Radiation Protection

EMR Literature Survey - December 2008

Case-only study of interactions between DNA repair genes (hMLH1, APEX1, MGMT, XRCC1 and XPD) and low-frequency electromagnetic fields in childhood acute leukemia

By: Yang Y et al
Published in: Leuk Lymphoma 2008 Dec;49(12):2344-50

Summary

This was a case-only study of 123 children with acute leukemia investigating the interaction between DNA repair genes and low-frequency electromagnetic fields. The locations of electric transformers and power lines were noted in each subjects’ residential vicinity, and their distances from the houses of the study patients were measured. A blood sample was collected from each subject in order to determine the state of the repair genes. The authors report that children who carry a defective version of a gene (known as a polymorphism or snp) that would otherwise help repair damaged DNA are much more likely to develop leukemia if they also live near power lines or transformers.

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Genetic damage in subjects exposed to radiofrequency radiation

By: Verschaeve L
Published in: Mutat Res. 2008 Nov 27. [Epub ahead of print]

Summary

Review of cytogenetic biomonitoring studies of RF-exposed humans. The author reports that the majority of these studies do show that RF-exposed individuals have increased frequencies of genetic damage. However, the author points out that most of the studies have a number of shortcomings that actually prevents any firm conclusion (e.g. inadequate dosimetry).

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Factors Associated with Cell Phone Use in Adolescents in the Community of Madrid (Spain)

By: Sánchez-Martínez M and Otero A
Published in: Cyberpsychol Behav. 2008 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Summary

Cross-sectional survey study of 1,328 adolescents aged 13 to 20 years in nine secondary schools in Madrid between January to April 2007. The authors report that Intensive cell phone use was associated with female gender, rural school location, good family economy, smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, depression, cell phone dependence, and school failure.

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Variation of the dielectric properties of tissues with age: the effect on the values of SAR in children when exposed to walkie-talkie devices

By: Peyman A et al
Published in: Phys Med Biol 2008; 54 (2): 227 - 241

Summary

In this dosimetric study the dielectric properties of ageing porcine tissues are measured and the results are used to calculate the SAR values in children of age 3 and 7 years when they are exposed to RF induced by walkie-talkie devices. The authors report no significant differences between the SAR values for the children of either age or for adults.

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