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EMR Literature Survey - November 2011
By: Parlett LE, Bowman JD, van Wijngaarden E
Published in: J Occup Environ Med 2011: in press
This is a prospective cohort study investigating whether exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) at work is associated with motor neuron disease mortality (death). The study included 307,012 people which were randomly selected from the general population in the US and their health monitored over 9 years. Occupational exposure to ELF MF was assessed using a population-based job-exposure matrix which associates particular jobs and tasks with exposures of different levels. There were no increased risks of motor neuron disease mortality in relation to potential ELF MF exposure at work. The authors conclude that the study does not provide evidence for an association between magnetic field exposure and motor neuron disease mortality.
It has been hypothesized that exposure to ELF fields is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. These have been extensively reviewed by the former National Radiological Protection Board in 2004 and more recently by the World Health Organization in 2007. For Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis the number of studies has been small and there is no evidence for an association with these diseases. For Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) more studies have been published. Some of these reports suggest that people employed in electrical occupations have an increased risk of ALS. So far no biological mechanism has been established which can explain this association, although it could have arisen because of confounders related to electrical occupations such as electric shocks or exposures to chemicals. The World Health Organization maintains that overall, the evidence for the association between ELF exposure and motor neuron disease is considered inadequate.
By: He LH, et al
Published in: Chin Med J (Engl) 2011; 124 (20): 3362–3366
This study investigated the effects of long-term exposure to ELF MF on anxiety level and spatial memory of adult rats. In the study the animals were exposed every day for 4 weeks to either sham, 2 millitesla (mT) for 1 hour or 2mT for 4 hours. Rats that were exposed for 4 hours per day had increased anxiety-related behaviours but improved spatial memory. The authors note that further studies are necessary to explore the mechanism involved in the effects of prolonged ELF MF exposure on functions of the nervous system.
By: Sirav B, Seyhan N
Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2011; 30 (4): 253–260
This study examined the effect of radiofrequency (RF) radiation on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in male and female Wistar albino rats. The animals were exposed to either sham, a 0.9 gigahertz (GHz) continuous-wave (CW) RF signal or a 1.8 GHz CW RF signal for 20 min (at specific absorption rates of 4.26 milliwatts per kilogram, mW/kg, and 1.46 mW/kg, respectively) while under anaesthesia. In female rats, no albumin was found in the brain after RF exposure. A statistically significant increase in albumin was found in the brains of the RF-exposed male rats when compared to sham-exposed male brains. The authors conclude that these results suggest that exposure to 0.9 and 1.8 GHz CW RF radiation at levels below the international limits can affect the vascular permeability in the brain of male rats.
By: Avendaño C et al
Published in: Fertil Steril. 2011 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
This study investigated the effects of RF radiation from wireless networks on laptop computers (Wi-Fi) on human sperm. Semen samples from 29 healthy donors were exposed to either an internet-connected laptop by Wi-Fi for 4 hours or sham. The Wi-Fi exposed samples showed a statistically significant decrease in progressive sperm motility and an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Levels of dead sperm showed no significant differences between the two groups. The authors conclude that keeping a laptop connected wirelessly to the internet on the lap near the testes may result in decreased male fertility. However the authors note that further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed.
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