Julio 2010

INTERPHONE Study Group: Cardis E, Deltour I, Vrijheid M, Combalot E, Moissonnier M, Tardy H, Armstrong B, Giles G, Brown J, Siemiatycki J, Parent ME, Nadon L, Krewski D, McBride ML, Johansen C, Collatz Christensen H, Auvinen A, Kurttio P, Lahkola A, Salminen T, Hours M, Bernard M, Montestruq L, Schüz J, Berg-Beckhoff G, Schlehofer B, Blettner M, Sadetzki S, Chetrit A, Jarus-Hakak A, Lagorio S, Iavarone I, Takebayashi T, Yamaguchi N, Woodward A, Cook A, Pearce N, Tynes T, Blaasaas KG, Klaeboe L, Feychting M, Lönn S, Ahlbom A, McKinney PA, Hepworth SJ, Muir KR, Swerdlow AJ, Schoemaker MJ. Brain tumour risk in relation to mobile telephone use: results of the INTERPHONE international case-control study. Int J Epidemiol. 2010 Jun;39(3):675-94.

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Saracci S, Samet J. (2010). Commentary: Call me on my mobile phone...or better not?—a look at the INTERPHONE study results. International Journal of Epidemiology. 39(3):695-698.

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High intensity and long duration of mobile phone use might be associated with tinnitus

The objective of the case-control study was to investigate whether mobile phone use increases the risk of tinnitus (ringing of ear). A total of 100 cases with tinnitus were included in the study and matched with a control subject randomly chosen from outpatients.  The authors obtained a patient history and conducted clinical examinations to remove those who we knew the underlying causes of tinnitus. The INTERPHONE study protocol questionnaire was used to determine mobile phone use. Results indicate that regular mobile phone use or cumulative hours of use did not produce significantly higher odds ratios (ORs). But, it was noted that the risk was significantly elevated for longer mobile phone use (≥4 years) (OR 1.95; confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 3.80). The authors concluded that mobile phone use should be included in future research because it could be a potential risk factor for the development of tinnitus.

Hutter HP, Moshammer H, Wallner P, Cartellieri M, Denk-Linnert DM, Katzinger M,  Ehrenberger K,  Kundi M. Tinnitus and mobile phone use. Occup Environ Med. Ahead of print June 23, 2010.

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No link between childhood cancers and pregnant women’s exposure to mobile phone base stations

The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of early childhood cancers and exposure to mobile phone base stations radiofrequency of pregnant women. The case-control study was conducted in Great Britain and used data from the cancer registry and national birth register. A total of 1,397 cases of childhood cancer (brain and central nervous system, leukaemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas) in 0 to 4 years old were match with four controls from national birth register (total 5,588 controls). Results indicate that mean distance of birth address from a macrocell base station, total output power of base stations, and modeled power density was comparable between cases and controls. The authors concluded that their study did not show any link between risk of early childhood cancers and exposure of pregnant women to mobile phone base stations.

Elliott P, Toledano MB, Bennett J, Beale L, de Hoogh K, Best N, Briggs DJ. Mobile phone base stations and early childhood cancers: case-control study. BMJ. Ahead of print. June 22, 2010.

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Bithell JF. Childhood cancer and proximity to mobile phone masts - Editorial. BMJ. Ahead of print. June 22, 2010.

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Use of mobile phone more than 10 years linked to brain tumours in study on deceased individuals

The objective of the study was to assess if the use of mobile or cordless telephones are associated with the risk of having a malignant brain tumour in a deceased population. The study included deceased individual aged 20 – 80 years who had a brain tumour and matched them with two control groups (one who died from cancer; one who died from another disease). A questionnaire was self-completed by next-of-kin assessing exposure to radiofrequency fields emitted from telephones. Results indicate that mobile phone use of more than 10 years was associated with increased risk of malignant brain tumour (Odds Ratio = 2.4 95% confidence interval = 1.4-4.1. The risk was highest in the more than 2,000 hour reference category. Cordless phone use was not significantly associated with brain tumour risk. The authors concluded that this investigation confirms their previous results of an association between mobile phone use and malignant brain tumours.

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K. Mobile Phone Use and the Risk for Malignant Brain Tumors: A Case-Control Study on Deceased Cases and Controls. Neuroepidemiology.35(2):109-114. Ahead of print. Jun 15, 2010.

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Mobile or cordless phone use not associated with decreased sleep quality in Swiss population.

The objective of the study was to assess the relation between total exposure from all radiofrequency fields’ (RF) sources and the quality of sleep. A total of 1,375 subjects selected from a random sample from Basel, Switzerland had their total RF exposure assessed by a prediction model. The authors also evaluate exposure by self-report of cordless and mobile phone use and mobile phone operator data for the previous 6 months. Results indicate from analyses using multivariable regression models that no associations between environmental RF exposure and sleep problems or extreme daytime sleepiness were observed. Mobile and cordless phone use were not associated with lower sleep quality. The authors concluded that their results did not show an effect on sleep quality due to exposure from various sources of RF in the environment.

Mohler E, Frei P, Braun-Fahrländer C, Fröhlich J, Neubauer G,  Röösli M. (2010). Effects of Everyday Radiofrequency Electromagnetic-Field Exposure on Sleep Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study. Radiation Research. June 17, 2010. Ahead of print.

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No evidence for a sleep-disturbing effect of GSM 900 and WCDMA exposure

The objective of the double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over study was to investigate the health effects of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 900 and WCDMA)/UMTS mobile phones on the macrostructure of sleep. The study included 30 male subjects who were screened for sleep disorders in a test night and 9 study nights where subjects were exposed to either sham, GSM 900 or WCDMA/UMTS). The results indicate that 13 out of 177 variables in the initiation and maintenance of sleep in the GSM 900 and only 3 variables in the WCDMA exposure were different from the sham exposure. The authors concluded that their results do not show any indication that GSM or WCDMA have an effect on sleep.

Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H, Bahr A, Anderer P, Sauter C. Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep. J Sleep Res. Ahead of print. Jun 16, 2010.

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How to inform lay people so that they trust and understand the risk information?

The objective of the report was to determine through a study of the perceived risk from mobile phones and mobile base stations how to inform lay people in a way that they believe the information transmitted to them and investigate whether types of information provided were rated as equally useful, informative, comprehensible, and trustworthy. The authors also looked whether information type would influence risk perception and intended behaviour. The study design was an Internet-based survey including 1,687 Danish participants who were randomized to 3 different types of information about radiofrequency fields emitted from mobile phones and base stations. It was concluded that lay people rate information about risks associated with a new and emerging technology more useful and trustworthy when the risk message included short statements on how to reduce the risk compared to lengthy technical information on specific health hazards. The authors mentioned that the survey results indicate that information could increase concern in an important fraction of the population, and that divergence exists between expressed concern on a risk issue and the intended behaviour.

Bo Nielsen J, Elstein A, Gyrd-Hansen D, Kildemoes HW, Kristiansen IS, Støvring H. Effects of alternative styles of risk information on EMF risk perception. Bioelectromagnetics. June 1, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Kundi M. Mobile Phone Use and Brain Cancer: Is the Association Biased? Neuroepidemiology. 35(2):115-116. Ahead of print. Jun 15, 2010.

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Hardell L, Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hansson Mild K. (2010). Re: Time Trends in Brain Tumor Incidence Rates in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 1974–2003. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 102: 740-741.

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Doré J-F, Boniol M, Telle-Lamberton M, and on behalf of the Afsset Working Group on Radiofrequencies (2010). Re: Time Trends in Brain Tumor Incidence Rates in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 1974–2003. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 102: 741-742.

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Deltour I, Johansen C, Auvinen A, Feychting M, Klaeboe L, Schüz J. (2010). Response: Re: Time Trends in Brain Tumor Incidence Rates in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 1974–2003. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2010 102: 742-743.

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Common core procedure would help to directly compare RF exposures in different population and study region.

The objective of the study was to put in place a study protocol for future personal radiofrequency field (RF) exposure studies using previous results based on experience from similar studies. The authors have summarized some procedures; measurement of RF personal exposure, data collection, data management and analysis, and selection of participants. Two types of measurement studies were identified: population surveys (need random sample of population for reliable results) and microenvironmental measurements (need select participants for typical behaviours). Different methods and procedures are required for each type of measurement study. The authors concluded that a common core procedure will enable us to directly compare RF exposures in different population and study region.

Roosli M, Frei P, Bolte J, Neubauer G, Cardis E, Feychting M, Gajsek P, Heinrich S, Joseph W, Mann S, Martens L, Mohler E, Parslow RC, Poulsen AH, Radon K, Schuz J, Thuroczy G, Viel JF, Vrijheid M. (2010). Conduct of a personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurement study: proposed study protocol. Environ Health. 9(1):23.

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Evaluation of correction factors for different RF exposure scenarios needed prior to study protocol.

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between the field strength measured close to the human body and exposimeter compared to the field strength at the location of the human body but without any human body present. The study was designed to look at 2 different scenarios. For exposures related to FM, GSM, and UMTS, an urban outdoor location was chosen which included a transmitting antenna mounted on the roof of one of four buildings. The second scenario for WLAN was set-up indoor. The results indicate that for GSM, the average degree of underestimation by the exposimeter was 0.76, 0.87 for UMTS and no underestimation for FM. For WLAN exposure, underestimation was 0.64. The authors concluded that their results indicate that a thorough evaluation of the correction factors for all scenarios is crucial prior to the finalizing the study protocol.

Neubauer G, Cecil S, Giczi W, Petric B, Preiner P, Fröhlich J, Röösli M. The association between exposure determined by radiofrequency personal exposimeters and human exposure: A simulation study. Bioelectromagnetics. Ahead of print. Jun 1, 2010.

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Mobile phone technology (Analog, GSM, CDMA, TDMA) strongest predictor of RF output power

The objective of the study was to report quantitative measurements of mobile phone output power for phone technology, geographical terrain, and handset design. The data was collected using a software-modified mobile phone that recorded power control levels in combination with a mobile system that recorded and analyzed radiofrequency fields measured in a phantom head located in a vehicle. Three routes (urban, suburban, and rural) were used in the experiment and averages of peak levels and overall averages of RF power output were determined using analysis of variance. Results show that technology was the strongest predictor of RF output power. The analog technology had the highest RF levels, CDMA the lowest, and GSM and TDMA had similar intermediate levels. In general, higher RF output powers were found in rural areas. The authors concluded that that mobile phone technology and also degree of urbanization are the two stronger factors influencing RF output power in this study.

Kelsh MA, Shum M, Sheppard AR, McNeely M, Kuster N, Lau E, Weidling R, Fordyce T, Kühn S, Sulser C. Measured radiofrequency exposure during various mobile-phone use scenarios. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. Jun 16, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Evaluation of different RF exposure assessment methods

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of personal phone usage on exposimeter results and also to look at different exposure assessment methodologies for epidemiological studies. Personal exposimeter measurements were recorded for one week along with diary data from 166 study participants. Results indicate that the mean personal exposure was 0.13mW/m2 (without exposure during phone calls) and 0.15mW/m2, when such phone calls were included in exposure. The authors concluded that personal exposure to radiofrequency fields measured by exposimeters had a higher correlation with the full exposure prediction model and spot measurements.

Frei P, Mohler E, Bürgi A, Fröhlich J, Neubauer G, Braun-Fahrländer C, Röösli M; The QUALIFEX Team. Classification of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for epidemiological research: Evaluation of different exposure assessment methods. Environ Int. Jun 8, 2010. Ahead of print.

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How to evaluate uncertainty in the measurement of EMF

The purpose of the study is to identify an appropriate representation of the basic information about evaluation of EMF measurement uncertainty. The study assessed the problem of how to compare a measurement result with a limit fixed by the standard for human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (0 Hz-300 GHz).

Vulevic B, Osmokrovic P. Evaluation of uncertainty in the measurement of environmental electromagnetic fields. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. May 28, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Results suggest that the recommended ICNIRP exposure reference levels may need to be slightly revised to account for small children.

The objective of the study was to determine if the specific absorption rate (SAR) in children remained below the basic restrictions guidelines of ICNIRP. The study authors used the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to assess the SAR in 6 children and 2 adults who were exposed to all 12 orthogonal plane wave configurations. The results indicate that the basic restriction on the SAR(whole body) is sometime exceeded (as much as 45% in small children). But, the maximum SAR(10g) values were always lower than the limit for all scenarios measured. The authors concluded that their results are in good agreement with previous studies in the peer-reviewed literature which suggest that the recommended ICNIRP reference levels may need to be slightly revised.

Bakker JF, Paulides MM, Christ A, Kuster N, van Rhoon GC. (2010). Assessment of induced SAR in children exposed to electromagnetic plane waves between 10 MHz and 5.6 GHz. Phys Med Biol. 55(11):3115-30.

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Base station RF exposure levels very low in comparison to the ICNIRP and also the Korean limits

The study authors measured human exposure to CDMA800 and CDMA1800 signals at public locations of concern in Korea. A total of 50 base station locations across the Korea were assessed in order to compare the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure with the general public exposure established limits. At each base station site, the distances between the nearest single or co-located base station and measurement positions varied between 32 and 422 metres. Results indicate that measured exposure levels were found to be very low in comparison to the ICNIRP and also the Korean limits. The highest recorded field level was 1.5 V/m corresponding to only 0.15% of the ICNIRP guidelines set for human exposure.

Kim BC, Park S-O. Evaluation of RF electromagnetic field exposure levels from cellular base stations in Korea. Bioelectromagnetics. June 3, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Chronic radiofrequency exposure to mice may alter their immunoreactivity

This paper investigated the effect of radiofrequency field (RF) exposure on rat hippocampus at 835 MHz and specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.6W/kg for 3 months by using both CB and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) specific antibodies. Decrease in CB immunoreactivity (IR) was noted in exposed (E1.6) group with loss of interneurons and pyramidal cells in CA1 area and loss of granule cells. Also, an increase in GFAP IR was observed in the hippocampus of E1.6.

Maskey D, Pradhan J, Aryal B, Lee CM, Choi IY, Park KS, Kim SB, Kim HG, Kim MJ. Chronic 835 MHz radiofrequency exposure to mice hippocampus alters the distribution of calbindin and GFAP immunoreactivity. Brain Res. May 20, 2010. Ahead of print.

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A cocarcinogenic effect of lifelong UMTS exposure

This study aims to investigate the tumour susceptibility in mice exposed to a UMTS signal for up to 24 months commencing with embryo-fetal exposure. The high-level UMTS exposure (48 W/m²), the sham exposure, and the cage control groups showed comparable tumour incidences in the organs. Tumour multiplicity of the lung carcinomas was increased and the number of metastasising lung tumours was doubled in the exposed group.

Tillmann T, Ernst H, Streckert J, Zhou Y, Taugner F, Hansen V, Dasenbrock C. Indication of cocarcinogenic potential of chronic UMTS-modulated radiofrequency exposure in an ethylnitrosourea mouse model. Int J Radiat Biol. Jun 15, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Effects of RF exposure on the neurological system

This paper studies the effect of radiofrequency field (RF) exposure on the number of Purkinje cells and granule cells in the developing cerebellum after whole gestation exposure of pregnant mice. A significant decrease in the number of Purkinje cells and a tendency for granule cells to increase in cerebellum of exposed animals compared to sham exposed mice was found.

Rağbetlı MC, Aydinlioğlu A, Koyun N, Rağbetlı C, Bektas S, Ozdemır S. The effect of mobile phone on the number of Purkinje cells: A stereological study. Int J Radiat Biol. June 15, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Electric and magnetic fields do not interfere with the biochemical properties of cells

This study analyzed the possible effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) from GSM signal on thyroid on cultured thyroid cells (FRTL-5). The irradiation of cells with EMF for 24, 48 and 96 hours did not influence the level of cAMP production and was not able to modify iodide accumulation in FRTL5 cells with respect to basal conditions.

Dimida A, Ferrarini E, Agretti P, De Marco G, Grasso L, Martinelli M, Longo I, Giulietti D, Ricci A, Galimberti M, Siervo B, Licitra G, Francia F, Pinchera A, Vitti P, Tonacchera M. Electric and magnetic fields do not modify the biochemical properties of FRTL-5 cells. J Endocrinol Invest. Jun 11, 2010. Ahead of print.

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In this study, a 6-minute daily exposure of dipteran flies, Drosophila melanogaster, to GSM-900 MHz was conducted to compare the effects between the continuous and four different intermittent exposures. Intermittent exposures with 10-minute intervals between exposure sessions proved to be almost equally effective as continuous exposure of the same total duration.

Chavdoula ED, Panagopoulos DJ, Margaritis LH. Comparison of biological effects between continuous and intermittent exposure to GSM-900-MHz mobile phone radiation: Detection of apoptotic cell-death features. Mutat Res. May 20, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Effect of mobile phone irradiation on the induction of pro-apoptosis events in human spermatozoa 

This study investigated the effect of one hour exposure to 900 MHz GSM signal on the induction of pro-apoptosis events in human spermatozoa. Mobile phone exposure had no statistically significant effect on any of the parameters studied.

Falzone N, Huyser C, Franken DR, Leszczynski D. Mobile Phone Radiation Does Not Induce Pro-apoptosis Effects in Human Spermatozoa. Rad. Resear. May 17, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Review of EMF exposure and blood-brain-barrier permeability

Most of experimental evidence does not support an adverse health effect from non-thermal radiofrequency fields (RF) on blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability. The author indicates that the scientific literature on the effects of low frequency EMF which do not cause tissue heating, is limited and can’t provide enough information to conclude on BBB permeability due to RF. It is proposed that future permeability studies focus on low frequency effects and also BBB effects in humans.

Stam R. Electromagnetic fields and the blood-brain barrier. Brain Res Rev. Jun 12, 2010. Ahead of print.

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Kovacic P, Somanathan R. Electromagnetic fields: mechanism, cell signaling, other bioprocesses, toxicity, radicals, antioxidants and beneficial effects. J Recept Signal Transduct Res. May 28, 2010.  Ahead of print.

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