Whole Home EMF Research

Radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure in humans: Estimation of SAR distribution in the brain, effects on sleep and heart rate.

Huber R et al. · 2003

Effects of mobile phone radiation on reproduction and development in Drosophila melanogaster.

Weisbrot D, Lin H, Ye L, Blank M, Goodman R. · 2003

Researchers exposed fruit flies to a discontinuous RF signal from a GSM multiband phone at 900/1,900 MHz with SAR approximately 1.4 W/kg for 10 days from egg laying through pupation. The non-thermal radiation increased offspring numbers, elevated hsp70 levels, increased SRE DNA-binding, and induced ELK-1 phosphorylation.

Effects of electromagnetic fields on proteoglycan metabolism of bovine articular cartilage explants.

De Mattei M et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed bovine articular cartilage explants to a 75 Hz, 2,3 mT electromagnetic field in vitro, with and without interleukin-1. EMF exposure significantly increased proteoglycan synthesis and residual tissue proteoglycan content compared with controls, without affecting proteoglycan release or nitric oxide production. In interleukin-1-treated explants, EMF increased proteoglycan synthesis and kept tissue proteoglycan content at control levels while not changing proteoglycan release. Lactate production increased in both experimental conditions with EMF exposure.

Effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on human eeg: A brain mapping study.

Kramarenko AV, Tan U. · 2003

Researchers used a 16-channel telemetric electroencephalograph to record EEG changes during exposure of the human skull to EMF from a mobile phone. During exposure, median frequency increased in areas close to the antenna after 10-15 seconds, and slow-wave activity (2.5-6.0 Hz) appeared in contralateral frontal and temporal areas after 20-40 seconds. The slow waves lasted about one second and repeated every 15-20 seconds, and both the slow-wave activity and increased median frequency disappeared after the phone was turned off.

Head-only exposure to GSM 900-MHz electromagnetic fields does not alter rat's memory in spatial and non-spatial tasks.

Dubreuil D, Jay T, Edeline JM. · 2003

Researchers exposed rats head-only to 900 MHz GSM electromagnetic fields at 1 and 3.5 W/kg for 45 minutes and compared performance with sham and control rats. In the first experiment, a slightly improved performance was found at 3.5 W/kg, but this was not seen in the delay task. In the third experiment, exploratory activity showed some effects but recognition memory was unaffected. Overall, the experiments provided no evidence that spatial or non-spatial memory is affected by this exposure.

Electrosensibility and electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Unknown authors · 2003

The study investigated electrosensibility in 708 adults aged 17 to 60 years using perception thresholds to 50 Hz electric currents. Analysis of perception threshold distributions revealed a subgroup with significantly increased electrosensibility that could be differentiated from the general population. The variation in electrosensibility was significantly larger than estimated by nonionizing radiation protection bodies but much smaller than claimed by hypersensitivity self-aid groups. The investigation method presented is capable of exclusion diagnostics for persons suffering from the hypersensitivity syndrome.

Lack of Genotoxic Effects (Micronucleus Induction) in Human Lymphocytes Exposed In Vitro to 900 MHz Electromagnetic Fields.

Zeni et al. · 2003

S., Sannino, A., Antolini, A., Forigo, D., Bersani, F. and Scarfi, M. R

Zeni, O., Schiavoni, A. · 2003

Researchers exposed human peripheral blood lymphocytes from 20 healthy donors to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields under various conditions. Exposures included continuous-wave and GSM-modulated signals at specific absorption rates of 1.6 W/kg and 0.2 W/kg with different intermittent patterns. No statistically significant differences were found in micronucleus frequency or cell cycle kinetics across any exposure condition.

Human brain wave activity during exposure to radiofrequency field emissions from mobile phones.

D'Costa H et al. · 2003

Researchers recorded EEG from ten awake subjects while a mobile phone behind the head emitted radiofrequency fields. The study tested a GSM phone at full radiated power and a phone in active standby mode, each with five active and five sham exposures in randomized five-minute intervals. The experiment was single-blind and compared average EEG band power between active and sham recordings. Statistical tests showed significant differences in the full-power trial for EEG alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-32 Hz) bands. Analysis of median spectral power across 32 discrete frequencies found significant differences in 7 frequencies overall.

P., Bellier, P. V., Gajda, G. B., Lavallee, B. F., Marro, L., Lemay, E. and Thansandote, A

McNamee, J. · 2003

Age-related effects on induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to electromagnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers exposed cultured fibroblasts from six healthy donors of different ages to intermittent ELF-EMF at 50 Hz and 1 mT for 1 to 24 hours. Basal DNA strand break levels correlated with donor age. The maximum DNA strand break response occurred at 15 to 19 hours of exposure. This response was more pronounced in cells from older donors, suggesting an age-related decrease in DNA repair efficiency.

The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes induced by benzo(a)pyrene

Unknown authors · 2003

The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes induced by benzo(a)pyrene

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers exposed human immune cells to 60 Hz electromagnetic fields (like power lines) along with a known cancer-causing chemical called benzo(a)pyrene. They found that EMF exposure significantly increased genetic damage when combined with the chemical, compared to the chemical alone. The study suggests EMF may act as an amplifier of cancer-causing processes rather than directly causing cancer itself.

Comparisons of peak SAR levels in concentric sphere head models of children and adults for irradiation by a dipole at 900 MHz.

Anderson V. · 2003

The study aimed to examine the scale and significance of differences in peak specific energy absorption rate (SAR) in the brains of children and adults exposed to radiofrequency emissions from mobile phones. Model analyses using a three-layered spherical head exposed to a dipole at 900 MHz showed that peak brain 10 g averaged SAR in 4, 8, 12, and 16 year olds increased by factors of 1.31, 1.23, 1.15, and 1.07 compared to an average adult. The researchers concluded that the relatively small scale of these increases does not warrant special precautionary measures for child mobile phone users.

Effects of In Vivo Exposure to GSM-Modulated 900 MHz Radiation on Mouse Peripheral Lymphocytes.

Gatta L et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed C57BL/6 mice to 900 MHz GSM-modulated radiation at SAR 1 or 2 W/kg for 2 hours per day over 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The number of spleen cells, percentages of B and T cells, and CD4/CD8 distribution were not altered by exposure. After 1 week of exposure, IFN-gamma production increased, but this effect was not seen after 2 or 4 weeks.

Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular telephone on epidermal Merkel cells.

Irmak MK, Oztas E, Yagmurca M, Fadillioglu E, Bakir B. · 2003

Researchers investigated the influence of electromagnetic radiation from a 900 MHz cellular telephone on Merkel cells in rats. One group of rats was exposed to a cellular telephone in speech position for 30 minutes while another group was sham-exposed under the same conditions. Exposure led to significantly higher exocytotic activity in Merkel cells compared with the sham exposure group.

Magnetic fields and the melatonin hypothesis: a study of workers chronically exposed to 50-Hz magnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers studied 15 men chronically exposed to 50-Hz magnetic fields for 1–20 years and 15 unexposed controls. Exposure levels for the exposed group ranged from 0.1 to 2.6 μT weekly geometric mean. Blood samples were taken hourly from 2000 to 0800 and nighttime urine was also collected and analyzed. The study found no changes in plasma melatonin, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, or circadian rhythm in the exposed group.

Magnetic fields and the melatonin hypothesis: a study of workers chronically exposed to 50-Hz magnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers studied 15 men exposed to 50-Hz magnetic fields at work and home for 1-20 years, measuring their melatonin levels around the clock. Despite chronic exposure to fields up to 2.6 microTesla, the workers showed no changes in melatonin production or sleep hormone rhythms compared to unexposed controls. The findings challenge the theory that magnetic fields disrupt melatonin and cause health problems.

Immunotropic Effects in Cultured Human Blood Mononuclear Cells Pre-exposed to Low-Level 1300 MHz Pulse-Modulated Microwave Field Electromag.

Dabrowski MP et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed cultured human blood mononuclear cells isolated from 16 healthy donors to 1300 MHz pulse-modulated microwaves at a power density of 10 W/m2 and a SAR of 0.18 W/kg. Lymphocyte proliferative responses and IL-2 receptor saturation did not change, though lymphocyte production of IL-10 increased (P < .001). Monocyte production of IL-1β increased significantly (P < .01), the concentration of its antagonist IL-1ra dropped by half (P < .01), and TNF-α remained unchanged. The researchers concluded that pulse-modulated microwaves represent the potential of immunotropic influence, stimulating preferentially the immunogenic and proinflammatory activity of monocytes at relatively low levels of exposure.

Immunotropic effects in cultured human blood mononuclear cells pre-exposed to low-level 1300 MHz pulse- modulated microwave field.

Dabrowski MP et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed immune cells from 16 healthy people to low-level cell phone radiation (1300 MHz) and found significant changes in immune system function. The radiation increased production of inflammatory molecules (IL-1β and IL-10) while decreasing protective factors, essentially pushing the immune system toward a more inflammatory state. These changes occurred at radiation levels similar to what you might experience from cell phone use.

1439 MHz pulsed TDMA fields affect performance of rats in a T-maze task only when body temperature is elevated.

Yamaguchi H et al. · 2003

Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to pulsed 1439 MHz TDMA fields at a brain SAR of 7.5 W/kg for 1 hour daily over 4 days or 4 weeks. Other rats were exposed at a brain SAR of 25 W/kg for 45 minutes daily for 4 days. Rats exposed at 25 W/kg for 4 days showed statistically significant decreases in correct choices in a T-maze reversal task, while rats exposed at 7.5 W/kg for 4 days or 4 weeks showed no performance impairments. Intraperitoneal temperature increased only at the 25 W/kg exposure level. The authors concluded that TDMA fields at levels about four times higher than cell phone emissions do not affect learning and memory when no thermal effects occur.

Residential and occupational exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields and malignant melanoma: a population based study

Unknown authors · 2003

Residential magnetic field exposure was calculated as a time-weighted average from 1967 until diagnosis using distance, line configuration, and current load, while occupational exposure was classified by an expert panel into three levels based on hours per week above background. The two highest residential exposure categories showed increased odds ratios for women (2.01 and 2.68) but not for men (1.70 and 1.37), and occupational exposure showed no significant association.

Genotoxic Potential of 1.6 GHz Wireless Communication Signal: In Vivo Two-Year Bioassay.

Vijayalaxmi, Sasser LB, Morris JE, Wilson BW, Anderson LE. · 2003

Timed-pregnant Fischer 344 rats and their nursing offspring were exposed to a far-field 1.6 GHz Iridium signal for 2 h/day, 7 days/week. The offspring then received chronic head-only near-field exposure to a 1.6 GHz signal for 2 h/day, 5 days/week over 2 years. Near-field exposures were conducted at brain SARs of 0.16 or 1.6 W/kg. The incidence of micronuclei in bone marrow did not differ significantly between exposed, sham-exposed, and cage control rats.

Residential and occupational exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields and hematological cancers in Norway

Unknown authors · 2003

This nested case-control study tested whether exposure to electromagnetic fields from high-voltage power lines increases hematological cancer incidence in adults. Residential time-weighted average magnetic fields were calculated from 1967 until diagnosis using cut-off points at 0.05 and 0.20 microT. The two highest residential exposure categories showed non-significant elevated odds ratios for all leukemia combined (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.5 and OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.8-3.0). The increased risk was confined to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic and acute myeloid leukemia. Occupational exposure showed no significant association for any cancer site.

Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations, emitted by a cellular phone, modify cutaneous blood flow.

Monfrecola G, Moffa G, Procaccini EM. · 2003

The study assessed the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation emitted by CFs on cutaneous blood flow in 30 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 53 years. Cutaneous blood flow was measured on the ear skin with a laser Doppler He-Ne flowmeter under controlled temperature and humidity. Microflow was recorded across phases T0 through T6, including no CF contact, CF off touching the ear, CF on, CF on and receiving, then back through CF on, CF off, and no contact. During phases T1 to T5 microflow increased by 61.38% to 157.67% relative to baseline, and all these phases showed statistically significant elevations compared with baseline.