ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

By: Savitz D
Published in: Epidemiology. 2008 Jul;19(4):534-5

This paper comments on the misinterpretation of epidemiologic evidence that is often made by the public on issues with frightening implications. An example of a study reporting a positive association between mobile phone use and children's behaviour problems is used to highlight this problem. Although the author mentions that the association is not likely to be causal such a finding is likely to cause anxiety among parents. The author recommends for such findings to be interpreted cautiously and advices that behavioural and policy implications should be made by expert panels that integrate all the evidence.

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By: Kheifets et al
Published in: J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Jun;50(6):677-88.

Meta-analyses on studies published from 1993 to 2007 on occupational electromagnetic fields (EMF) and leukemia and brain cancer. The authors conclude that there is lack of a clear pattern of occupational EMF exposure and these two diseases.

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By: Divan HA et al
Published in: Epidemiology 2008 Jul;19(4):523-9

Epidemiological study (retrospective cohort) conducted in Denmark investigating the association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to mobile phones and behavioural problems in young children. After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratio for behavioural problems was 1.80 (95% confidence interval = 1.45-2.23) in children with both prenatal and postnatal exposure to mobile phones. The authors conclude that exposure to mobile phones prenatally, and to a lesser degree postnatally, was associated with behavioural difficulties such as emotional and hyperactivity problems around the age of school entry. However the authors note that the associations may be non-causal and due to unmeasured confounding.

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By: Whittow WG et al
Published in: Phys Med Biol 2008; 53 (5): 1167 – 1182

This study presents dosimetry results for the possible effects that head worn jewellery may have on the relative levels of electromagnetic energy absorbed in the human head when using mobile communication devices. Jewellery pins added to an anatomically realistic head increased the 1 g and 10 g SAR approximately three times at 1800 MHz although SAR standards were not breached.

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By: Lin IF et al
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics. 2008 Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print]

This study compares the individual ELF magnetic field levels between subjects attending elementary schools situated in close proximity to high-voltage power lines and subjects attending campuses not in close proximity to such power lines. The authors adopt a multilevel analytical technique which treats individual level measurements as the analytical unit and attempt to determine the correlation between the distance from power lines, campus magnetic field levels and individual measurements.

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By: van der Togt R et al
Published in:JAMA. 2008; 299(24):2884-90

This study assesses the occurrence and implications of electromagnetic interference (EMI) by radio frequency identification (RFID) devices on critical care equipment. In a controlled non-clinical setting, RFID induced potentially hazardous incidents in medical devices. The authors conclude that the implementation of RFID in the critical care environment should require on-site EMI tests and updates of international standards.

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By: Carpenter DO and Sage C
Published in: Rev Environ Health. 2008 Apr-Jun;23(2):91-117.

The authors in this paper review the reasoning and recommend taking action to reduce electromagnetic field exposures especially for the fetus and children.

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