ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

By: Mezei G et al
Published in: Epidemiology. 2008 May;19(3):424-30.

Meta-analysis of 13 studies investigating residential magnetic field exposure and childhood brain cancer. Summary effect estimates were calculated separately for distance, wire codes, and measured and calculated magnetic fields. The authors conclude that apart from high cut-point analyses (0.3/0.4 ?T), where the possibility of a moderate risk increase cannot be excluded, no increase in childhood brain cancer risk was evident for any of the exposure metrics.

This was a thorough meta-analysis of ELF and childhood brain-cancer studies. None of the analyses showed statistically significant increases in childhood brain cancer risk in relation to the various measures of residential magnetic field exposure. However the conclusion by the authors that a moderate risk increase cannot be excluded for high cut-point analyses (0.3/0.4 ?T) was a little strong since the risk was low and not statistically significant [1.68 (0.83-3.43)].

PUBMED LINK

---

By: Garcia AM et al
Published in: Int J Epidemiol. 2008 Apr;37(2):329-40.

Meta-analysis of 14 studies investigating occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and Alzheimer disease (AD). The authors conclude that available epidemiological evidence suggests an association between occupational exposure to ELF-EMF and AD

PUBMED LINK

---

By: Thomas S et al
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2008 Apr 4 [Epub ahead of print]

Cross-sectional study investigating radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phones and well being in 329 adults in Germany. Exposure was measured using a dosimeter over 24 hours and acute symptoms were reported in a diary over the same day for each participant. The authors report that the exposure was far below the ICNIRP limits. No statistically significant association between the exposure and chronic symptoms or between the exposure and acute symptoms was found.

PUBMED LINK

---

By: Cardis E et al
Published in: Phys Med Biol 2008; 53 (11): 2771 – 2783

Dosimetry study measuring RF energy absorption to the head from 110 different mobile phone models. The authors report that most of the energy (97-99% depending on frequency) appears to be absorbed in the brain hemisphere on the side where the phone is used, mainly (50-60%) in the temporal lobe. The average relative SAR is highest in the temporal lobe (6-15%, depending on frequency, of the spatial peak SAR in the most exposed region of the brain) and the cerebellum (2-10%) and decreases very rapidly with increasing depth, particularly at higher frequencies. The authors also note that the SAR distribution appears to be fairly similar across phone models, between older and newer phones and between phones with different antenna types and positions.

PUBMED LINK

---

By: Bellieni C et al
Published in: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2008 May 1 [Epub ahead of print]

Study investigating the effect of electromagnetic fields produced by incubators on the heart rate variability of 43 newborns. The authors conclude that electromagnetic fields produced by incubators influence newborns' heart rate variability, showing an influence on their autonomous nervous system. The authors note that more research is needed to assess possible long-term consequences

PUBMED LINK

Top of Page