of the total Spanish population. Discussion: People who are exposed to higher radiation values present more severe headaches, dizziness and nightmares. Moreover, they sleep fewer hours.
Ionizing and non-ionizing electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, either stand-alone or in combination with other agents, exert health effects on biological systems. The present chapter examines the scope of non-ionizing EMF radiation combined effects; i.e., identifies effects on biological systems from combined exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields/radiation and at least one other agent. Only articles in which the presence of non-ionizing EMF radiation had some effect (beneficial or adverse) on the biological system were selected. A comprehensive and novel query was developed using an iterative hybrid approach, whereby articles related by common text and by citation linkages were retrieved. This retrieved literature was: (1) clustered algorithmically into 32 biomedical sub-themes (assigned by the authors); (2) grouped through factor analysis into 32 factors; and (3) subsequently grouped manually (by the authors) into an effects-based taxonomy. The common principles within each thematic cluster/group that accounted for the combined effects were identified.
Amaç: Bu derlemenin amacı baz istasyonlarının insan sağlığına etkilerini inceleyen uluslararası ve güncel bilimsel yayınları derleyerek bu konudaki bilimsel bilgi gereksinimini karşılamaya katkıda bulunmaktır. Yöntem: 27 Eylül 2012 tarihine dek PubMed ve Google Scholar arama motorunda “baz istasyonu”, “sağlık etkileri” anahtar sözcükleri kullanılarak bulunan yayınlar ve bu yayınların kaynakçalarından yararlanılarak elde edilen çalışmalar içinden toplam 22 orijinal araştırma makalesini derlemeye dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmaların 15’inde farklı sağlık göstergeleri ile elektromanyetik alan (EMA) arasında ilişki saptandığı görülmektedir. Çalışmaların dördünde herhangi bir ilişki saptanmamış, üçünde ise kurulan hipotez tam doğrulanmamıştır. Araştırmaların 11’i baz istasyonu kaynaklı EMA’nın akut, sekizi kronik, üçü de hem akut hem kronik sağlık etkilerini incelemiştir. Altı araştırmada EMA ölçümü yapılmamış, şiddetinin dolaylı göstergesi olarak mesafe kullanılmıştır. Bir çalışmada ölçüm yapılmış ancak sağlık verileri mesafe üzerinden değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmaların 12 tanesi bir kurum ya da kuruluştan finansal destek almıştır. Çalışmalardan iki tanesinin finansmanının yarısı cep telefonu firmaları tarafından yapılmıştır. Çalışmaların altı tanesi deneysel araştırma tipindedir ve üç çalışmada doz-yanıt ilişkisi bulunmaktadır. Sonuç ve Öneriler: Araştırmalar baz istasyonun sağlık riski taşıyabileceğine ilişkin işaretler göstermektedir. Uyku bozukluğu, depresif semptomlar, baş ağrısı, baş dönmesi, konsantrasyon güçlüğü, en sık tespit edilen semptomlardır. Bu alanda yapılacak ileriye dönük izlem çalışmalarına ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır. Baz istasyonlarıyla ilgili sınır değerler akut etkiler göz önünde bulundurularak yapılmıştır. Uzun erimde baz istasyonu antenlerinin ışıma açısı içinde kalan kişilerde, maruz kalınan süre, baz istasyonuna olan mesafe, yayılan elektromanyetik alanın şiddeti ve kişisel vücut dirençleri ile ilişkili olarak baz istasyonlarına bağlı sağlık etkilerinin gelişme olasılığı göz önünde bulundurularak toplumun sağlığını koruyacak yaklaşımlar benimsenmelidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Baz istasyonu, elektromanyetik alan, sağlık etkisi An update on the possible health effects of mobile phone base stations Objective: This study reviews the up-to-date international literature on the health impacts of mobile phone base stations. Methods: A literature search was conducted up to September 27, 2012 in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords "base station" and "health".The references in the articles found were also used and a total of 22 original research papers were identified and included in this review. Results: Among the studies found, 15 have detected an association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and different health indicators. Four of the studies have not found any association and the hypothesis was not totally confirmed. Eleven of the studies have investigated the acute, 8 the chronic and three both the acute and chronic effects of base stations on health. EMF measurements were not conducted in six of the studies and distance to base stations was used as a proxy instead. One of the studies measured EMF but used distance to investigate the health impacts. Twelve of the studies had received financial support from funds or institutions. Half of the funding of two studies was from cellular phone companies. Six of the studies were experimental and three of these found a dose-response relationship. Conclusions: Studies are showing signs of possible health risks due to base stations. Sleep disorders, depressive symptoms, headache, dizziness, concentration difficulties are the most frequently identified symptoms. There is need for prospective studies in this field. The international limit values regarding base stations are based on acute effects. In the long run, people living in the radiation angle of the phone masts may develop health problems depending on the time exposed, distance to base stations, the level of the EMF and their somatic resistance. In view of these possibilities, a protective approach towards community health should be adopted. Key Words: Base station, phone mast, electromagnetic field, health impacts/effects
The paper offers a non-exhaustive perspective, as well as a spectrum of performed measurements, in the field of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Shielding Wi-Fi is shown to be an effective means of counteracting its health risks. The effects of cell phone towers positioning next to living and working spaces is presented and analyzed. Electrical pollution mitigation is described, as well as the problem of earth bound stray electrical currents. Effective actions and measures to be taken for the benefit of future generations are suggested and justified.
Abstract Mobile phone base stations facilitate good communication, but the continuously emitting radiations from these stations have raised health concerns. Hence in this study, genetic damage using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was 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. The power density in the area within 300 m from the base station exceeded the permissive limits and was significantly (p = 0.000) higher compared to the area from where control samples were collected. The study participants comprised 63 persons with residences near a mobile phone tower, and 28 healthy controls matched for gender, age, alcohol drinking and occupational sub-groups. Genetic damage parameters of DNA migration length, damage frequency (DF) and damage index were significantly (p = 0.000) elevated in the sample group compared to respective values in healthy controls. The female residents (n = 25) of the sample group had significantly (p = 0.004) elevated DF than the male residents (n = 38). The linear regression analysis further revealed daily mobile phone usage, location of residence and power density as significant predictors of genetic damage. The genetic damage evident in the participants of this study needs to be addressed against future disease-risk, which in addition to neurodegenerative disorders, may lead to cancer.
There is public concern that use of mobile phones could increase the risk of brain tumours. If such an effect exists, acoustic neuroma would be of particular concern because of the proximity of the acoustic nerve to the handset. We conducted, to a shared protocol, six population-based case–control studies in four Nordic countries and the UK to assess the risk of acoustic neuroma in relation to mobile phone use. Data were collected by personal interview from 678 cases of acoustic neuroma and 3553 controls. The risk of acoustic neuroma in relation to regular mobile phone use in the pooled data set was not raised (odds ratio (OR)=0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7–1.1). There was no association of risk with duration of use, lifetime cumulative hours of use or number of calls, for phone use overall or for analogue or digital phones separately. Risk of a tumour on the same side of the head as reported phone use was raised for use for 10 years or longer (OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1). The study suggests that there is no substantial risk of acoustic neuroma in the first decade after starting mobile phone use. However, an increase in risk after longer term use or after a longer lag period could not be ruled out.Keywords: neuroma, acoustic, telephone, epidemiology, aetiology
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.
Human populations are increasingly exposed to microwave/radiofrequency (RF) emissions from wireless communication technology, including mobile phones and their base stations. By searching PubMed, we identified a total of 10 epidemiological studies that assessed for putative health effects of mobile phone base stations. Seven of these studies explored the association between base station proximity and neurobehavioral effects and three investigated cancer. We found that eight of the 10 studies reported increased prevalence of adverse neurobehavioral symptoms or cancer in populations living at distances < 500 meters from base stations. None of the studies reported exposure above accepted international guidelines, suggesting that current guidelines may be inadequate in protecting the health of human populations. We believe that comprehensive epidemiological studies of long-term mobile phone base station exposure are urgently required to more definitively understand its health impact.
Recent studies on the association between exposure to 50- to 60-Hz fields and cancer carried out among electric utility workers have focused mainly on the magnetic field component of exposure. The authors have investigated tumor risks specifically associated with electric fields, as this exposure is distinct from magnetic fields. The study design is a case-control study nested within a cohort of 170,000 workers employed at Electricité de France-Gaz de France (EDF) between 1978 and 1989. All incident cases of cancer and benign tumor of the brain diagnosed in 1978-1989 among workers before the age of retirement were included. Four randomly selected controls were individually matched to each case by year of birth. The exposure to electric fields was assessed from measurements collected in 850 EDF workers for a full work week. Arithmetic and geometric mean exposures were included in a job-exposure matrix to determine the cumulative exposure of the cases and the controls. Exposures to potentially carcinogenic chemicals found at the workplace were also evaluated through expert judgment. The analysis by site of tumor did not show any increased risk for leukemia (72 cases). An odds ratio of 3.08 (95% confidence interval 1.08-8.74) was observed for all brain tumors (69 cases) for exposure above the 90th percentile (> or = 387 V/m-year), and there was some indication of a dose-response relation, although the risk did not increase monotonically with exposure. No confounding from magnetic fields or from other potentially carcinogenic hazards was apparent. The observed association was somewhat stronger after allowing a 5-year latency period before diagnosis (odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval 1.10-12.43) for exposure above the 90th percentile. However, the risk of brain tumor could not be linked to a specific type of tumor. An unexpected association was also observed for colon cancer, using geometric indexes of exposure, but no other association was seen for any other type of cancer. Our study indicates that electric fields may have a specific effect on the risk of brain tumor, and that this should be taken into account in future analyses on the carcinogenic effects of 50- to 60-Hz fields.
In an earlier study on malignant melanoma incidence in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the USA, we found a strong association between the introduction of FM radio broadcasting at full-body resonant frequencies and increasing melanoma incidence. The purpose of the current study was to review mortality and incidence data for malignant melanoma of the skin in Sweden and its temporal relation to increased "sun-traveling", and to the introduction of FM and TV broadcasting net-works.
Official, published information was collected and displayed graphically. These data included incidence rates of malignant melanoma, death numbers, charter travel statistics, and data on the expansion of the FM broadcasting network in all counties of Sweden.
A good correlation in time was found for the rollout of FM/TV broadcasting networks while the increased amount of "sun travel" by air (charter) did not start until 7 years after the melanoma trend break in 1955. Counties that did not roll out their FM-broadcasting network until several years after 1955 continued to have a stable melanoma mortality during the intervening years.
The increased incidence and mortality of melanoma of skin cannot solely be explained by increased exposure to UV-radiation from the sun. We conclude that continuous disturbance of cell repair mechanisms by body-resonant electromagnetic fields seems to amplify the carcinogenic effects resulting from cell damage caused e.g. by UV-radiation.
Ionizing radiation has been the subject of intense epidemiological investigation. Studies have demonstrated that exposure to moderate-to-high levels can cause most forms of cancer, leukaemia and cancers of the breast, lung and thyroid being particularly sensitive to induction by radiation, especially at young ages at exposure. Predominant among these studies is the Life Span Study of the cohort of survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945, but substantial evidence is derived from groups exposed for medical reasons, occupationally or environmentally. Notable among these other groups are underground hard rock miners who inhaled radioactive radon gas and its decay products, large numbers of patients irradiated therapeutically and workers who received high doses in the nuclear weapons programme of the former USSR. The degree of carcinogenic risk arising from low levels of exposure is more contentious, but the available evidence points to an increased risk that is approximately proportional to the dose received. Epidemiological investigations of nonionizing radiation have established ultraviolet radiation as a cause of skin cancer. However, the evidence for a carcinogenic effect of other forms of nonionizing radiation, such as those associated with mobile telephones or electricity transmission lines, is not convincing, although the possibility of a link between childhood leukaemia and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields cannot be dismissed entirely.
Recently, a new category of persons, claiming to suffer from exposure to electromagnetic fields, has been described in the literature. In Sweden, electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is an officially fully recognized functional impairment (i.e., it is not regarded as a disease). Survey studies show that somewhere between 230,000-290,000 Swedish men and women report a variety of symptoms when being in contact with electromagnetic field (EMF) sources. The aim of our studies has been to investigate possible alterations, in the cellular and neuronal systems of these person' skin. As controls, age- and sex-matched persons, without any subjective or clinical symptoms or dermatological history, served. Immunohistochemistry using antisera to the previously characterized marker substances of interest has been utilized. In summary, it is evident from our preliminary data that various alterations are present in the electrohypersensitive person' skin. In view of recent epidemiological studies, pointing to a correlation between long-term exposure from power-frequent magnetic fields or microwaves and cancer, our data ought to be taken seriously and further analyzed.
During recent years there has been increasing public concern on potential health risks from power-frequency fields (extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields; ELF) and from radiofrequency/microwave radiation emissions (RF) from wireless communications. Non-thermal (low-intensity) biological effects have not been considered for regulation of microwave exposure, although numerous scientific reports indicate such effects. The BioInitiative Report is based on an international research and public policy initiative to give an overview of what is known of biological effects that occur at low-intensity electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposure. Health endpoints reported to be associated with ELF and/or RF include childhood leukaemia, brain tumours, genotoxic effects, neurological effects and neurodegenerative diseases, immune system deregulation, allergic and inflammatory responses, breast cancer, miscarriage and some cardiovascular effects. The BioInitiative Report concluded that a reasonable suspicion of risk exists based on clear evidence of bioeffects at environmentally relevant levels, which, with prolonged exposures may reasonably be presumed to result in health impacts. Regarding ELF a new lower public safety limit for habitable space adjacent to all new or upgraded power lines and for all other new constructions should be applied. A new lower limit should also be used for existing habitable space for children and/or women who are pregnant. A precautionary limit should be adopted for outdoor, cumulative RF exposure and for cumulative indoor RF fields with considerably lower limits than existing guidelines, see the BioInitiative Report. The current guidelines for the US and European microwave exposure from mobile phones, for the brain are 1.6 W/Kg and 2 W/Kg, respectively. Since use of mobile phones is associated with an increased risk for brain tumour after 10 years, a new biologically based guideline is warranted. Other health impacts associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields not summarized here may be found in the BioInitiative Report at www.bioinitiative.org.
This is the 2nd part of a survey study conducted on 530 people (270 men, 260 women) living or not in vicinity of cellular phone base stations. Comparison of complaints frequencies for 16 Non Specific Health Symptoms was done with the CHI-Square test with Yates correction. Our results show significant increase (p < 0.05) in relation with age of subjects (elder subjects are more sensitive) and also, that the facing location is the worst position for some symptoms studied, especially for distances till 100m from base stations. No significant difference is observed in the frequency of symptoms related to the duration of exposure (from < 1 year to > 5 years), excepted for irritability significantly increased after > 5 years. Other electromagnetic factors (electrical transformers, radio-television transmitters,...) have effects on the frequency of some symptoms reported by the subjects.
Im Anschluss an die durch den rasanten Anstieg der drahtlosen Telefonie in den letzten Jahren be- dingte Zunahme der Zahl von Mobilfunksendeanlagen in oder in unmittelbarer Nähe von Wohn- gebieten erfolgte die Aufforderung des Präsidenten des Bundesamtes für Strahlenschutz, Wolfram König, an alle Ärzte, aktiv an der Abschätzung des Risikos durch Mobilfunkstrahlung mitzuarbei- ten. Das Ziel dieser Untersuchung war daher, zu prüfen, ob Anwohner in der Nähe von Mobilfunk- sendeanlagen einem erhöhten Risiko für Neuerkrankungen an bösartigen Tumoren ausgesetzt sind. Datengrundlage waren PC-gespeicherte und mit den Krankenkassen abgerechnete Patienten- unterlagen der Jahre 1994 bis 2004. In die ohne Fremdmittel erstellte Studie wurden Angaben von knapp 1.000 Patienten aus Naila (Oberfranken) unter Wahrung des Datenschutzes aufgenommen. Als Ergebnis zeigte sich, dass der Anteil von neu aufgetretenen Krebsfällen bei den Patienten, die während der letzten zehn Jahre in einem Abstand bis zu 400 Meter um die seit 1993 betriebene Mobilfunksendeanlage gewohnt hatten, gegenüber weiter entfernt lebenden Patienten signifi- kant höher war und die Patienten in durchschnittlich jüngerem Alter erkrankt waren. Für die Jahre 1999 bis 2004 - also nach fünf und mehr Jahren Betriebszeit des Senders - hatte sich das Malignomrisiko für die näher an der Sendestation lebende Bevölkerungsgruppe im Vergleich mit der Gruppe im Nailaer Außenbereich verdreifacht.
This is the 2nd part of a survey study conducted on 530 people (270 men, 260 women) living or not in vicinity of cellular phone base stations. Comparison of complaints frequencies for 16 Non Specific Health Symptoms was done with the CHI-Square test with Yates correction. Our results show significant increase (p 5 years), excepted for irritability significantly increased after > 5 years. Other electromagnetic factors (electrical transformers, radio-television transmitters,...) have effects on the frequency of some symptoms reported by the subjects.
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.
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.
At specific situations, workers need to approach very close to the transmitting base station antennas. In this study, occupational
exposure to RF fields from base station antennas was assessed at several rooftops. The measurements were carried out by mapping
the power densities around the antennas. The results were compared with the ICNIRP guidelines. The results indicate that the
reference levels for workers and the general public may be exceeded in front of the transmitting antenna at distances up to
1 and 2 m, respectively.
Global exposures to emerging wireless technologies from applications including mobile phones, cordless phones, DECT phones, WI-FI, WLAN, WiMAX, wireless internet, baby monitors, and others may present serious public health consequences. Evidence supporting a public health risk is documented in the BioInitiative Report. New, biologically based public exposure standards for chronic exposure to low-intensity exposures are warranted. Existing safety standards are obsolete because they are based solely on thermal effects from acute exposures. The rapidly expanding development of new wireless technologies and the long latency for the development of such serious diseases as brain cancers means that failure to take immediate action to reduce risks may result in an epidemic of potentially fatal diseases in the future. Regardless of whether or not the associations are causal, the strengths of the associations are sufficiently strong that in the opinion of the authors, taking action to reduce exposures is imperative, especially for the fetus and children. Such action is fully compatible with the precautionary principle, as enunciated by the Rio Declaration, the European Constitution Principle on Health (Section 3.1) and the European Union Treaties Article 174.
Studying effects of mobile phone base station signals on health have been discouraged by authoritative bodies like WHO International EMF Project and COST 281. WHO recommended studies around base stations in 2003 but again stated in 2006 that studies on cancer in relation to base station exposure are of low priority. As a result only few investigations of effects of base station exposure on health and wellbeing exist. Cross-sectional investigations of subjective health as a function of distance or measured field strength, despite differences in methods and robustness of study design, found indications for an effect of exposure that is likely independent of concerns and attributions. Experimental studies applying short-term exposure to base station signals gave various results, but there is weak evidence that UMTS and to a lesser degree GSM signals reduce wellbeing in persons that report to be sensitive to such exposures. Two ecological studies of cancer in the vicinity of base stations report both a strong increase of incidence within a radius of 350 and 400 m respectively. Due to the limitations inherent in this design no firm conclusions can be drawn, but the results underline the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation of this issue. Animal and in vitro studies are inconclusive to date. An increased incidence of DMBA induced mammary tumors in rats at a SAR of 1.4 W/kg in one experiment could not be replicated in a second trial. Indications of oxidative stress after low-level in vivo exposure of rats could not be supported by in vitro studies of human fibroblasts and glioblastoma cells.
To investigate the association between occupational exposure to low-frequency electric and magnetic (EM) fields and risk of brain tumors, a study was performed in Los Angeles County on 272 male adults with primary intracranial gliomas or meningiomas and 272 neighborhood controls. Complete occupational histories were collected. Risk associated with employment for more than 10 years in jobs that are presumed to entail exposure to EM fields was computed for various histological groupings. A nonsignificantly elevated risk of 1.7 was found for gliomas (all types pooled: 95% confidence interval 0.7-4.4), and a nonsignificantly reduced risk of 0.3 (95% confidence interval 0.03-3.2) was found for meningiomas. For astrocytomas, which form a subtype of the gliomas, a significantly elevated risk of 10.3 (95% confidence interval 1.3-80.8) was found; a significant upward trend (P = .01) of tumor incidence with increasing length of employment was observed. Most astrocytoma patients who worked in occupations involving exposure to EM fields were electricians or electrical engineers.
We evaluated the relation between work experience in the United States operations of an electronics company and brain tumor mortality, focusing on video display terminal (VDT) development jobs. Subjects were 149 brain tumor cases and 591 matched controls selected from a company registry of all employees dying between 1975 and 1989. Company databases and interviews with company personnel constituted the basis for work histories, including information on whether subjects had held VDT development jobs. Subjects who worked at plants with hardware or VDT development operations had slightly but imprecisely elevated odds ratios (OR). The study found no meaningful association between VDT development work and brain tumor mortality. Other results included an elevated OR for 10 or more years of employment in engineering/technical jobs [OR = 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-3.0] or in programming jobs (OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.1-7.0). The OR for glioma for all subjects who had accrued 5 years of programming work 10 years before the case's death was 3.9 (95% CI = 1.2-12.4). These associations were limited in large part to one of four division groups. Also, only male programmers experienced an elevated OR. These patterns indicate that the associations may be due to chance, although unidentified causal exposures present in a subset of engineering/technical and programming jobs cannot be ruled out.
Studies of magnetic field exposure and cancer have focused on either residential or occupational exposure. We conducted a case-control study taking into account both exposure sources. We identified leukemia and central nervous system tumor cases and controls from a population living within 300 m of transmission lines in Sweden. We have previously reported results considering residential exposure alone. Here, we evaluate the effect of occupational exposure and of the combined exposures. We estimated residential exposure through calculations of the magnetic fields generated by power lines. We obtained information about occupation from censuses and linked the occupations to a job-exposure matrix based on magnetic field measurements. For occupational exposure of > or = 0.2 microT, we estimated the relative risk for leukemia to be 1.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-2.7]. The increased risk was confined to acute myeloid and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For residential exposure of > or = 0.2 microT, the relative risk for leukemia was estimated at 1.3 (95% CI = 0.8-2.2), with higher risk estimates for acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. We estimated the relative risk for leukemia among subjects highly exposed both at home and at work to be 3.7 (95% CI = 1.5-9.4). These results provide support for an association between magnetic field exposure and leukemia. Relative risks for nervous system tumors were close to unity.
There are few epidemiologic studies dealing with electromagnetic radiation and uveal melanoma. The majority of these studies are exploratory and are based on job and industry titles only. We conducted a hospital-based and population-based case-control study of uveal melanoma and occupational exposures to different sources of electromagnetic radiation, including radiofrequency radiation. We then pooled these results. We interviewed a total of 118 female and male cases with uveal melanoma and 475 controls matching on sex, age, and study regions. Exposure to radiofrequency-transmitting devices was rated as (a) no radiofrequency radiation exposure, (b) possible exposure to mobile phones, or (c) probable/certain exposure to mobile phones. Exposures were rated independently by two of the authors who did not know case or control status. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We found an elevated risk for exposure to radiofrequency-transmitting devices (exposure to radio sets, OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.3; probable/certain exposure to mobile phones, OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.2-14.5). Other sources of electromagnetic radiation such as high-voltage lines, electrical machines, complex electrical environments, visual display terminals, or radar units were not associated with uveal melanoma. This is the first study describing an association between radiofrequency radiation exposure and uveal melanoma. Several methodologic limitations prevent our results from providing clear evidence on the hypothesized association.
The relationship between the rate of household low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) and incidences of mammary tumors was studied in 1290 clinical case-records of female patients aged 60 and more over a period of 26 years, based on the materials of the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Israel. The studied material was divided into two groups, each corresponding to a period of 13 years. Group I included patients with mammary tumors under observation from 1978 to 1990, who rarely used EMF-generating appliances. Group II consisted of patients being under observation in the period between 1991 and 2003, characterized by much more extensive use of personal computers (more than 3 hours a day), mobile telephones, television sets, air conditioners and other household electrical appliances generating EMF. 200,527 biopsy and surgery samples were analyzed. Mammary tumors were found in 2824 women (1.4%), of which 1290 cases (45.6%) were observed in elderly women. Most of the observed tumors--1254 (97.2%)--were epithelial neoplasms. Mammary tumors were found in 585 elderly women in Group I and 705 women in Group II. The case records of these patients showed that 114 elderly women (19.5%) in Group I and 360 (51.1%) in Group II were regularly exposed to EMF (mostly from personal computers) for at least 3 hours a day (chi2=57.2, p<0.001). There was a statistically significant influence of EMF on the formation of all observed epithelial mammary tumors in Group II. This influence is most evident for invasive ductal carcinomas, which was the commonest form of cancer in elderly women.
A case-control study on testicular cancer included use of cellular and cordless telephones. The results were based on answers from 542 (92%) cases with seminoma, 346 (89%) with non-seminoma, and 870 (89%) controls. Regarding seminoma the use of analog cellular phones gave odds ratio (OR) = 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.9-1.6, digital phones OR = 1.3, CI = 0.9-1.8, and cordless phones OR = 1.1, CI = 0.8-1.5. The corresponding results for non-seminoma were OR = 0.7, CI = 0.5-1.1, OR = 0.9, CI = 0.6-1.4, and OR = 1.0, CI = 0.7-1.4, respectively. There was no dose-response effect and OR did not increase with latency time. No association was found with place of keeping the mobile phone during standby, such as trousers pocket. Cryptorchidism was associated both with seminoma (OR = 4.2, CI = 2.7-6.5) and non-seminoma (OR = 3.3, CI = 2.0-5.6), but no interaction was found with the use of cellular or cordless telephones.
Assessment of subjective complaints reported by people living near mobile phone base stations [Abstract]
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Translation from English: ‘Epidemiology’. 2
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