Radiation literature survey

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This human provocation study investigated whether using a mobile phone affects the short-term memory of elementary school students. A total of 60 students aged 8-10 years were exposed to real and sham exposure from a mobile phone for 10 min each (spaced by 30 min). Tests on visual reaction time and short-term memory were done before and after each exposure. The authors found that short-term exposure to RF radiation from a mobile phone improved elementary school students’ short-term memory but not their reaction time.

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This animal study investigated the effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on brain development. In the study, rats’ heads were exposed to GSM 900 MHz RF EMF, from an age of 14 days to 19 months, for 2 hours/day, 5 days/week with average specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0 (sham), 0.7, 2.5 and 10 W/kg. Behavioural and learning tests were performed on the rats at three different stages throughout the study period (juvenile, adulthood and middle age). There were no significant differences between the exposed and control rats. The authors conclude that there are no harmful effects of long-term RF EMF exposure on brain development as indicated by the learning skills and behaviour in rats.

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Numerous studies have evaluated the developmental effects of RF exposure on animals. There is no consistent evidence of adverse health effects at low exposure levels, according to a review conducted by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection in 2009 (ICNIRP, 2009). There are studies that reported some negative effects on brain development after exposure to RF EMF, such as learning deficits however other studies reported positive effects such as improved memory and learning skills. Additional research will need to be conducted to confirm the reproducibility of those reported effects. It is noted that the exposure levels in previous studies varied; the study by Klose et al exposed rats to RF levels above the current Australian Standard of 2 W/kg.

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This is a systematic review by the Health Council of the Netherlands (HCN) of animal studies investigating the relation between exposure to RF EMF and cancer. The review found that in the majority of studies, no effect of carcinogenesis has been observed. HCN concludes that based on the evidence from animal studies it is highly unlikely that long-term continuous or repeated exposure to RF EMF can cause or promote the development of cancer.

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The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has published guidelines for the protection of workers against established adverse health effects arising from exposure to static magnetic fields and time-varying magnetic fields below 1 Hz and to avoid sensory effects which may be annoying and impair working ability (including vertigo, nausea, visual sensations, metallic taste and various neurocognitive effects). This includes, but is not limited to workers engaged in activities related to magnetic resonance imaging.

The Guidelines are available from the ICNIRP.

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This is a review on the effects of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on melatonin and cortisol secretion, the two major markers of the circadian system as well as on sleep. The results of relevant studies to date are largely contradictory and inconsistent in their findings. The authors conclude that the hypothesis on disruption of melatonin secretion as being caused by electromagnetic fields is not supported by the epidemiological and experimental data.

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This is an in vitro study investigating whether the RF EMFs from smartphones can cause harm to human tissues. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) were incubated under a smartphone connected to a Wi-Fi network, which was uploading files for 10 hours a day, for a total of 5 days. Two groups of control cells were incubated under a temperature of 37°C and 39°C, respectively. It was found that the cell proliferation rate was higher in Wi-Fi-exposed cells and 39°C control cells compared with 37°C control cells, which the authors point out may be attributable to the thermal effects of Wi-Fi exposure. Other analyses showed no remarkable differences among the 3 groups. The authors conclude that there are no harmful effects from a smartphone’s Wi‑Fi exposure to human ASCs.

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This cross-sectional study investigated whether using a mobile phone is associated with adverse health symptoms in children. The study included 2042 randomly selected children aged 11-15 years who provided information on their mobile phone use. Information on perceived health symptoms reported by their parents was also collected. Mobile phone use was associated with headaches and migraine (odds ratio, OR = 1.42, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.12-1.81) and skin itches (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.47-2.29). The authors suggest for a more cautious use of mobile phones in children, due to the expected longer lifetime exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) from mobile phones.

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This retrospective cohort study investigated whether occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) is associated with neurodegenerative disease. In the study, 73,051 electricity supply employees in the UK, hired between1952-82, were followed from 1973 till 2010 for neurodegenerative disease mortality. Exposure to occupational ELF MF was calculated using engineering data to determine the average magnetic fields in specified areas of work and then applied to information about the time spent in these areas. The study found no statistically significant associations between neurodegenerative disease and lifetime, recent (less than 10 years), or distant (more than 10 years) exposure to magnetic fields. The authors conclude that there is no convincing evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to ELF MF is a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease.

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There have been many studies investigating the association between ELF MF exposure and neurodegenerative disease (see meta-analysis by Vergara et al 2013, presented in the February 2013 report). Further research is required in this area as other studies have shown a possible association.

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This paper presents results from a survey of RF electromagnetic field levels at 94 sites across four urban areas in the USA. Results are compared with those obtained by a similar, although much larger, study at 15 major metropolitan areas conducted prior to the introduction of mobile phone networks in 1980. The authors also discuss their results in the context of more recent studies in several European countries. All measured values were found to be far lower than the maximum permissible exposure limit for the general public mandated by the Federal Communications Commission in the USA. FM radio was found to be the dominant contributor to the measured RF levels.

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This review looks at whether exposure to ELF magnetic fields affects reproductive function. The review concludes that there is no established evidence from epidemiological and in vivo studies. However there is increasing evidence that exposure to ELF magnetic fields is involved with germ cell apoptosis in testes. This review proposes the possible mechanism of germ cell apoptosis in testes induced by ELF magnetic fields.

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