The radiation literature survey provides updates on published literature related to radiation (both ionising and non-ionising) and health.

Published literature includes articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, scientific-body reports, conference proceedings, etc.

The updates on new radiation literature that are of high quality and of public interest will be published as they arise. For each update, a short summary and a link to the abstract or to the full document (if freely available) are provided. The update may also include a commentary from ARPANSA and links to external websites for further information. The links may be considered useful at the time of preparation of the update however ARPANSA has no control over the content or currency of information on external links. Please see the ARPANSA website disclaimer.

Explanations of the more common terms used in the updates are found in the glossary.

The radiation literature that is listed in the updates is found by searching various databases and is not exhaustive.

Find out more about how you can search for scientific literature.

The intention of the radiation literature survey is to provide an update on new literature related to radiation and health that may be of interest to the general public. ARPANSA does not take responsibility for any of the content in the scientific literature and is not able to provide copies of the papers that are listed.


Are you looking for earlier editions of the Radiation literature survey?

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Use of mobile phones and brain cancer risk in children

Authored By:

Röösli M, et al
Summary:

This is a review of epidemiological studies investigating the use of mobile phones and brain cancer risk in children. The authors mention that only limited data exists on children from only one multi-centre case-control study and some ecological studies investigating trends in brain tumour incidence rates. The authors conclude that despite a steep increase in mobile phone use among children and adolescents during the last decade, overall the available findings do not suggest an increased brain tumour risk in children using mobile phones.

Published In:

Tumors of the Central Nervous System 2014; 13 : 293 – 300

Association between mobile phone use and semen quality: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Authored By:

Liu K, et al
Summary:

This is a systematic review that includes meta-analyses of in vitro, in vivo and human provocation studies investigating mobile phone use and semen quality. The systemic review showed that results of most of the human studies and in vitro laboratory studies indicated mobile phone RF exposure had negative effects on the various semen parameters studied. However, meta-analysis indicated that mobile phone use had no adverse effects on semen parameters in human studies. In the in vitro studies, meta-analysis indicated that exposure to mobile phone RF fields affected sperm motility and viability. In the in vivo studies, RF exposure affected sperm concentration and motility. The authors conclude that the evidence from current studies suggests potential harmful effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters.

Published In:

Andrology 2014: in press

Cell phone use and parotid salivary gland alterations: no molecular evidence

Authored By:

de Souza FT et al
Summary:

This cross-sectional study investigated whether using a mobile phone is associated with biochemical changes to the saliva produced by the parotid glands. In the study saliva samples were taken from 62 individuals who use a mobile phone. A comparison of biochemical changes was made between the saliva from the gland on the side where the phone is normally used (ipsilateral) to the saliva from the opposite parotid gland (contralateral) of each individual. There were no statistically significant differences in biochemical parameters between the saliva samples taken from the ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands. Using a phone for more than 3 hours per month or for more than 10 years did not have an effect. The authors conclude that using a mobile phone does not affect the saliva produced by the parotid gland.

Published In:

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Expert panel report on: A review of Safety Code 6 (2013): Health Canada's safety limits for exposure to radiofrequency fields

Authored By:

Demers P, Findlay R, Foster KR, Kolb B, Moulder J, Nicol A-M, Prato F, Stam R
Summary:

This is a report by a Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel reviewing the scientific evidence related to Canada’s safety code (PDF 670kb) on human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. The Expert Panel concludes that the current balance of evidence does not indicate negative health effects from exposure to RF fields below the limits recommended in the safety code. However, the Expert Panel notes that research on many of the health effects is ongoing and it is possible that the findings of future studies may alter this balance of evidence. The Expert Panel recommends that health authorities should continue to monitor the literature for emerging evidence and particularly pursue scientific research aimed at cancer and electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Published In:

Royal Society of Canada, 2014 (Ottawa, Canada)
Commentary by ARPANSA:

ARPANSA published the RF exposure Standard, Radiation Protection Standard for Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields – 3 kHz to 300 GHz in 2002. Since the publication of the Standard, research in the area of RF and health has grown rapidly and several major research programs and reviews have been undertaken internationally.

ARPANSA established an independent Expert Panel with the task of making an assessment of the scientific literature published since the Standard was prepared. The ARPANSA Radiofrequency Expert Panel on Review of Radiofrequency Health Effects Research – Scientific Literature 2000–2012 was published on 14 March 2014. The Expert Panel concluded that the science behind the ARPANSA RF Standard remains sound and that the exposure limits in the Standard continue to provide a high degree of protection against the known health effects of RF electromagnetic fields.

ARPANSA will review and update the Standard to take account of increased knowledge and to maintain alignment with revised international guidance.

The risk of subjective symptoms in mobile phone users in Poland - An epidemiological study

Authored By:

Szyjkowska A, et al
Summary:

This cross-sectional survey investigated whether mobile phone use is associated with subjective symptoms. In the study 1800 questionnaires were distributed in urban areas of Poland asking individuals information on their mobile phone use and any related subjective symptoms. Subjective symptoms (such as headaches, fatigue and warmth around the ear) were reported more often in people who used a mobile phone more frequently and longer compared with other users. The authors conclude that according to their results mobile phone users may experience subjective symptoms, the intensity of which depends on the intensity of use.

Published In:

Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2014: in press

Comparing non-specific physical symptoms in environmentally sensitive patients: Prevalence, duration, functional status and illness behavior

Authored By:

Baliatsas C, et al
Summary:

This cross-sectional study compared self-reported subjective symptoms between people identifying themselves as electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) and non-EHS individuals. In the study a random sample of 5789 adults that were registered as having attended a doctor for any medical condition completed a self-administered questionnaire on their EHS status. There were 202 patients (3%) that identified themselves as EHS. Participants identifying themselves as EHS had a higher prevalence of symptoms and medication prescriptions and longer symptom duration compared to non-EHS individuals. The authors conclude that self-identified EHS patients experience poorer health and more severe subjective symptoms.

Link to:

PubMed link

Published In:

J Psychosom Res 2014: in press

Exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields from broadcast transmitters and risk of childhood cancer: a census-based cohort study

Authored By:

Hauri DD, Spycher B, Huss A, Zimmermann F, Grotzer M, Von der Weid N, Spoerri A, Kuehni CE, Röösli M
Summary:

This cohort study investigated whether exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation from broadcast (radio and TV) transmitters is associated with childhood cancer. In the study all children aged under 16 years living in Switzerland on December 5, 2000 were followed till December 31, 2008 for the incidence of cancer. Exposure to RF was calculated based on the distance of the children’s residential address from broadcast transmitters and the transmitter characteristics. There were no statistically significant associations with leukaemia, brain tumour or all cancers combined. The authors conclude that this large cohort study did not show an association between RF exposure from broadcast transmitters and childhood cancer.

Link to:

PubMed link

Published In:

Am J Epidemiol 2013: in press
Commentary by ARPANSA:

The majority of previous epidemiological studies investigating cancer risk in children living near broadcast transmitters have been ecological or cross-sectional in design with many methodological limitations. For example, previous studies used distance between the home and the broadcast tower as a proxy for the RF exposure; no attempts were made by previous studies to estimate the exposure through measurements or calculations. The study by Hauri et al uses a cohort design and improves the assessment of exposure by performing calculations.

Liver antioxidant stores protect the brain from electromagnetic radiation (900 and 1800 MHz)-induced oxidative stress in rats during pregnancy and the development of offspring

Authored By:

Cetin H, et al
Summary:

This in vivo study investigated whether exposure to RF from mobile phones caused oxidative stress in growing rats from pregnancy to 6 weeks of age. In the study rats were exposed to RF at 900MHz, 1800MHz (average specific absorption rate of 0.15 W/kg) or sham for 60 min/day during pregnancy and neonatal development. There were reduced antioxidant concentrations in the RF exposed rats compared to the non-exposed rats. The authors conclude that RF exposure from mobile phones could be considered as a cause of oxidative damage in growing rats.

Link to:

PubMed link

Published In:

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2014: in press

Vestibular effects of a 7 tesla MRI examination compared to 1.5 T and 0 T in healthy volunteers

Authored By:

Theysohn JM, et al
Summary:

This human provocation study investigated vestibular effects (e.g. dizziness and loss of balance) of exposure to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the study 46 healthy volunteers were exposed to a 1.5 Tesla (T), 7 T and 0 T (sham) MRI. The subjects were tested for vestibular performance before, 2 minutes after, and 15 minutes after the MRI exposure. The authors reported only a temporary dysfunction of the vestibular system at 7 T (reported at 2 min but not 15 min after exposure) which did not occur at 1.5 or 0 T. The authors note that health consequences of the temporary vestibular disturbance detected at 7 T are unclear.

Link to:

PubMed link

Published In:

PLoS One 2014; 9 (3): e92104

"Magnetic fields and leukaemia risks in UK electricity supply workers" and "Magnetic fields and brain tumour risks in UK electricity supply workers"

Authored By:

Sorahan T
Summary:

These two papers describe a cohort study which investigated whether occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields is associated with leukaemia and brain tumours (glioma and meningioma). The cohort which included 73,051 electricity supply workers in England and Wales was investigated for the incidence of leukaemia and brain tumours during the period 1973-2010. Exposure to occupational magnetic fields 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. There were no overall statistically significant associations between exposure to magnetic fields and leukaemia and glioma. For meningioma, there was some evidence of elevated risks for higher exposures received for more than 10 years. The author concludes that the study found no convincing evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to magnetic fields is a risk factor for leukaemia and glioma. The author argues that the limited positive findings for meningioma may be chance findings.

Magnetic fields and brain tumour risks in UK electricity supply workers

 

Published In:

Occup Med (Lond) 2014: both papers are in press
Commentary by ARPANSA:

There have been a number of epidemiological studies investigating whether occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields is associated with cancer. Studies conducted in the 1980s and early 1990s pointed to a possible increased risk of leukaemia, brain tumour and breast cancer in occupations with presumed elevated exposure (e.g. workers in electricity supply). The interpretation of these studies was difficult mainly due to methodological limitations and lack of appropriate exposure measurements.

More recent studies have made use of improved methods for individual assessment of occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and potential occupational confounders. Modern exposure assessment methods include the combined use of systematic workplace measurements and calculations and individual job history descriptions as was done in the current study. However, because the magnetic field exposure within occupational groups is highly variable, these exposure assessment methods do not eliminate all uncertainties regarding the workers' exposure levels.

Overall there is no consistent evidence showing that occupational magnetic fields are associated with cancer.

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