Deciembre 2010

Associations found between measured exposure and acute symptoms probably due to multiple testing

The objective of the cross-sectional epidemiological study was to examine the association between the individual exposure to radiofrequency fields (RF) (mobile phones, DECT phones, base stations, WLAN) and acute health effects in children and adolescents. A total of 1,498 children and 1,524 adolescents participated in the both the questionnaire and individual exposure measurement (over 24 hours using a personal dosimeter) phase of the study. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported exposure and potential confounders were also collected. The subjects also completed a diary, where acute symptoms such as headache, irritation, nervousness, dizziness, fatigue and concentration problems were assessed twice (noon, before bedtime) during the 24-hour measurement. Results indicate that the overall measured exposure to RF was very low. Of the considerable number of investigated associations found, only a few were statistically significant. The authors concluded that some of the associations found between measured exposure and acute symptoms were probably due to multiple testing. Results of the associations for self-reported exposure and symptoms could be due to differential misclassification. Thus, valid exposure assessment is important in epidemiological studies.

Heinrich S, Thomas S, Heumann C, von Kries R, Radon K. Association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields assessed by dosimetry and acute symptoms in children and adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study. Environ Health. Nov 25, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Non-significant increase in risk was found for occupational exposure to EMF

The objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between residential and occupational exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) and brain tumours in adults. The authors conducted a case-control study in southwestern France which included 221 central nervous system tumours (105 gliomas, 67 meningiomas and 33 acoustic neuromas) and 442 individually age and sex-matched controls. Exposure to extremely-low frequency field (ELF) and radiofrequency field (RF) was assessed for occupational settings through expert opinion based on a full job calendar, and residential settings by determining the distance from the home to power lines. Results indicate that a non-significant increase in risk was found for occupational exposure to EMF (odds ratio (OR)=1.52, confidence interval (CI) 0.92-2.51) and it was significant for meningiomas for ELF exposure (OR=3.02; CI =1.10, 8.25). Subjects living close to power lines had a non-significant elevated risk of meningioma (OR=2.99, 95% CI 0.86, 10.40).The authors concluded that their results suggest that occupational or residential exposure to ELF could have a role in the incidence of meningioma.

Baldi I, Coureau G, Jaffré A, Gruber A, Ducamp S, Provost D, Lebailly P, Vital A, Loiseau H, Salamon R. Occupational and residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and risk of brain tumours in adults: A case-control study in gironde, france. Int J Cancer. Nov 12, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – epidemiological – other studies – other occupations”
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Review of case-control studies of brain tumour risk from mobile phone use

The paper reviews all case-control studies until 2009 on brain tumour risk from usage of mobile phone. It also covers epidemiological studies on the risk of brain tumours from exposure to other sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). A total of 11 studies on long-term mobile phone use of more than 10 years were reviewed. The authors provided a brief overview of brain tumours (glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma) and other potential health effects (testicular cancer, salivary gland tumours, intratemporal facial nerve tumours, male fertility, breast cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma) due to cell phone usage. They proposed that a precautionary principleshould be applied when there is reasonable grounds for health concern. They also stated that the principle clearly applies in this situation since it’s an issue that is possible although not certain and risk reducing actions are inexpensive and could be implemented without difficulty by the industry. The authors concluded that “the current standard of exposure to microwave during mobile phone use is not safe for long-term exposure and needs to be revised.”

Dubey RB, Hanmandlu M, Gupta SK. (2010). Risk of Brain Tumors From Wireless Phone Use. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 34(6):799-807.

For more see “Research – epidemiological – cell phone studies” & “bibliography – review papers –   epidemiology”
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Development of 3 waveguides using fin-line concept for the exposure of small biological in-vitro samples

The objective of the study was to develop and analyze 3 waveguides for the exposure of small biological in-vitro samples to GSM 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, and UMTS 2,000 MHz . The waveguides were developed using a fin-line concept. The chamber with the samples placed in extracellular solution was put on 2 fins where the exposure field could then concentrate. Measures of the samples were done to have patch clamp recordings during radiofrequency field (RF) exposure. Maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) of 20 W/kg (average over the mass of the solution) was used in the study. Results indicate that at 20 W/kg the temperature elevation was small while no thermal effects were found at the lower SAR’s of 2.0, 0.2, and 0.02 W/kg.

El Ouardi A, Streckert J, Bitz A, Münkner S, Engel J, Hansen V. New fin-line devices for radiofrequency exposure of small biological samples in vitro allowing whole-cell patch clamp recordings. Bioelectromagnetics. Oct 28, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – exposure assessment”
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SARs were lower than the guidelines value for general public exposure and occupational exposure in pregnant women

The objective of the paper was to compare the specific absorption rates (SARs) of two fetal positions exposed to electromagnetic radiation emitted from a normal mode helical antenna with a metallic case (mobile radio terminals set at 900 MHz and 2 GHz). Two pregnant woman models of a 26th-gestational week pregnant Japanese woman were used to represent a different position of the fetus. Fetus-averaged SAR and fetal peak 10g-averaged SAR were calculated for two antenna positions. Results indicate that fetal SARs were highly influenced by the distance and penetration direction from the antenna to the fetal but that all SARs were lower than the guidelines value for general public exposure (2 W/kg) and occupational exposure (10 W/kg) set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

Akimoto S, Nagaoka T, Saito K, Watanabe S, Takahashi M, Ito K. (2010). Comparison of SAR in realistic fetus models of two fetal positions exposed to electromagnetic wave from business portable radio close to maternal abdomen. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 1:734-7.

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Neither single nor combined RF exposures affect cell cycle progression

The objective of this paper is to study whether single or combined radiofrequency (RF) exposure (W-CDMA and CDMA) has effects on the cell cycle and its regulatory proteins. Neither the single RF exposure nor the combined RF exposure elicited alterations in DNA synthesis, cell cycle distribution, and levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins.

Lee K-Y, Kim BC, Han N-K, Lee Y-S, Kim T, Yun J-H, Kim N, Pack J-K, Lee J-S. Effects of combined radiofrequency radiation exposure on the cell cycle and its regulatory proteins.  Bioelectromagnetics. 28 Oct, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – other – cell cycle progression”
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Reproducible responses due to RF exposure

This paper studies reproducible responses to local radiofrequency (RF) field exposure in the parietal cortex of anesthetised rats and to determine their dependence on exposure intensity. The results suggest that local RF exposure of the rat cortex drives a regulation of cerebral blood flow accompanied by a local temperature rise.

Masuda H, Hirata A, Kawai H, Wake K, Watanabe S, Arima T, Poulletier de Gannes F, Lagroye I, Veyret B. Local exposure of the rat cortex to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields increases local cerebral blood flow along with temperature. J Appl Physiol. Oct 28, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – brain function”
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No evidence for acute cell stress or glial reactions due to RF radiation

In this study, cell stress and glial responses in the brain of developing rats were quantified one day after a single exposure of 2 hours to a GSM 1,800 MHz signal at a brain average specific absorption rate (SAR) in the range of 1.7 to 2.5 W/kg. The results provide no evidence for acute cell stress or glial reactions indicative of early neural cell damage, in developing brains exposed to 1,800 MHz signals.

Watilliaux A, Edeline JM, Lévêque P, Jay TM, Mallat M. Effect of Exposure to 1,800 MHz Electromagnetic Fields on Heat Shock Proteins and Glial Cells in the Brain of Developing Rats. Neurotox Res. Nov 2, 2010. Ahead of print.

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No effect on the hematopoietic system in rats due to RF exposure

This study investigates the effect of a 900-MHz continuous-wave radiofrequency RF radiation on the hematopoietic system in the rat. No effects on the hematopoietic system in rats for 900 MHz continuous-wave RF exposure at the 2 W/kg localized specific absorption rate (SAR) limit value were found.

Kumar G, Wood AW, Anderson V, McIntosh RL, Chen YY, McKenzie RJ. Evaluation of hematopoietic system effects after in vitro radiofrequency radiation exposure in rats. Int J Radiat Biol. Nov 4, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – other – immune system”
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Electrophysiological changes in auditory pathway during mobile phone exposure

This study investigates the possible electrophysiological time-related changes in auditory pathway during mobile phone electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. No statistically significant delay was found for the same auditory brainstem responses (ABR) parameters in recordings from the ear contralateral to the radiation source at 60 minutes radiation exposure compared with baseline ABR.

Kaprana AE, Chimona TS, Papadakis CE, Velegrakis SG, Vardiambasis IO, Adamidis G, Velegrakis GA. Auditory Brainstem Response Changes during Exposure to GSM-900 Radiation: An Experimental Study. Audiol Neurootol.16(4):270-276. Nov 16, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – other – ear”
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Multiple treatments of the target site to potent carcinogen 

This study concerns with the multiple treatment of the target site to potent carcinogen and the super imposition of low level radiofrequency and microwave radiation. Swiss albino mice (male) were used for this investigation. There were insignificant differences either in the mortality or cell proliferation among the control and exposed group.

Paulraj R, Behari J. Effects of low level microwave radiation on carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino mice. Mol Cell Biochem. Nov 18, 2010.  Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – cancer studies”
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Effects of chronic exposure to cellular telephone on hearing

The paper studies the effects of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by cellular telephones upon the inner ear of rats, using distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Exposure to the EMF emitted from cellular telephones, for 6 hours a day for 30 consecutive days, had no effect on the hearing of newborn or adult rats, at the outer ear, middle ear or cochlear level.

Kayabasoglu G, Sezen OS, Eraslan G, Aydin E, Coskuner T, Unver S. Effect of chronic exposure to cellular telephone electromagnetic fields on hearing in rats. J Laryngol Otol. Nov 9, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – other – ear”
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RF radiation alone does not increase reactive oxygen species  production

This study investigated the effect of the Enhanced Data on Global Evolution (EDGE) signal on cells of three human brain cell lines, SH-SY5Y, U87 and CHME5, used as models of neurons, astrocytes and microglia, respectively, as well as on primary cortical neuron cultures. The findings indicate that exposure to the EDGE signal does not induce oxidative stress under these test conditions, including specific absorption rate (SAR) of 10 W/kg.

Poulletier de Gannes F, Haro E, Hurtier A, Taxile M, Ruffié G, Billaudel B, Veyret B, Lagroye I. Effect of Exposure to the Edge Signal on Oxidative Stress in Brain Cell Models. Rad Resear. Nov 22, 2010. Ahead of print.

For more see “Research – laboratory – brain function”
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Review of biological effects from short and long-term exposures to RF radiation – mobile phone base stations

The objective of the review was to look at studies of low-level radiofrequency radiation exposures in people who lived or worked near mobile phone infrastructure systems. More precisely, the authors discuss biological effects at low intensities, long-term exposures and cumulative effects, thermal versus non-thermal effects, studies on exposure to cell phone base station transmissions, risk perception, electrohypersensitivity, psychological factors, and assessing exposures. The authors indicate that many biological effects occur after short-term exposures to low-intensity radiofrequency fields but possible adverse health effects need to be better ascertained and more research is needed on the biological effects from long-term exposures. The long-term lower intensity exposures are widespread today and also increasing rapidly worldwide due to the availability of wireless products and services.

Levitt BB and Lai H. (2010). Biological effects from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays. Environ. Rev. 18:369–395.

For more see “bibliography – review papers – epidemiology”
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