Scholarly articles on emf effects on health:
Low-level exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: Health effects and research needs
by Michael H. Repacholi*
Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1998)19:1<1::AID-BEM1>3.0.CO;2-5
Bioelectromagnetics Volume 19, Issue 1, pages 1–19, 1998
Keywords:
RF fields;
nonthermal;
biological effects;
research agenda
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the German and Austrian Governments jointly sponsored an international seminar in November of 1996 on the biological effects of low-level radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields. For purposes of this seminar, RF fields having frequencies only in the range of about 10 MHz to 300 GHz were considered. This is one of a series of scientific review seminars held under the International Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Project to identify any health hazards from EMF exposure. The scientific literature was reviewed during the seminar and expert working groups formed to provide a status report on possible health effects from exposure to low-level RF fields and identify gaps in knowledge requiring more research to improve health risk assessments.
It was concluded that, although hazards from exposure to high-level (thermal) RF fields were established, no known health hazards were associated with exposure to RF sources emitting fields too low to cause a significant temperature rise in tissue. Biological effects from low-level RF exposure were identified needing replication and further study. These included in vitro studies of cell kinetics and proliferation effects, effects on genes, signal transduction effects and alterations in membrane structure and function, and biophysical and biochemical mechanisms for RF field effects. In vivo studies should focus on the potential for cancer promotion, co-promotion and progression, as well as possible synergistic, genotoxic, immunological, and carcinogenic effects associated with chronic low-level RF exposure. Research is needed to determine whether low-level RF exposure causes DNA damage or influences central nervous system function, melatonin synthesis, permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB), or reaction to neurotropic drugs. Reported RF-induced changes to eye structure and function should also be investigated.
Epidemiological studies should investigate: the use of mobile telephones with hand-held antennae and incidence of various cancers; reports of headache, sleep disturbance, and other subjective effects that may arise from proximity to RF emitters, and laboratory studies should be conducted on people reporting these effects; cohorts with high occupational RF exposure for changes in cancer incidence; adverse pregnancy outcomes in various highly RF exposed occupational groups; and ocular pathologies in mobile telephone users and in highly RF exposed occupational groups.
Studies of populations with residential exposure from point sources, such as broadcasting transmitters or mobile telephone base stations have caused widespread health concerns among the public, even though RF exposures are very low. Recent studies that may indicate an increased incidence of cancer in exposed populations should be investigated further. Bioelectromagnetics 19:1–19, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
EMF AND HEALTHAnnual Review of Public Health
Vol. 26: 165-189 (Volume publication date April 2005)
First published online as a Review in Advance on October 12, 2004
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144445
Maria Feychting,1 Anders Ahlbom,1,2 and Leeka Kheifets3
1Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; email:
Maria.Feychting@imm.ki.se2Division of Epidemiology, Stockholm Center of Public Health, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; email:
Anders.Ahlbom@imm.ki.se3Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772; email:
kheifets@ucla.edu ABSTRACT
Electric and magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the modern society, and concerns have been expressed regarding possible adverse effects of these exposures. This review covers epidemiologic research on health effects of exposures to static, extremely low-frequency (ELF), and radio frequency (RF) fields. Research on ELF fields has been performed for more than two decades, and the methodology and quality of studies have improved over time. Studies have consistently shown increased risk for childhood leukemia associated with ELF magnetic fields, whereas ELF fields most likely are not a risk factor for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are still inadequate data for other outcomes. More recently, focus has shifted toward RF exposures from mobile telephony. There are no persuasive data suggesting a health risk, but this research field is still immature with regard to the quantity and quality of available data. This technology is constantly changing and there is a need for continued research on this issue. Almost no epidemiologic data are available for static fields.
Effects of microwaves emitted by cellular phones on human slow brain potentials Gabriele Freude*,
Peter Ullsperger,
Siegfried Eggert and
Ingeburg Ruppe
Article first published online: 6 JAN 1999
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1998)19:6<384::AID-BEM6>3.0.CO;2-Y
Bioelectromagnetics: Volume 19, Issue 6, pages 384–387, 1998
Keywords:
Bereitschaftspotential;
preparation;
visual monitoring task;
GSM system;
human performance
Abstract
The influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular phones on preparatory slow brain potentials (SP) was studied in two different experimental tasks: In the first, healthy male human subjects had to perform simple self-paced finger movements to elicit a Bereitschaftspotential; in the second, they performed a complex and cognitive demanding visual monitoring task (VMT). Both tasks were performed with and without EMF exposure in counterbalanced order. Whereas subjects' performance did not differ between the EMF exposure conditions, SP parameters were influenced by EMF in the VMT: EMF exposure effected a significant decrease of SPs at central and temporo-parieto-occipital brain regions, but not at the frontal one. In the simple finger movement task, EMF did not affect the Bereitschaftspotential. Bioelectromagnetics 19:384–387, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Workgroup Report: Base Stations and Wireless Networks: Radiofrequency (RF) Exposures and Health ConsequencesPeter A. Valberg, T. Emilie van Deventer and Michael H. Repacholi
Environmental Health Perspectives
Vol. 115, No. 3 (Mar., 2007), pp. 416-424
Published by: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Article Stable URL:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4133177Environmental Health Perspectives © 2007 The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Abstract:
Radiofrequency (RF) waves have long been used for different types of information exchange via the airwaves-wireless Morse code, radio, television, and wireless telephony (i.e., construction and operation of telephones or telephonic systems). Increasingly larger numbers of people rely on mobile telephone technology, and health concerns about the associated RF exposure have been raised, particularly because the mobile phone handset operates in close proximity to the human body, and also because large numbers of base station antennas are required to provide widespread availability of service to large populations. The World Health Organization convened an expert workshop to discuss the current state of cellular-telephone health issues, and this article brings together several of the key points that were addressed. The possibility of RF health effects has been investigated in epidemiology studies of cellular telephone users and workers in RF occupations, in experiments with animals exposed to cell-phone RF, and via biophysical consideration of cell-phone RF electric-field intensity and the effect of RF modulation schemes. As summarized here, these separate avenues of scientific investigation provide little support for adverse health effects arising from RF exposure at levels below current international standards. Moreover, radio and television broadcast waves have exposed populations to RF for > 50 years with little evidence of deleterious health consequences. Despite unavoidable uncertainty, current scientific data are consistent with the conclusion that public exposures to permissible RF levels from mobile telephony and base stations are not likely to adversely affect human health.
Human health consequences of environmentally-modulated gene expression: potential roles of ELF–EMF induced epigenetic versus mutagenic mechanisms of disease† James E. Trosko*
Article first published online: 12 JUL 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1521-186X(200007)21:5<402::AID-BEM9>3.0.CO;2-N
Bioelectromagnetics: Volume 21, Issue 5, pages 402–406, July 2000
Keywords:
EMF;
epigenetic effects;
cell-cell communication
Abstract
In order to determine if there might be biological and health consequences after exposures to extremely-low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF–EMF), either experimentally or epidemiologically, mechanistic understanding of the potential means by which any environmental agent can affect cells in a multicellular organism has to be reviewed. The goal of this limited review is to demonstrate that, while the prevailing paradigm of the environmentally-induced acute and chronic diseases involves either cell killing (cytotoxicity) or gene/chromosome mutations (genotoxicity), alteration of the expression of genetic information at the transcriptional (turning genes “on” or “off”), translational (stabilizing or de-stabilizing the genetic message), or posttranslational (altering the gene product or protein) levels has the potential to contribute to various diseases. This latter mechanism, “epigenetic” toxicity, unlike the former two which are irreversible, is characterized by threshold-like action, multiple biochemical pathways and chronic, regular exposures to be effective. Ultimately, epigenetic toxicants affect one of four potential cell states, namely alteration of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, programmed cell death (apoptosis) or adaptive responses of differentiated cells. Bioelectromagnetics 21:402–406, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Non-cancer EMF effects related to children Maria Feychting*
Article first published online: 2 SEP 2005
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20153
Copyright © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bioelectromagnetics: Volume 26, Issue S7, pages S69–S74, 2005
Keywords:
magnetic fields;
radiofrequency fields;
reproduction;
congenital malformations;
spontaneous abortions;
epidemiology
Abstract
Potential adverse effects of electromagnetic field exposure on the developing child have been discussed during the last decades. Effects during fetal development could have major consequences and possibly lead to various adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study summarizes the evidence on adverse pregnancy outcomes in relation to extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) exposures and briefly discusses other potential health effects, excluding cancer, following childhood exposures to these fields. Most studies of ELF exposures have not demonstrated any consistent risk increases for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but limitations in the exposure assessment methods and very limited power to study high exposure levels prevents any conclusions. Findings of an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in relation to maximum magnetic field exposures in two studies need to be confirmed. Studies of RF exposure have mostly been limited to physiotherapists and although some positive findings have been reported, no specific type of malformation or other adverse outcome has been consistently reported. Different types of symptoms and effects on cognitive function in relation to both ELF and RF fields have been reported in adults, but scientific studies have not confirmed that these symptoms are caused by the electromagnetic fields. No information is available for children. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 7:S69–S74, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Possible effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health--opinion of the scientific committee on emerging and newly identified health risks (SCENIHR)
A Ahlbom, J Bridges, R De Seze, L Hillert… - Toxicology, 2008 - researchgate.net
Upon request of the European Commission, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and
Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has updated the previous opinion on “Possible
effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), Radio Frequency Fields (RF) and Microwave
