Noviembre 2006

No effect on well-being or cognitive performance from base station-like exposure

This study attempted to replicate the results of Zwamborn’s study (2003), also known as the TNO study (see “What’s New”, October 2003). That study reported that a UTMS base station-like exposure at an E-field strength of 1 V/m reduced well-being in hypersensitive and non-sensitive subjects. Regel and colleagues from Switzerland could not find any effects on well-being from exposure to a UTMS base station-like exposure. The study included subjects that were self-reported to be sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Effects were observed in 1 of 6 tasks of cognitive function in the sensitive subjects and in accuracy in another task in non-sensitive subjects. Both of these findings were apparently due to chance, since they were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple testing.

For more, see “Research – Clinical – Others – General health effects”.

Reference: Regel SJ, Negovetic S, Roosli M, Berdinas V, et al. UMTS base station-like exposure, well-being, and cognitive performance. Environ Health Perspect 2006;114:1270-1275.

Interphone study (1): No increased risk of parotid gland tumours

This study was based in Denmark and Sweden. Information was collected from 60 malignant cases, 112 benign cases and 681 controls. For regular phone use, regardless of duration, the risk estimates for malignant and benign tumours were 0.7 (95% CI 0.4, 1.2) and 0.9 (0.5, 1.5) respectively. Similar results were found for more than 10 years' cell phone use. These results are in agreement with previous reports.

Reference: Lonn S, Ahlbom A, Christensen HC, Johansen C, et al. Mobile phone use and risk of parotid gland tumor. Am J Epidemiol: Published on-line July 3, 2006.

Interphone study (2): No increased risk of acoustic neuroma

The authors interviewed 101 cases of acoustic neuroma aged 30-69 and residing in the Tokyo area, and 339 age-, sex-, and residency-matched controls. No significant risk of acoustic neuroma was observed with cell phone use. The OR was 0.73 (CI 0.43-1.23). No exposure-related increase in the risk was observed, and there was no association with laterality of the tumours.

Reference: Takebayashi T, Akiba S, Kikuchi Y, Taki M, et al. Mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma risk in Japan. Occup Environ Med: Published online 15 August 2006.

For more on these studies, see "Research - Epidemiology".

RFR from a GSM phone modifies brain excitability

Italian investigators used Transmission Magnetic Stimulation to measure brain excitability in volunteers who were exposed to RFR from a 900 MHz phone for 45 minutes. The results showed modification of brain excitability, compared with sham exposure.

For more, see "Research-Clinical-cognitive function".

Reference: Ferreri F, Curcio G, Pasqualetti P, De Gennaro L, et al. Mobile phone emissions and human brain excitability. Ann Neurol 2006;60:188-196.

No effect on cell cycle or cell death from RFR

A recent study examined the effect of RFR from an 1800 MHz signal on the cell cycle and on cell death, and showed no differences from sham exposure.

For more, see “Research – Toxicological– others – cell cycle and cell death”.

Reference: Lantow M, Viergutz T, Weiss DG, Simko M. Comparative study of cell cycle kinetics and induction of apoptosis after exposure of human mono Mac 6 cells to radiofrequency radiation. Radiat Res 2006;166:539-543.

Effects of RFR at high SARs on heat shock proteins

Wang and colleagues exposed human cells to RFR at 2450 MHz frequency and high SAR levels for 3 hours. They found that HSP70 and HSP27 levels did not increase more than corresponding heat controls. A transient increase in HSP27 phosphorylation was seen at SAR levels above 100 W/kg, in comparison to heat controls.

For more, see “Research – Toxicological– others – heat shock response”.

Reference: Wang J, Koyama S, Komatsubara Y, Suzuki Y, et al. (2006): Effects of a 2450 MHz high-frequency electromagnetic field with a wide range of SARs on the induction of heat-shock proteins in A172 cells. Bioelectromagnetics 27:479-486.