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EMR Literature Survey - April 2010
By: Croft RJ, Leung S, McKenzie RJ, Loughran SP, Iskra S, Hamblin DL, Cooper NR
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2010: in press
This Australian study investigates whether adolescents and/or the elderly are more sensitive to mobile phones than young adults, by comparing alpha rhythms (a type of electrical activity in the brain) on an electroencephalogram (EEG). Forty-one 13–15 year olds (adolescents), forty-two 19–40 year olds (young adults), and twenty 55–70 year olds (elderly) were tested using a double-blind crossover design, where each participant received sham (no exposure) or 2G or 3G mobile phone exposures, separated by at least 4 days. Alpha activity during exposure, relative to the participants’ baseline activity before or after exposure, was recorded and compared between conditions. The young adults’ alpha rhythm was greater in the 2G compared to the sham condition, however, no effect was seen in the adolescent or the elderly groups, and no effect of 3G exposures was found in any group.
The electroencephalogram (EEG) records electrical signals on the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain. The 'spontaneous' EEG of awake subjects (which includes the resting EEG) is conventionally divided into a number of frequency bands (delta < 4 Hz; theta 4-8 Hz; alpha 8-12 Hz; beta 12-30 Hz; gamma > 30 Hz), the relative amounts of activity in which depends upon the psychological state of the subject and the nature of the cognitive function in which he or she is engaged. The functional significance of these different components of the normal, waking EEG is poorly understood. While a demonstration that mobile phone signals influenced these components would be indicative of a biological effect of such signals, interpretation of the effect in terms of health would be uncertain.
Studies on human volunteers investigating the effects of mobile phones on the electrical activity of the brain were reviewed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection in 2009. Studies on spontaneous EEG have produced somewhat mixed results, although more recent stronger studies point to the existence of effects of exposure primarily to the alpha bands of the EEG. However, the relevance of these studies to health is uncertain.
By: Thun MJ
Published in: Cancer 2010; 116 (9): 2067
In this article the author provides a short overview of the research on mobile phones and cancer as well as describing the problems with the studies that have been conducted to date and identifying the gaps in the knowledge. The author recommends a hands-free device and reduced talk time for those who are concerned about any possible hazards associated with mobile phone use.
By: Guler G et al
Published in: Gen Physiol Biophys 2010; 29 (1): 59 - 66
This animal study investigated whether radiofrequency (RF) radiation is associated with cellular damage in non-pregnant and pregnant rabbits and their newborn. White rabbits and their newborn were divided into four exposure groups: (a) non-pregnant/not-exposed, (b) non-pregnant/RF exposed, (c) pregnant/not-exposed and (d) pregnant-RF exposed. DNA and lipid damage increased in both the pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits compared to the not-exposed. No difference was found in the newborns.
By: Lee HJ, et al
Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2010; 86 (5): 384 – 389
This animal study investigated the effects of 20 kHz triangular magnetic fields (MF) on Sprague-Dawley (type of breed) rats. Rats were either exposed or sham-exposed (same environment but no exposure) to 20 kHz triangular MF at 30 microtesla for 8 h/day for 18 months. There were no significant differences between the exposed and sham-exposed rats for urological factors, haematological factors, and tumour incidence. The authors conclude that chronic exposure to 20 kHz triangular MF with 30 microT flux density did not increase toxicity in rats.
By: Vorobyov V, et al
Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2010; 86 (5): 376 – 383
In this animal study the effect of low-level extremely low frequency-modulated microwaves (ELF-MW) (915 MHz, 0.3 mW/cm2)on the electrical activity of the cortex and hypothalamus (as seen in an electroencephalogram) was investigated. Ten freely moving rats with carbon electrodes implanted into the cortex and dorsomedial hypothalamus, were studied for five consecutive days either under sham exposures (five rats) or under mixed sham/MW-exposures (five rats). The authors report that repeated low-level exposure to ELF-MW affects brain functioning.
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