October 2009

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, and potential predisposing factors for gliomas in Greece

The objective of the study was to investigate some characteristics and potential risk factors such as mobile phones on cerebral gliomas in Northwest Greece. The study was a prospective design which included all patients with a diagnosis of brain tumour glioma between June 2005 and May 2007. Results show that 56 glioma incident cases were identified in this period and that no significant association between glioma and alcohol consumption, smoking and mobile phone use was detected. The authors concluded that estimated incident rates of glioma and glioblastoma in their study was higher in Greece than other countries such as European and Asian countries, and the US.

Gousias K, Markou M, Voulgaris S, Goussia A, Voulgari P, Bai M, Polyzoidis K, Kyritsis A, Alamanos Y. 2009. Descriptive epidemiology of cerebral gliomas in northwest Greece and study of potential predisposing factors, 2005-2007. Neuroepidemiology. 33(2):89-95.

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Short-term exposure to cell phones has no significant effects on the sensory memory in children

The objective of the study was to evaluate the health effect of GSM mobile phone use (SAR1g = 1.14 W/Kg) on the auditory sensory memory in 17 children aged 11-12 years. The authors used a new paradigm to detect neural change-detection profile for types of acoustic changes. A single-blind design was used where EMF was either on or off. Results indicate that short-term exposure of two 6 minute periods to cell phone EMF had no statistically significant adverse health effects on the neural change-detection profile in children. The authors mention that the multi-feature paradigm was effective for studies for perception accuracy and sensory memory in children.

Kwon MS, Huotilainen M, Shestakova A, Kujala T, Näätänen R, Hämäläinen H. No effects of mobile phone use on cortical auditory change-detection in children: An ERP study. Bioelectromagnetics Ahead of print. Sep 21, 2009.

For more see “Research – clinical – cognitive function”
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Elevated saliva secretion rates and decreased protein secretion of parotid glands adjacent to handheld mobile phone in use. 

The objective of the study was to assess whether mobile phone use produces physiologic (secretion rates and protein levels in the secreted saliva) changes in the adjacent parotid gland. A total of 50 healthy volunteers who used their mobile phone on their dominant side of the head had parotid saliva collected simultaneously from both glands. Results indicate that a significantly higher saliva secretion rate was found in the dominant mobile phone side in comparison to the other side. The authors concluded that parotid glands adjacent to handheld mobile phone in use produced higher salivary rates and decreased protein secretion.

Goldwein O, Aframian DJ. The influence of handheld mobile phones on human parotid gland secretion. Oral Dis. Ahead of print Sep 8, 2009.

For more see “Research – clinical – general”
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Mobile phone exposures could act on brain electrical activity, reducing the arousal and expectation of warning stimulus

The objective of the study was to assess initial contingent negative variation (iCNV) changes due to 900 MHz GSM exposure. A double-blind design with 10 healthy volunteers who were exposed, sham-exposed or unexposed (phone switched off). Results indicate that iCNV amplitude decreased and habituation increased during both exposed and sham-exposed conditions compared with the condition where the phone was turned off. Mobile phone exposures (real or sham) appear to effect brain electrical activity, reducing the arousal and expectation of warning stimulus.

de Tommaso M, Rossi P, Falsaperla R, Francesco Vde V, Santoro R, Federici A. 2009. Mobile phones exposure induces changes of contingent negative variation in humans. Neurosci Lett. 464(2):79-83.

For more see “Research – clinical – cognitive function”
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Methodology to calculate an exposure gradient to determine exposure assessment of mobile phones in epidemiologic studies

The objective of the study was to propose a method to determine 3-dimension distribution of the specific absorption rate (SAR) in the human head due to mobile phone use and provide an exposure gradient for epidemiologic studies. SAR distributions were estimated by a compliance test producing data for real devices. The results indicate that the proposed method had a good estimation of 3-dimension SAR distribution in the head for brain tissue of importance in epidemiologic studies and it has been used in INTERPHONE studies.

Wake K, Varsier N, Watanabe S, Taki M, Wiart J, Mann S, Deltour I, Cardis E. The estimation of 3D SAR distributions in the human head from mobile phone compliance testing data for epidemiological studies. Phys Med Biol. 54(19):5695-5706. Ahead of print. Sep 1, 2009.

For more see “Research – exposure assessment”
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Wired and wireless hands-free kits considerably diminishes the exposure of the entire head region compared to handheld mobile phones to the head

The objective of the study was to assess whether radiofrequency field radiation emitted from mobile phones connected to either a wireless or wired hands-free kit reduces human exposure. Results indicate that the maximum spatial peak SAR in the head when using a wired hands-free kit was more than 5 times lower than ICNIRP limits. Also, the wired hands-free kit significantly reduced the exposure of the entire head region compared to handheld mobile phones at the head, even for extreme coupling scenarios. The authors said that wired hands-free kit may cause a localized increase exposure in the region of the ear inside the head under extreme conditions. Wireless hands-free kit constantly produced a low exposition.

Kühn S, Cabot E, Christ A, Capstick M, Kuster N. Assessment of the radio-frequency electromagnetic fields induced in the human body from mobile phones used with hands-free kits. Phys Med Biol. 54(18):5493-5508. Ahead of print. Aug 26, 2009.

For more see “Research – exposure assessment”
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Measurement exposure to radiofrequency EMFs of operational personnel working for a mobile telephone operator

The objective of the study was to investigate the exposure of operational personnel from a mobile telephone operator to radiofrequency fields(RF) from base stations. Exposimeters were used to record RF exposure for 23 technical operators and 22 “other workers”. Exposure densities were determined by using 229 exposure indicators. The cluster analysis used in the study does not produce a reliable emergence of the two working groups, even if certain exposure indicators were significantly different for the two groups.

Chauvin S, Gibergues ML, Wüthrich G, Picard D, Desreumaux JP, Bouillet JC. Occupational exposure to ambient electromagnetic fields of technical operational personnel working for a mobile telephone operator. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. Ahead of print. Sep 15, 2009.

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Morphological differences in models appear to be an important cause of variation in SAR in the eyes and brain

The objective of the study was to calculate using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) the SAR values in the head and brain exposed from 1 to 10 GHz in adult male and female head models. Measured temperature rise was assessed. Cubically averaged 10 g SAR in the eyes and brain and eye-averaged SAR were calculated and then compared to the rise in temperature and also to the recommended exposure limits. Results of the experiment showed that morphological differences in male and female models seemed to be an important variation. The differences for the 2 head models were usually larger than the computational error and larger than the difference for open and closed eyes. The authors concluded that when limiting the incident plane-wave power density to smaller than 100 W/m, temperature rise in the eyes and brain were usually less than 1 degree Celsius in the whole frequency range.

Laakso I. 2009. Assessment of the computational uncertainty of temperature rise and SAR in the eyes and brain under far-field exposure from 1 to 10 GHz. Phys Med Biol. 54(11):3393-404.

For more see “Research – exposure assessment”
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Importance of evaluating both electrical and thermal effects for public exposure of non-ionizing radiation

The objective of the experiment was to quantify which components of the EMF spectrum (0.5-2200 MHz) is an important source of non-ionizing radiation. Power density levels were calculated for different modulations; radio broadcasting, television, and GSM, DCS, UMTS mobile telephony bands. The measured levels were then compared with the ICNIRP reference levels for exposure to multiple frequency sources for thermal effects and electrical stimulation. The bands that contributed most to the thermal effect were the short waves (46.2%) and mobile telephones (32.6%) of the total exposure. The authors indicated that it is crucial because of its complexity to understand the radiofrequency field spectrum if we want to quantify the contribution of each band for public exposure.

Paniagua JM, Rufo M, Jiménez A, Antolín A, Sánchez M. 2009. Electrical stimulation vs thermal effects in a complex electromagnetic environment. Sci Total Environ. 407(16):4717-4722.

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Radiofrequency fields do not affect blood-brain barrier permeability

The aim of this study is to replicate a 2003 study reporting that a single 2-h exposure of rats to GSM-900 mobile telephony signals induced brain damage. The findings of the study did not confirm the previous results.

de Gannes FP, Billaudel B, Taxile M, Haro E, Ruffié G, Lévêque P, Veyret B, Lagroye I. (2009). Effects of head-only exposure of rats to GSM-900 on blood-brain barrier permeability and neuronal degeneration. Radiat Res. 172(3):359-367.

For more see “Research – laboratory – brain function”
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Concerns about possible risks of electromagnetic fields generated in connection with electrical equipment and communication

This study investigates the possible risk due to pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) on rat postnatal neurogenesis in relation to the animal's age and exposure duration. The results indicate that EMF induce significant age- and dose-dependent changes in proliferating cell numbers.

Orendácová J, Raceková E, Orendác M, Martoncíková M, Saganová K, Lievajová K, Abdiová H, Labun J, Gálik J. (2009). Immunohistochemical study of postnatal neurogenesis after whole-body exposure to electromagnetic fields: evaluation of age-and dose-related changes in rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 29(6-7):981-990.

For more see “Research – laboratory – brain function”
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Can electromagnetic exposure play the role of a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic therapeutic against Alzheimer's disease?

This report presents the first evidence that long-term electromagnetic exposure directly associated with cell phone use (918 MHz; 250 mW/kg) provides cognitive benefits.

Arendash GW, Sanchez-Ramos J, Mori T, Mamcarz M, Lin X, Runfeldt M, Wang L, Zhang G, Sava V, Tan J, Cao C. Electromagnetic field treatment protects against and reverses cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mice. J Alzheimers Dis. Ahead of print, 2009.

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Can CAPE prevent electromagnetic field induced oxidative changes?

This study investigates the possible protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzyme activities in rat liver exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF). The authors conclude that CAPE may prevent the EMF induced oxidative changes in liver by strengthening the antioxidant defense system.

Koyu A, Ozguner F, Yilmaz H, Uz E, Cesur G, Ozcelik N. (2009). The protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on oxidative stress in rat liver exposed to the 900 MHz electromagnetic field. Toxicol Ind Health. 25(6):429-434.

For more see “Research – laboratory – other – free oxygen radicals”
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Weight of evidence does not indicate specific, non-thermal responses to non-ionizing radiation at the gene or protein level.

The review of McNamee and Chauhan looks at the latest scientific evidence for changes in protein and gene expression possibly induced by radiofrequency field radiation. Some studies have indicated that non-ionizing radiation could produce alterations in gene/protein expression in different types of cells or tissues that could be of adverse effect to health. However, other laboratory studies have shown no adverse health effects due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation. The authors concluded that the current weight of evidence does not indicate specific, non-thermal responses to non-ionizing radiation at the gene or protein level. But they also say that some well-conducted laboratory studies have observed enough evidence of non-ionizing radiation and induced gene/protein interaction to continue investigating the issue.

McNamee JP, Chauhan V. 2009. Radiofrequency radiation and gene/protein expression: a review. Radiat Res. 172(3):265-287.

For more see “Research – laboratory – cancer studies” & “Bibliography – review papers – cancer”
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COMAR committee makes recommendation to public health officials to continue to base their policies on current RF safety limits

The objective of the Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) technical information statement was to search for credible sources of scientific information on potential health risks from radiofrequency field (RF) exposure. Their Statement provides some references to expert reports mostly available on the internet. The report summarizes the conclusions from several major reports and provides comment on the well-known BioInitiative Report.

Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR). 2009. COMAR technical information statement: expert reviews on potential health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and comments on the bioinitiative report. Health Phys. 97(4): 348-356.

For more see “Bibliography – review papers – general”
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Review of scientific studies on symptoms or diseases possibly due to radiofrequency field exposure

The objective of the review paper was to evaluate the scientific literature and databases to find incidence and prevalence of symptoms and diseases which were mentioned in the past appeals by physicians. These following health conditions were reviewed: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart-diseases, headache, migraine. The review indicates that none of the symptoms or diseases listed above of a "dramatic increase" in the previous appeals were identified in studies since 1993. The authors concluded that their review strongly suggests that the allegations of the quoted appeals are not supported by public health data.

Zur Nieden A, Dietz C, Eikmann T, Kiefer J, Herr CE. Physicians appeals on the dangers of mobile communication – what is the evidence? Assessment of public health data. Int J Hyg Environ Health. Ahead of print. Sep 5, 2009.

For more see “Research – review papers – general”
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