ArticlePDF Available

Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar Among Electrically Sensitive Diabetics and May Explain Brittle Diabetes

Authors:

Abstract and Figures

Transient electromagnetic fields (dirty electricity), in the kilohertz range on electrical wiring, may be contributing to elevated blood sugar levels among diabetics and pre-diabetics. By closely following plasma glucose levels in four Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics, we find that they responded directly to the amount of dirty electricity in their environment. In an electromagnetically clean environment, Type 1 diabetics require less insulin and Type 2 diabetics have lower levels of plasma glucose. Dirty electricity, generated by electronic equipment and wireless devices, is ubiquitous in the environment. Exercise on a treadmill, which produces dirty electricity, increases plasma glucose. These findings may explain why brittle diabetics have difficulty regulating blood sugar. Based on estimates of people who suffer from symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity (3-35%), as many as 5-60 million diabetics worldwide may be affected. Exposure to electromagnetic pollution in its various forms may account for higher plasma glucose levels and may contribute to the misdiagnosis of diabetes. Reducing exposure to electromagnetic pollution by avoidance or with specially designed GS filters may enable some diabetics to better regulate their blood sugar with less medication and borderline or pre-diabetics to remain non diabetic longer.
Content may be subject to copyright.
Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 27: 135–146, 2008
Copyright
C
Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
ISSN 1536-8378 print/1536-8386 online
DOI: 10.1080/15368370802072075
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar Among
Electrically Sensitive Diabetics and May Explain
Brittle Diabetes
MAGDA HAVAS
Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent University, Peterborough,
Ontario, Canada
Transient electromagnetic fields (dirty electricity), in the kilohertz range on electrical
wiring, may be contributing to elevated blood sugar levels among diabetics and pre-
diabetics. By closely following plasma glucose levels in four Type 1 and Type 2
diabetics, we find that they responded directly to the amount of dirty electricity in
their environment. In an electromagnetically clean environment, Type 1 diabetics
require less insulin and Type 2 diabetics have lower levels of plasma glucose. Dirty
electricity, generated by electronic equipment and wireless devices, is ubiquitous in the
environment. Exercise on a treadmill, which produces dirty electricity, increases
plasma glucose. These findings may explain why brittle diabetics have difficulty
regulating blood sugar. Based on estimates of people who suffer from symptoms of
electrical hypersensitivity (3–35%), as many as 5–60 million diabetics worldwide may
be affected. Exposure to electromagnetic pollution in its various forms may account
for higher plasma glucose levels and may contribute to the misdiagnosis of diabetes.
Reducing exposure to electromagnetic pollution by avoidance or with specially
designed GS filters may enable some diabetics to better regulate their blood sugar with
less medication and borderline or pre-diabetics to remain non diabetic longer.
Keywords Radio frequency; Transients; Dirty electricity; Power quality; Plasma
glucose; Blood sugar; Insulin; GS filters; Electrohypersensitivity; Brittle diabetes;
Type 3 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Type 1 diabetes.
Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is increasing globally. According to the World Health Organiza-
tion, in 1985 the global population of diabetics was 30 million (0.6% of the world
population). This increased to 171 million (2.8% of the global population) by 2000,
and it is expected to more than double to 366 million (4.5% of the global population)
by 2030 (Wild et al., 2004; U.S. Census Bureau, 2005). Doctors attribute this rise in
diabetes to poor diet and limited exercise, resulting in obesity, and seldom look for
causes other than lifestyle and genetics.
Address correspondence to Magda Havas, Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent
University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8; E-mail: mhavas@trentu.ca
135
This article presents a paradigm shift in the way we think about diabetes. In
addition to Type 1 diabetics, who produce insufficient insulin, and Type 2 diabetics, who
are unable to effectively use the insulin they produce, a third type of diabetes may be
environmentally exacerbated or induced by exposure to electromagnetic frequencies.
Our increa sing reliance on electronic devices and wireless technology is con-
tributing to an unprecedented increase in our exposure to a broad range of elec-
tromagnetic frequencies, in urban an d rural environments and in both developed and
developing countries. This energy is generated within the home by computers,
plasma televisions, energy efficient lighting and appliances, dimmer switches, cord-
less phones, and wireless routers, and it can enter the home and work environment
from nearby cell phone and broadcast antennas as well as through ground current.
Although the position of most international health authorities, including the
World Health Organization, is that this form of energy is benign as long as levels
remain below guidelines, an increasing number of scientific studies report biological
and health effects associated with electromagnetic pollution well below these
guidelines (Sage and Carpenter, 2007). Epidemiological studies have documented
increased risks for ch ildhood leukemia associated with residential magnetic fields
exposure (Ahlbom et al., 2000), greater risk for various cancers with occupational
exposure to low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (Havas, 2000), miscarriages
(Li et al., 2002), Lou Gehrig’s disease (Neutra et al., 2002), brain tumors associated
with cell phone use (Kundi et al., 2004), as well as cancers and symptoms of electrical
hypersensitivity (EHS) for people living near cell phone and broadcast antennas
(Altpeter et al., 1995; Michelozzi et al., 2002). Laboratory studies report increased
proliferation of human breast cancer cells (Liburdy et al., 1993), single- and double-
strand DNA breaks (Lai and Singh, 2005), increased permeability of the blood brain
barrier (Royal Soc iety of Canada, 1999), changes in calcium flux (Blackman et al.,
1985), and changes in ornithine decarboxylase activity (Salford et al., 1994).
In this article, changes in plasma glucose, in response to electromagnetic pol-
lution, for numerous measurements on four subjects—two with Type 1 diabetes
taking insulin and two non medicated with Type 2 diabetes—are described. They
include men and wom en, ranging in age from 12–80, as well as individuals recently
diagnosed and those living with the disease for decades.
Case 1: 51-Year Old Male with Type 2 Diabetes
A 51-year old male with Type 2 diabetes, taking no medication, monitored his
plasma glucose levels from April 24 to May 30, 2003. He also monitored the dirty
electricity in his home using a Protek 506 Digital Multimeter connected to a ubi-
quitous filter (Graham, 2000) to remove the 60-Hz signal and its harmonics. Mea-
surements were taken in the morning and randomly throughout the day. Low or no
readings of dirty electricity were taken in an electromagnetic clean environment far
from power lines and cell phone antennas (Fig. 1 upper graph). Three years later,
the microsurge meter became available and Case 1 monitored his blood sugar levels
once more (Fig. 1 low er graph). This meter provides a digital readout of the absolute
changing voltage as a function of time (|dv/dt|, expressed as GS units) for the
frequency range 4–100 kHz and with an accuracy of 5% (Graham, 2003).
Figure 1 shows a positive correlation between dirty electricity and plasma glu-
cose levels taken randomly during the day (upper graph) and first thing in the
morning (lower graph). His elevated plasma glucose is unrelated to eating. Working
136 Havas
on a computer increases blood sugar, but these values decrease as much as
0.11 mmol/L
*
[2 mg/dL] per minute after moving away from the computer. Blood
viscosity decreased as his plasma glucose levels dropped.
Case 1 also documented rapid changes in blood sugar as he moved from a
medical clinic (environment with dirty electricity), to his parked vehicle (no dirty
electricity), and back to the medical clinic. His blood sugar levels changed sig-
nificantly within 20 min. His endocrinologist classified him as pre-diabetic when his
blood sugar was tested immediately upon entering the medical clinic and as a Type 2
diabetic after a 20-min wait in the medical clinic. Measurement of blood sugar needs
Figure 1. Case 1: Upper chart: Plasma glucose levels of a 51-year old male with Type 2 diabetes
exposed to different levels of power quality. Insert shows the entire data set with one very high
plasma glucose reading that was recorded during a period of high exposure to dirty electricity.
Lower chart: Three years later, fasting plasma glucose levels correspond to power quality
measured in GS units. Time spent in front of computer resulted in higher plasma glucose levels
that dropped 1.1 mmol/L [19.8 mg/dL] 10 min after moving away from computer. Note that
we have scaled both plots the say way in Fig. 1.
*
Multiply by 18 to convert to mg/dL.
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar 137
to be done in an electromagnetically clean environment to prevent misdiagnosis and
to accurately determine the severity of the disease.
Case 2: 57-Year Old Female with Type 2 Diabetes
A 57-year old female with Type 2 diabetes takes no medication and controls her plasma
glucose with exercise and a hypoglycemic diet. When she exercised by walking for
20–30 min at a mall after hours, her blood sugar levels dropped from a mean of 11.8 to
7.2 mmol/L [212 to 130 mg/dL] (p ¼ 0.045). When she walked on a treadmill, her blood
sugar levels increased from 10 to 11.7 mmol/L [180 to 211 mg/dL] (p ¼ 0.058) (Fig. 2).
Treadmills have variable speed motors and produce dirty electricity.
Doctors recommend exercise for patients with diabetes. However, if that exercise
is done in an electromagnetically dirty environment, and if the patient is sensitive to
this form of energy, it may increase stress on the body and elevate levels of plasma
glucose, as in Case 2.
This subject also measured her plasma glucose as she moved from an environ-
ment with dirty electricity to one that was clean, and back again. Her blood sugar in
the dirty environment was 12.5 mmol/L [225 mg/dL] and within 20 min in the clean
environment dropped to 10.6 mmol/L [191 mg/dL]. Within 5 min after returning to
the dirty environment, her blood sugar rose to 10.8 mmol/L [194 mg/dL] and 15 min
later to 12.6 mmol/L [227 mg/dL]. She did not eat or exercise during this period. Her
elevated plasma glucose levels were associated with headaches, nausea, and joint
pain in her home, where she was exposed to both dirty electricity and radio fre-
quency radiation from nearby cell phone antennas. These exposures and symptoms
were absent in the clean environment.
Case 3: 80-Year Old Female with Type 1 Diabetes
An 80-year old female with Type 1 diabet es, who takes insulin (Humlin
s
70/30)
twice daily, documented her blood sugar levels before breakfast and before dinner
Figure 2. Case 2: Plasma glucose levels for a 57-year old female in New York with Type 2 diabetes,
before and after walking for 20–30 min on a treadmill in her home and after hours at a mall.
138 Havas
for one week. On June 12, 2004, the dirty electricity in her home was reduced from
an average of 1,550 GS units (range: 600 to . 2,000) to 13 GS units (range 11 to 22)
with Graham/Stetzer filters (GS filters). These filters provide a short to high fre-
quency, and, thus, reduce transients on electrical wiring with an optimal filtering
capacity between 4 and 100 kHz (Graham, 2000, 2002, 2003). They are similar to
capacitors installed by industry to protect sensitive electron ic equipment from power
surges and to adjust the power factor. GS units measure the energy associated with
dirty electricity (amplitude and frequency) and are a function of changing voltage
with time (dv/dt ). Dirty electricity can be measured using an oscilloscope or multi-
meter set for peak-to-peak voltage or a Microsurge meter that provides a digital
readout (GS units) and is easily used by non professionals.
Case 3 had mean fasting plasma glucose of 9.5 mmol/L [171 mg/dL] without the
GS filters and 6.6 mmol/L [119 mg/dL] with the GS filters (p ¼ 0.02) (Table 1). Her
evening blood sugar did not change appreciable during this period, although it did
differ on days she was away from home. She was able to more than halve her insulin
intake (p ¼ 0.03) once the GS filters reduced the dirty electricity in her home (Table 1).
Table 1
Case 3: Plasma glucose levels and daily insulin injections (Humulin
s
70/30) for an
80-year old woman with Type 1 diabetes before and while GS filters were installed
in her home in Arizona
Plasma Glucos e (mg/dL)
Date 2004 Morning (7 am) Evening (5 pm) Daily Insuli n (units)
Without GS Filters: Dirty Electricity 1,550 GS units
June 5 158 239
K
56
June 6 158 167 56
June 7 160 113
K
56
June 8 180 104 0
June 9 180 144 56
June 10 151 76 56
June 11 116 229 28
Mean (sd) 171 (20) 153 (63) 44 (22)
With GS Filters: Dirty Electricity 13 GS units (installed June 12)
June 13 86 194 0
June 14 140 94 25
June 15 115 178 0
June 16 112 135 15
June 17 131 175 20
June 18 167 250
K
50
June 19 70 169 22
June 20 133 126 22
Mean (sd) 119 (31) 166 (49) 19 (16)
2-tailed t-test p ¼ 0.002** p ¼ 0.69 p ¼ 0.03*
K
Subject was away from home during the day.
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar 139
Case 4: 12-Year Old Male with Type 1 Diabetes
A mother and her 5 children, who were all home schooled, began to develop
intermittent, e xcruciating headaches during the fall of 2002 in rural Wisconsin,
shortly after they had a new septic system installed. The he adaches continued and a
power quality expert measured high levels of dirty electricity and ground current,
possibly attributable to the septic system installation.
In December 2002, one child, a 12-year old male, was hospitalized and diag-
nosed with Type 1 diabetes. His younger sister had been living with diabetes since the
age of 3 months and was one of the youngest childr en diagnosed with diabetes in the
United States.
On January 14, 2003, the family installed GS filters to help alleviate their
symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity. The headaches disappeared and the family’s
health began to improve. Shortly after the GS filters were installed, the mother had
great difficulty controlling her son’s blood sugar. She couldn’t reduce the amount of
insulin fast enough to keep it within an acceptable range and needed to give him
sugar pills to prevent hypoglycemia (Fig. 3). He was taking a combination of
Humalog
s
(H-insulin, a short-acting insulin) and Humulin
s
NRT (N-insulin, a
long-lasting insulin).
1
During this period, her daughter’s blood sugar levels began to
drop as well.
Doctors attribute the short-term improvement in blood sugar to the ‘‘honey-
moon period’’, which is observed among some diabetics shortly after diagnosis
and lasts from weeks to months and occasionally for years (Bernstein, 2003). The
honeymoon period cannot explain the response of the subject ’s sister, who had been
living with Type 1 diabetes for years, and who also had lower plasma glucose levels
Figure 3. Case 4: Sequence of mean daily plasma glucose levels and total daily insulin injections
for 12-year old male with Type 1 diabetes who was admitted to hospital in December 2002 and
returned home on January 1, 2003. On January 14, 2003, GS filters were installed in his home to
improve power quality.
1
Both the short-acting Humalog
s
(H-insulin) and the long-lasting Humulin
s
NPH
(N-insulin) are produced by Eli Lilly.
140 Havas
and difficulty regulating her insulin within an acceptable range after the GS filters
were installed and the dirty electricity was reduced.
Case 4 had higher levels of plasma glucose at 8 am (fasting) than at 2 am on
some days before the GS filters were installed. This was not observed with the filters,
except when sugar pills were taken at 2 am to deliberately increase blood sugar
(Fig. 4). In Wisconsin, dirty electricity often increases in the middle of the night,
beginning at 2–3 am and lasting from minutes to hours, as the electric utility makes
changes in its system.
Discussion
These results show that plasma glucose levels, in the Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic
cases reported, respond to electromagnetic pollution in the form of radio frequencies
in the kHz range associated with indoor wiring (dirty electricity). Type 1 diabetics
require less insulin in an electromagnetically clean environment and blood sugar
levels for Type 2 diabetics increase with increasing exposure to dirty electricity.
In May 2006, a long-term health care facility in Ontario, Canada installed GS
filters to reduce dirty electricity. Of the five diabetic residents, for whom data were
available, two (aged 87 and 88) were insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetics. Both had
significantly lower fasting plasma glucose levels (p , 0.01) after the GS filters were
installed. Their insulin intake did not change during this period and nursing staff had
to give them orange juice on several occasions to prevent hypoglycemia. The levels of
plasma glucose of the remaining three, who were Type 2 diabetics, did not change
during this period.
The GS filters, used in this study have been tested at the Yoyogi Natural Clinic
in Japan (Sogabe, 2006). Three people participated in the study. Three hours after
eating, their blood sugar was 6.3, 7.7, 17.9 mmol/L [113, 139, and 322 mg/dL] in an
Figure 4. Case 4: Fasting (8 am) and 2 am plasma glucose levels for 12-year old male with
Type 1 diabetes with and without GS filters. NOTE: Sugar pills were administered at 2 am for
5 d to prevent hypoglycemia while filters were installed.
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar 141
environment with more than 2,000 GS units of dirty electricity. GS filters reduced the
dirty electricity to 30–35 GS units and, within 30 min, their plasma became less viscous
and their blood sugar dropped to 5.6, 6.1, 16.1 mmol/L [101, 110, 290 mg/dL],
respectively.
The person with the highest plasma glucose levels was a 28-year old male with
Type 2 diabetes and fasting plasma glucose levels of 16.7 mmol/L [300 mg/dL].
Despite taking 250 mg of Glycoran
s
, 3 times a day, and 12 mg of Amaryl
s
, spread
throughout the day, he still had difficultly regulating his blood sugar. Three days
after installing 4 GS filters in his home, his blood sugar dropped to 6.9 mmol/L
[124 mg/dL] and he was feeling well. He had been unable to achieve such low values
with medication alone.
In this study, we classify diabetics whose blood sugar responds to electro-
magnetic pollution as Type 3 diabetics. In contrast to true Type 1 diabetics who
produce insufficient insulin and true Type 2 diabetics who are unable to effectively
use the insulin they produce, Type 3 diabetics are responding to environmental
triggers that affect blood sugar readings and blood viscosity. These individuals may
be better able to regulate plasma glucose by controlling their exposure to frequencies
in the low RF range, and thus differ from true Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics whose
blood sugar is not affected by this type of electromagnetic exposure.
The increase in blood viscosity with increasing exposure to dirty electricity is a
critical observation. If this turns out to be the case among electrosensitive indivi-
duals, it may explain the symptoms of headaches, chest pain, higher blood pressure,
blurred vision, and fatigue.
The percentage of diabetics who are likely to be affected by electromagnetic
energy is unknown, but if the values are similar to those suffering from symptoms of
electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), 3–35% of the population (Philips and Phi-
lips, 2006), then globally between 5 and 60 million existing diabetics may have Type
3 diabetes as described in this study.
There is a growing body of in vivo, in vitro, and epidemiological evidence, which
suggests a relationship between plasma glucose levels, insulin secretion, and exposure
to electromagnetic energy at frequencies both low er and higher than the ones we
tested in this study.
Altpeter et al. (1995) reported that for people living within a 2 km radius of a
short-wave transmitter, in Schwarzenburg, Switzerland, the odds ratio (OR) for
diabetes was 1.93 when compared with a population further away. There was a
significant linear correlation (R
2
¼ 0.99) between daily median RF exposure and inci-
dence of diabetes. The highest RF readings, recorded in the nearest zone (51 mA/m),
were well below the International Radiation Protection Agency’s 1988 guidelines of
73 mA/m. Those living near the transmitter also had difficulty falling and staying
asleep, were restless, experienced weakness and fatigue, and had both limb and joint
pain with statistically significant odds ratios between 2.5 and 3.5. These symptoms are
typical of radio wave sickness or electrical hypersensitivity (Firstenberg, 2001). Failure
of the transmitter for a 3-d period was associated with improved sleep and, hence,
these reactions are biological not psychological.
Beale et al. (2001) reported that the prevalence of chronic illness, asthma, and
Type 2 diabetes was linearly related to 50-Hz magnetic field exposure for adults
living near transmission lines. For Type 2 diabetes, the crude OR was 8.3 (95% CI 1
to 177), but the OR adjusted for possible confounders (age and ethnicity) was
reduced to 6.5 and was not statistically significant (p . 0.05). Epidemiological
142 Havas
studies of power lines tend to focus on cancers, rather than diabetes, and, hence,
limited information of this type is available.
Litovitz et al. (1994) exposed diabetic subjects to 60-Hz magnetic fields between
0.2–1 mT (2–10 mG) and noticed that blood glucose levels increased above 0.6 mT. No
statistical tests were reported and no attempt was made to measure frequencies other
than 60 Hz. Magnetic flux densities above 0.6 mT are realistic near transmission lines
and overlap with the range documented in the Beale study (2001).
Jolley et al. (1982) exposed islets of Langerhans from rabbits to low-frequency
pulsed magnetic fields and noted a reduction in insulin release during glucose sti-
mulation compared with controls (p , 0.002). Similarly, Navakatikyan et al. (1994)
exposed rats to 50-Hz magnetic fields for 23 h per day for 11 days at 10, 50, and
250 mT. Serum insulin levels decreased at the middle- and high-flux densities, which
the authors associated with stress.
Sakurai et al. (2004) measured insulin secretion from an islet derived insulinoma
cell line, RIN-m, exposed to low-frequency magnetic fields of 5 mT compared with
sham exposure of less than 0.5 mT. Insulin secretion was reduced by approximately
30% when exposed to low-frequency magnetic fields compared to sham exposure.
The authors conclude: ‘‘it might be desirable for diabetic patients who have insuf-
ficient insulin secretion from pancreatic islets to avoid exposure to ELFMF’’. The
magnetic flux density was exceptionally high in this experiment and is unlikely to be
encountered in normal daily life. Studies of the incipient level of electromagnetic
exposure, at which insulin secretion is reduced, would be useful.
Li et al. (2005) exposed hepatocytes in vitro to 50 Hz pulsed electric fields (0.7 V/m)
and noted a conformation change in the insulin molecule and an 87% reduction in the
binding capacity of insulin to its receptors compared with controls.
Stress often increases plasma glucose levels in diabetics (Hinkle and Wolf, 1950;
Jolley et al., 1982). Studies with laboratory animals and in vitro studies with human
cells show both low-frequency electromagnetic fields and non thermal RF radiation
stimulates production of stress proteins, and that the biochemical reactions are the
same over a range of frequencies and intensities (Blank and Goodman, 2004).
Release of insulin is strongly inhibited by the stress hormone norepinephrine, which
leads to increased blood glucose levels during stress. Rajendra et al. (2004) found
elevated levels of norepinephrine in the brain of fertilized chick eggs on day 15
following exposure to 5, 50, and 100 mT. The ‘‘stress response’’ to electromagnetic
energy may provide, yet, another mechanism that could explain Type 3 diabetes.
Reduced insulin secretion and reduced binding capacity of insulin to its recep-
tors may explain the elevated levels of plasma glucose in Type 3 diabetics exposed to
electromagnetic fields. M ore research on mechanisms is need ed.
Conclusions
In addition to lifestyle and genetics, the environment appears to be another factor
contributing to high levels of blood sugar. This concept presents a possible paradigm
shift in the way we think about diabetes and the consequences may be far reaching.
As a result, we have labeled environmental diabetes as Type 3 diabetes.
We recognize that there is, as yet, no accepted definition of Type 3 diabetes and
that our definition may be in conflict with others that have been suggested including
a combination of Type 1 and Type 2, gestational diabetes, and that Alzheimer’s
Disease is a form of diabetes (Steen et al., 2005; de la Monte et al., 2006).
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar 143
What we describe here is a totally different type in the sense it has an envir-
onmental trigger. Doctor s have long suspected an environmental component but it
has not been until now that one has been found.
The increasing exposure and ubiquitous nature of electromagnetic pollution may
be contributing to the increasing incidence of this disease and the escalating cost of
medical care. Diagnosis of diabetes needs to be done in an electromagnetically clean
environment to prevent misdiagnosis, and to properly assess the severity of this
disorder. Most medical centers have electronic equipment and use fluorescent lights
that produce dirty electricity, which is likely to cause abnormally high blood sugar
readings for those with a combination of diabetes and electrohypersensitivity (Type 3
diabetes). Dirty electricity may also explain why brittle diabetics have difficulty
controlling their blood sugar levels.
Type 3 diabetes, as described in this study, is an emerging disease. Unlike true
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics whose blood sugar is not affected by dirty electricity,
Type 3 diabetics may be better able to regulate their blood sugar with less medica-
tion, and those diagnosed as borderline or pre-diabetic may remain non diabetic
longer by reducing their exposure to electromagnetic energy. The GS filters and the
microsurge meter provide the tools needed for scientific investigation of dirty elec-
tricity and may help diabetics regulate their blood sugar by improving power quality
in their home, school, and work environment. Minimizing exposure to radio fre-
quencies (kHz to GHz), flowing along the ground or through the air, also needs to be
addressed. Large-scale studies are needed in controlled settings to determine the
percentage of the population with Type 3 diabetes.
These results are dramatic and warrant further investigation. If they are repre-
sentative of what is happening worldwide, then electromagnetic pollution is
adversely affecting the lives of millions of people.
Conflict of Interest
Please note that the author has no vested interest, financial or otherwise, in the
commercial devices mentioned in this article.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks the people who participated in this study; Dave Stetzer and
Martin Graham for information about power qua lity; and reviewers for their critical
comments and suggestions.
References
Ahlbom, A., Day, N., et al. (2000). A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood
leukaemia. Brit. J. Cancer 83(5):692–698.
Altpeter, E. S., Krebs, Th., et al. (1995). Study on health effects of the shortwave transmitter
station of Schwarzenburg, Berne, Switzerland. Federal Office of Energy. BEW
Publication Series Study No. 55, 156 pp.
Beale, I. L., Pearce, N. E., et al. (2001). Association of health problems with 50-Hz magnetic
fields in human adults living near power transmission lines. J. Austral. College Nutrition,
Environ. Med. 20(2):9–12,15,30.
Bernstein, R. K. (2003). Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes. New York, Little Brown and Company. 490 pp.
144 Havas
Blackman, C. F., Benan, S. G., et al. (1985). Effects of ELF (1–120 Hz) and modulated (50 Hz)
RF fields on the efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics 6:1–11.
Blank, M., Goodman, R. (2004). Comment: a biological guide for electromagnetic safety: the
stress response. Bioelectromagnetics 25(8):642–646.
de la Monte, S. M., Tong, M., et al. (2006). Therapeutic rescue of neurodegeneration in
experimental type 3 diabetes: relevance to Alzheimer’s disease. J. Alzheimer’s Dis.
10(1):78–109.
Firstenberg, A. (2001). No Place to Hide. Vol. 3 (1): April 2001. Special Issue on Russian and
Ukrainian Research, Cellular Phone Taskforce, Mendocino, CA.
Graham, M. (2000). A ubiquitous pollutant. Memorandum No. UCB/ERL M00/55, 28
October 2000, Electronics Research Laboratory, College of Engineering, University of
California, Berkeley.
Graham, M. (2002). Mitigation of electrical pollution in the home. Memorandum No. UCB/
ERL M02/18, 19 April 2002, Electronics Research Laboratory, College of Engineering,
University of California, Berkeley.
Graham, M. (2003). A microsurge meter for electrical pollution research. Memorandum No.
UCB/ERL M03/3, 19 February 2003, Electronics Research Laboratory, College of
Engineering, University of California, Berkeley.
Havas, M. (2000). Biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy: a critical review
of the reports by the US National Research Council and the US National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences as they relate to the broad realm of EMF bioeffects.
Environ. Rev. 8:173–253.
Hinkle, L. E., Wolf, S. (1950). Studies in diabetes mellitus: changes in glucose, ketone and
water metabolism during stress. In: Life Stress and Bodily Disease. Baltimore, MD,
Williams & Wilkins.
Jolley, W. B., Hinshaw, D. B., et al. (1982). Magnetic field effects on calcium efflux and insulin
secretion in isolated rabbit islets of Langerhans. Bioelectromagnetics 4(1):103–106.
Kundi, M., Hansson Mild, K., et al. (2004). Mobile telephones and cancer—a review of
epidemiological evidence. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health B. Crit. Rev. 7(5):351–384.
Lai, H., Singh, N. P. (2005). Interaction of microwaves and a temporally incoherent magnetic
field on single and double DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells. Electromagnet. Biol. Med.
(formerly Electro- and Magnetobiology) 24(1):23–29.
Li, D.-K., Odouli, R., et al. (2002). Personal exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy and
the risk of miscarriage. Epidemiology 13(1):9–20.
Li, L., Dai, Y., et al. (2005). Pulsed electric field exposure of insulin induces anti-proliferative
effects on human hepatocytes. Bioelectromagnetics 26(8):639–647.
Liburdy, R. P., Sloma, T. S., et al. (1993). ELF magnetic fields, breast cancer, and melatonin:
60 Hz fields block melatonin’s oncostatic action on ER þ breast cancer cell proliferation.
J. Pineal Res. 14:89–97.
Litovitz, T. A., Eisenberg, K. S., Tatlor, T. (1994). Effect of 60 Hz magnetic fields on blood
glucose levels of diabetic humans and its inhibition by EM noise. 16th Annu. Meeting
Bioelectromagn. Soc., June 12–17, Copenhagen, Denmark, p. 128.
Michelozzi, P., Capon, A., et al. (2002). Adult and childhood leukemia near a high-power
radio station in Rome, Italy. Amer. J. Epidemiol. 55(12):1096–1103.
Navakatikyan, M. A., Antioch, V., et al. (1994). Endocrine effects of alternating magnetic fields
50 Hz. 16th Annu. Meeting Bioelectromagn. Soc., June 12–17, Copenhagen, Denmark, p. 147.
Neutra, R., DelPizzo, V., Lee, G. M. (2002). An Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric
and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations,
and Appliances. Oakland, CA, California EMF Program.
Philips, A., Philips, J. (2006). The Power Watch Handbook. London, Piatkus Books Ltd. 294 pp.
Rajendra, P., Sujatha, H. N., et al. (2004). Biological effects of power frequency magnetic
fields: Neurochemical and toxicological changes in developing chick embryos. BioMagn.
Res. Technol. 2:1.
Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar 145
Royal Society of Canada. (1999). A Review of the Potential Health Risks of Radiofrequency
Fields from Wireless Telecommunication Devices. Expert Panel Report prepared at the
request of the Royal Society of Canada for Health Canada. RSC.EPR 99-1. 149 pp.
Sage, C., Carpenter, D. (Eds.). (2007). BioInitiative Report: A rationale for a biologically-based
public exposure standard for electromagnetic fields (ELF and RF). www.bioinitiative.org
Sakurai, T., Satake, A., et al. (2004). An extremely low frequency magnetic field attenuates
insulin secretion from the insulinoma cell line, RIN-m. Bioelectromagnetics 25:160–166.
Salford, L. G., Brun, A., et al. (1994). Permeability of the blood-brain barrier induced by
915 MHz electromagnetic radiation, continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 50, and
200 Hz. Microsci. Res. Technol. 27(6):535–542.
Sogabe, K. (2006). Yoyogi Natural Clinic in Japan. Personal communication, July 11.
Steen, E., Terry, B. M., et al. (2005). Impaired insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression
and signaling mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease—is this type 3 diabetes?. J. Alzheimer’s
Dis. 7(1):63–80.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2005). Total Midyear Population for the World: 1950–2050. www.census.gov/
ipc/www/worldpop.html (April 26, 2005).
Wild, S., Roglic, G., et al. (2004). Global prevalence of diabetes. Diabetes Care 27:1047–1053.
146 Havas
... This pollutant is now virtually ubiquitous and large populations are exposed to levels of artificial radiation that are trillions of times above background levels. THE WHO REPORT ON IEI-EMF Since 2004, I have conducted several provocation and elimination studies [4][5][6][7][8][9] and have worked with many people who have EHS. What I learned is that various events, exposures, conditions can contribute to EHS and these are discussed below. ...
... If no other precursors exist, this may be considered an example of EHS attributed to electromagnetic exposure. Provocation and elimination studies confirm this 7,8,11 . ...
... Exposure to low levels of radiofrequency/microwave radiation may impair the immune system with short-term exposure causing temporary stimulation and prolonged exposure causing inhibition of immune function 30 . Furthermore, symptoms of both multiple sclerosis and diabetes (autoimmune responses) can be reduced in an electromagnetically clean environment, which would suggest that electromagnetic radiation may be exacerbating these symptoms 6,7 . Although the emphasis here is on the immune system, all systems in the body work in tandem and disruption of one system, can result in compensatory actions via the other systems. ...
Article
Full-text available
Exposure to radiofrequency radiation has been increasing for decades and a growing population is suffering from what has been called electrohypersensitivity. The concept of electrohypersensitivity is problematic as it implies that only those who are “hypersensitive” respond to electromagnetic fields, which is not the case. The World Health Organization recommended replacing this term with idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields. However, without knowing the cause of this illness medical help is reduced to alleviating symptoms and this is seldom adequate for full recovery. The aim of this report is to help people recover from electrohypersensitivity by understanding what precursors may be contributing to their symptoms. In this paper, three terms are differentiated: trigger, causal agent, and precursor–with the understanding that electromagnetic fields trigger symptoms and, while it is often difficult to identify causal agents, precursors may predispose individuals to an increased vulnerability to environmental stressors including electromagnetic pollution. Five precursor categories are identified: physical trauma to central nervous system; exposure to toxic chemicals; biological infections; acute or chronic exposure to either ionizing or non-ionizing radiation; and an impaired immune system. Recovering from electromagnetic pollution requires deactivating the trigger(s) and the precursors suggest ways this may be accomplished. The acronym R2ID3 may help physicians decide which treatments are likely to be most effective for their patients. The letters signify the following: (R1) reduce exposure to pollutants; (R2) rebalance limbic system; (I) enhance immune system; (D1) detoxify body; (D2) test DNA for patient-specific detoxification protocol; and (D3) employ dental procedures to remove infections and metals. Helping patients recover and minimizing exposure to electromagnetic pollution is of utmost importance from a public health perspective.
... Available data on the relationship between environmental electromagnetic pollution and glucose regulation in diabetic patients is based on several case reports (Chater S, Abdelmelek H, et al. 2006;Havas M. 2006Havas M. , 2008Li L, et al. 2005;Sakurai T, et al. 2004;Tsuji Y, et al. 1996). According to these data, environmental electromagnetic pollution and this environment increases blood glucose levels, but does not cause a change in some cases. ...
... Chater Sihem et al. observed that blood glucose levels were induced in female rats exposed to a 128 millitesla (mT) magnetic field for one hour a day for 10 days (Chater S, et al. 2006). Although not shown in large patient series, these DM cases whose glucose regulation is affected by the electrical environment have been defined as Type-3 DM (Havas M. 2008). ...
... According to estimates (3-35%) of people suffering from symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity, as many as 5-60 million people with diabetes may be affected worldwide. Exposure to electromagnetic pollution in different ways can cause higher plasma glucose levels and contribute to the misdiagnosis of diabetes (Havas M. 2008). ...
Article
Full-text available
The presence of technological devices in our lives has increased exposure to environmental electromagnetic fields. As a result of this, especially Cancer and Diabetes are increasing.Rats were divided into 3 groups with 12 rats in each group. The 1st experimental group (n = 12) was exposed to a 50 Hz ELF magnetic field of 0.4 mT for 6 hours a day for 5 days, the 2nd experimental group (n = 12) was exposed for 10 days, and the control group (n = 12) was never exposed to a magnetic field. After completing the applications, blood collection from the rats was performed under appropriate conditions, measurements were made in the laboratory, and statistical analysis was performed between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the results of transaminases and lipid profiles and C-Peptide. There was no significant difference in insulin, urea, creatinine, Na, K, Ca, and uric acid parameters between the groups. However, there was a significant increase in glucose, HbA1c, and Hba1 IFCC values between the control group and the experimental groups (p < .001). There was a significant increase in the level of Fetuin-A between the control group and the experimental groups (p < .05). There was an increase in the Fetuin-A, Glucose, HbA1c, and Hba1c IFCC values in both of the experimental groups compared to the control group. We believe that an increase in these values may cause Type 3 diabetes.
... It is also very clear from the literature that our brain plays a leading role in controlling glycemic changes due to external effects such as stress, danger, pollution, and electromagnetic fields present in today's technologies (cell phone, wifi, wireless equipment's, etc.), all the original details can be seen in references that follows [14] [15] [16]. It can be speculated that all kinds of stressors to the brain, in a "always present way", can indeed cause persistent hyperglycemia, a typical example of a noxious external element is the persistent mental stress induced by stressful work which might cause the well-known "burnout" or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) ("exhaustion syndrome") [17] [18] [19] [20]. ...
... (5) To investigate possible glycemic anomalies induced by intense cognition, induced by social media and the media in general, and the role of complex adult information penetrating the children's world causing/inducing anomalous cognition pattern. radiation [17], heavy metals and persistent pollutants in food and in the air we breathe [73] and persistent stress [16]. (7) To consider and to investigate whether persistent hyperglycemia hyperglycemias induced by any internal or external causes might be pancreas exhaustion for insulin production rather than just its beta cells' death. ...
... There are already preliminary studies on how EMF might impact brain generating disease such the very early onset of Alzheimer's Disease [75]. How it impacts the glucose blood dynamics inducing, maybe, hyperglycinemia in children and youth in general must be investigated further [17]. Besides, we can add that the human Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) is a real health concern and the WHO (World Health Organization) has already documented this further [76] [77]. ...
... Moreover, it was determined that Wistar Albino rats exposed to RFR emitted from mobile phones (1800 MHz, GSM, 15 min/day for 3 months) had higher fasting blood glucose compared to the control group (Meo & Al Rubeaan, 2013). In addition, it was stated that exposure to electromagnetic pollution cause higher blood glucose levels and may contribute to diabetes mellitus (Havas, 2008). The different effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on hyperglycemia in studies may be due to the different characteristics of the applied EMF and the application of different standards in the diabetic model used. ...
Article
Full-text available
In recent years exposure of living beings to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from wireless equipment has increased. In this study, we investigated the effects of 3.5‐GHz RFR on hormones that regulate energy metabolism in the body. Twenty‐eight rats were divided into four groups: healthy sham ( n = 7), healthy RFR ( n = 7), diabetic sham ( n = 7), and diabetic RFR ( n = 7). Over a month, each group spent 2 h/day in a Plexiglas carousel. The rats in the experimental group were exposed to RFR, but the sham groups were not. At the end of the experiment, blood and adipose tissues were collected from euthanized rats. Total antioxidant, total oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, ghrelin, nesfatin‐1, and irisin were determined. Insulin expression in pancreatic tissues was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. Whole body specific absorption rate was 37 mW/kg. For the parameters analyzed in blood and fat, the estimated effect size varied within the ranges of 0.215–0.929 and 0.503–0.839, respectively. The blood and adipose nesfatin‐1 ( p = 0.002), blood and pancreatic insulin are decreased, ( p = 0.001), gherelin (p = 0.020), irisin ( p = 0.020), and blood glucose ( p = 0.040) are increased in healthy and diabetic rats exposed to RFR. While nesfatin‐1 are negatively correlated with oxidative stress, hyperglycemia and insulin, ghrelin and irisin are positively correlated with oxidative stress and hyperglycemia. Thus, RFR may have deleterious effects on energy metabolism, particularly in the presence of diabetes.
... Thus, the INTERPHONE study has been conducted to address public concerns about the effects of EMF. Some other studies are being conducted to proffer a new approach to such exposure of EMF that may affect people and the explanation for the context of apocryphal environmental studies [5]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Voltage Transients are generated in power lines and emit both low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radio-frequency radiation. This study aims to highlight its existence and detrimental effects on human health. A comprehensive literature review is presented, encompassing studies by multiple authors exploring the topic of dirty electricity, its impact on well-being, and preventative measures. The electromagnetic spectrum analysis and measurements of both electric and magnetic fields are performed on various household appliances such as hair dryers, old televisions, blenders, heaters, toasters, vacuum cleaners, and microwaves. The findings indicates that microwaves and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) bulbs exhibit similar spectral characteristics, with high-frequency voltage transients primarily originating from these two devices. Conversely, other appliances do not generate significant high-frequency voltage transients (HFVT). Overall, dirty electricity poses a substantial risk to human health and necessitates attention to minimize its adverse consequences.
... Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection itself might represent a worsening factor for people with diabetes [49] . According to Health Hub [50] , the diabetes is a medical condition in which the blood glucose levels remain persistently higher than normal [51] due to exposing to electromagnetic effluence cause higher plasma glucose level [52] . ...
Article
Full-text available
Diabetes is a chronic and debilitating disease, which is associated with a range of complications putting tremendous burden on medical, economic and socio-technological infrastructure globally. Yet the higher authorities of health services are facing the excruciating cumulative reasons of diabetes as a very imperative worldwide issue in the 21st century. The study aims to relook at the misapplication of the processed radio frequency that frailties in the pancreas within and around the personal body boundary area. The administered sensor data were obtained at laboratory experiments from the selected specimens on dogs and cats in light and dark environments. The study shows the frequent urine flow speed varies with sudden infection due to treated wireless sensor networks in active open eyes. The overweight and obese persons are increasingly affected in diabetes with comprehensive urinary pressure due to continuous staying at dark environment. The findings replicate the increasing tide of diabetes globally. The study also represents the difficulties of physicians to provide adequate diabetic management according to their expectancy due to insecure personal area network control unit.Dynamic sensor network is indispensable for healthcare but such network is at risk to health security due to digitalized poisoning within GPS positions. The study recommends the anti-radiation integrated system policy with user’s security alternative approach to inspire dealing with National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals 2
... 3 Ay boyunca günde 31-45 ve 46-60 dakika süre ile cep telefonu kaynaklı 1800 MHz elektromanyetik alan radyasyona maruz bırakılan ratlarda serum insülin ve glukoz düzeyleri ile insülin direncini gösteren HOMA-IR seviyelerinin de önemli düzeylerde arttığı gösterilmiştir (38). Elektromanyetik kirliliğe maruz kalmanın plazma glukoz seviyesini arttırdığı, insülin sekresyonu ve insülin reseptörlerine bağlanma kapasitesini ise azalttığı ve bu durumun diyabete neden olabileceği bildirilmektedir (39). Tip 1 diyabetik ratlarda elektromanyetik alan maruziyetinin insülinin konformasyonunu değiştirdiği, insülin ve reseptörü arasındaki bağlanma affinitesini azalttığı ve bu durumunda insülin hormonunun biyoaktivitesinde azalmaya neden olduğu ifade edilmektedir. ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Abstract Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a method based on complete restriction of venous blood flow and partial restriction of arterial blood flow with pneumatic cuff during lowintensity exercises. Restriction creates hypoxic environment, resulting in low mechanical and high metabolic stress in muscle compared to high-intensity exercise. The effects such as increased strength and hypertrophy occur by the induction of various mechanisms. The BFR is applied in different conditions as following: In postoperative period, in cases which highintensity exercises cannot be tolerated or are contraindicated, in neurological/cardiopulmonary diseases, musculoskeletal injuries. Objective: This review aims to summarize the existing literature on the effects of BFR used in the treatment of different knee pathologies. Method: A literature search was carried out on MEDLINE. “Blood flow restriction” and “knee” were used as keywords. The studies published in last five-years with full text, which consisted of humans with any knee pathologies, with control group, applied BFR as treatment were included. Case studies and reviews were excluded. Results: The preliminary review consisted of 41 studies, and 14 of them (osteoarthritis, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, meniscus and cartilage repair, arthroscopy, rheumatologic diseases, patellofemoral/anterior knee pain) were included in the review after the detailed screening. The studies reported significant improvements in strength (10 of 14 (%71.42)), pain (7), muscle architecture/thickness (6 of 7 (86%)), endurance (1), functionality (6 of 8 (75%)) and quality of life (2 of 5 (40%)). No side-effects were reported in the studies. Conclusion: The rehabilitation of knee is aimed to reduce pain, increase painless range of motion, strength, and functionality. In the literature, it is reported that low-intensity BFR exercises may obtain favorable improvements similar/superior to high-intensity exercises, the pain in joints during the exercises is reduced, and good compliance with treatment is obtained. There is a need for studies investigating the effectiveness and application parameters of BFR in different pathologies.
... melanoma 597 prostate 598 testicular 599 cardiovasc. disease 600 601 602 603 child growth retardation 604 dementia 605 606 depression and suicide 607 608 609 610 611 612 hypothyroidism, obesity 613 leukaemia 614 615 616 lipoatrophia semicircularis 617 lymphoma 618 male infertility 619 miscarriage 620 621 motor neuron disease 622 623 Parkinson's disease 624 625 626 breast cancer 627 628 cancers (possible): multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate, testicular 629 630 cardiovascular diseases 631 632 childhood leukaemia 633 634 635 636 637 glycaemia, diabetics 638 639 640 leukaemia 641 642 643 644 645 malignant melanoma 646 647 648 649 MS impairment 650 thyroid and uterine cancer 651 ADHD 652 behaviourial problems 653 brain tumours 654 655 656 657 658 659 cancer, testicular 660 661 cardiovascular diseases 662 663 664 665 666 cataracts 667 668 669 670 671 672 dyslipidemia, obesity 673 impaired cognition 674 675 676 677 impaired memory 678 679 leukaemia, NH lymphoma 680 681 682 male infertility 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 miscarriage 690 691 ophthalmic effects 692 parotid gland malignancy 1061 uveal melanoma 693 Maternal and paternal exposure and teratogenic diseases or outcomes in offspring childhood brain tumours 694 childhood leukaemia 695 696 reduced male births 697 other adverse effects 698 699 ...
Book
Full-text available
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity is categorised as a multisymptomatic 'el-allergy' in the Nordic classification of 2000 (R.68.8). Its symptoms are 'certainly real' and it can be a 'disabling condition' (W.H.O., 2005). It was first recorded in the mid 20th century as an occupational illness, but it has now spread into the general population through environmental exposure from increasing levels of electromagnetic fields and radiation. This Summary covers current research on this syndrome, covering EM Sensitivity and EM Hypersensitivity. It includes tables of symptoms, EMF sources and exposure guidelines, along with references to scientific studies. This New Edition adds updates, international doctors' protocols, aspects of quantum biology, evidence for sensitivity in animals and plants, case studies, disability issues and human rights.
... As mentioned above, another important factor involved in the metabolic effects induced by EMFs exposure can be the production of cell energetic parameters (ATP availability). Plasma glucose levels respond to EMFs in the kilohertz range elevating insulin secretion, where EMFs would reach the internal structures and increase ATP synthesis 39,40 . Indeed, EMFs exposure attenuated KCl-stimulated insulin secretion influencing the increase in ATP/ADP and membrane depolarization, and attenuating the increase of [Ca 2+ ]i that is linked to a Figure 5. Correlations among serum glucose levels, insulin, glucagon, and redox-pair metabolites. ...
Article
Full-text available
The exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could adversely affect the endocrine system and cellular proliferative response. Nonetheless, the use of 60-Hz EMFs in the form of magneto-therapy exerts beneficial actions on human health but can also induce hyperglycaemia. Therefore, the present study was aimed to search for metabolic responses of fed or fasted male rats to a single EMF exposure. We performed a 15 min-single exposure to 60-Hz (3.8 mT, intensity) EMF, and determined serum levels of glucose, lipids, and indicators of cellular redox state and energy parameters. A single exposure to a 60-Hz EMF induced hyperglycaemia in both animal groups, and an attenuated second serum insulin peak. The 60-Hz EMF also decreased free fatty acids and lactate serum levels, oppositely increasing pyruvate and acetoacetate levels. Significant increases in blood glucose level and rat’s glucose metabolism were related to a more oxidized cellular redox state and variations in insulin and glucagon secretion. The 60-Hz EMF’s effects were not modified in animals previously subjected to chronic EMFs exposure (14 days). In conclusion, increased serum glucose levels and glucose metabolism induced by a single 60-Hz EMF exposure were closely related to the cellular redox state and the insulin/glucagon ratio.
Article
Full-text available
Audio frequency magnetic fields (20 Hz−20 kHz) are magnetic fields in extremely low frequency-very low frequency (ELF-VLF) bands that are present near audio equipment and acoustic transducers. These devices transform and operate the electrical signal from the recordings or other devices into acoustic and audio signals. The cognitive influence of sound and noise has been widely studied and recognized since the times of ancient Rome; however, the cognitive effects of the magnetic fields of these frequencies have not been studied. Due to the extensive use of audio devices that use this type of transducer near the temporal–parietal area, we believe that it is of interest to study their impact on short-term memory or working memory (WM) and to analyze their potential as they operate as a transcranial magnetic stimulation. In this study, a mathematical model and an experimental tool are introduced to analyze memory performance. The model dissociates the reaction time of a cognitive task. We analyze the model in data from a group of 65 young, healthy subjects. WM is assessed in our experimental setup by means of the Sternberg test (ST), whereby during the ST, one subgroup was exposed to an audio frequency magnetic stimulus, and the other subgroup received a sham stimulus. The magnetic stimulus was ~0.1 μT and was applied to both sides of the head at the frontal cortex near the temporal–parietal area, which is where WM is expected to be located. The ST records reaction times when determining whether an object displayed on the computer screen is one of the objects to be remembered. The results are analyzed within the mathematical model and changes are observed, including the deterioration of WM, which could affect 32% of its operability.
Article
Full-text available
The biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be studied in sensitive and specific models. In a previous investigation of the permeability of the BBB after exposure to the various EMF -components of proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we found that exposure to MRI induced leakage of Evans-blue-labelled proteins which do not normally pass the BBB of rats. In the present investigation we exposed male and female Fischer 344 rats in a TEM cell to 915 MHz microwaves as continuous waves and modulated at various low frequencies (8, 16, 50 and 200 Hz). The rats were not anaesthetized during the exposure. After exposure the brains were perfused first with saline for 3-4 minutes and then with 4% formaldehyde. Central coronal sections of the brains were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 mum. Albumin and fibrinogen were demonstrated immunohistochemically. The results show albumin leakage in 5 out of 62 of the controls and in 56 out of 184 of the animals exposed to 915 MHz microwaves. With continuous waves these are 14 positive findings out of 35 which differs significantly from the results obtained with the controls (p = 0.0002). With pulsed 915 MHz microwaves at modulation frequencies of 200, 50, 16 and 8 Hz, 42 findings out of 149 were positive, which is significant at the p = 0.001 level. This reveals that both continuous and pulsed 915 MHz microwaves are able to open up the BBB for albumin passage. However, there is no significant difference between continuous and pulsed 915 MHz microwaves in this respect. The question of whether the opening of the BBB constitutes a health hazard requires further investigation.
Article
Full-text available
We have previously shown that 16-Hz, sinusoidal electromagnetic fields can cause enhanced efflux of calcium ions from chick brain tissue, in vitro, in two intensity regions centered on 6 and 40 Vp-p/m. Alternatively, 1-Hz and 30-Hz fields at 40 Vp-p/m did not cause enhanced efflux. We now demonstrate that although there is no enhanced efflux associated with a 42-Hz field at 30, 40, 50, or 60 Vp-p/m, a 45-Hz field causes enhanced efflux in an intensity range around 40 Vp-p/m that is essentially identical to the response observed for 16-Hz fields. Fields at 50 Hz induce enhanced efflux in a narrower intensity region between 45 and 50 Vp-p/m, while radiofrequency carrier waves, amplitude modulated at 50 Hz, also display enhanced efflux over a narrow power density range. Electromagnetic fields at 60 Hz cause enhanced efflux only at 35 and 40 Vp-p/m, intensities slightly lower than those that are effective at 50 Hz. Finally, exposures over a series of frequencies at 42.5 Vp-p/m reveal two frequency regions that elicit enhanced efflux--one centered on 15 Hz, the other extending from 45 to 105 Hz.
Article
Past studies of possible health effects of magnetic field (MF) exposure have focused on the risk of cancer, initially leukemia. This prospective, population-based cohort study was undertaken to discover what effects such exposure may have on the risk of miscarriage. Personal MF exposure over 24 hours was measured in 969 pregnant women seen at a large HMO in the San Francisco area, whose pregnancy tests were positive before 10 weeks' gestation. Participants wore a MF-measuring meter (EMDEX-II) and also kept a diary of their activities. The unit was programmed to determine both broad-band (40-800 Hz) and harmonic (100-800 Hz) MF levels, but not to display them so that the women would remain blinded. Any relation between exposure and miscarriage was sought using the Cox proportional hazard model. Trained interviewers ascertained risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage. In addition to personal measurements, spot estimates were made in the women's residences. The risk ratio for miscarriage associated with a 24-hour time-weighted average (TWA) MF exposure of 3 milligauss (mG) or greater was 1.2, which was interpreted as a negative finding. A risk did emerge starting at approximately 12 to 18 mG and remained elevated with increasing exposure; a threshold of 16 mG was selected as a criterion of exposure. Women with and without increased exposure differed little demographically or in risk factors for miscarriage. Prenatal exposure to 16 mG or more correlated with an 80% increase in the risk of miscarriage, which persisted after adjusting for about 30 known risk factors; the risk ratio was 1.8. Early miscarriages, before 10 weeks' gestation, were more strongly associated, as was a history of multiple previous fetal losses or subfertility. In women who took part in their usual daily activities when studied, the risk ratio increased to 4.0. Spot measurements failed to show a consistent association with miscarriage. The investigators believe that external MF exposure of the early fetus might disrupt early fetal development at the cellular or molecular level and result in fetal death. This study found a convincing association between an average 24-hour exposure level of approximately 16 mG and an increased risk of miscarriage.
Article
High frequency voltages present on the electrical power wires in homes, offices, schools and factories should be considered a potential pollutant. An inexpensive and simple to use instrument is described for measuring these voltages.
Article
The effect of a temporally incoherent magnetic field noise on microwave-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells was investigated. Four treatment groups of rats were studied: microwave-exposure (continuous-wave 2450-MHz microwaves, power density 1 mW/cm2, average whole-body specific absorption rate of 0.6 W/kg), noise-exposure (45 mG), microwave + noise-exposure, and sham-exposure. Animals were exposed to these conditions for 2h. DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of these animals were assayed 4h later using a microgel electrophoresis assay. Results show that brain cells of microwave-exposed rats had significantly higher levels of DNA single- and double-strand breaks when compared with sham-exposed animals. Exposure to noise alone did not significantly affect the levels (i.e., they were similar to those of the sham-exposed rats). However, simultaneous noise exposure blocked microwave-induced increases in DNA strand breaks. These data indicate that simultaneous exposure to a temporally incoherent magnetic field could block microwave-induced DNA damage in brain cells of the rat.
Article
Rabbit islets of Langerhans were exposed at 37 °C for 18 h to a low-frequency-pulsed magnetic field, generated in paired Helmholtz coils. Exposed islets showed a reduction of 26.1 ± 4.3% in 45Ca2+ content (P < .004). a reduction of 25.1 ± 6.3% in 45Ca2+ efflux (P < .006), and a reduction of 35.0 ± 8.7% (P < .002) in insulin released during glucose stimulation when compared with appropriate controls.