Johansson O. · 2009
The review summarized multiple papers on the effects of man-made electromagnetic fields on the immune system. It found that electromagnetic fields disturb immune function by stimulating allergic and inflammatory responses and affecting tissue repair. The review stated that such disturbances increase the risk of diseases including cancer. The authors reported that these effects occur at exposure levels significantly below current national and international safety limits.
Hartikka H et al. · 2009
Researchers performed a case-case analysis of 99 gliomas using logistic regression, defining the tumor midpoint from radiological imaging. Exposed cases were those with the tumor midpoint within 4.6 cm from the line between the mouth and the external meatus of the ear, representing the most likely phone location. A slightly higher proportion of gliomas among mobile phone users than non-users occurred within 4.6 cm from the presumed phone location (28% vs 14%), with modestly elevated odds ratios for several use indicators but no exposure gradient.
Hardell L, Carlberg M. · 2009
Researchers conducted two case-control studies from 1997 to 2003 assessing mobile and cordless phone use in relation to brain tumors. They analyzed 905 malignant brain tumor cases, 1,254 benign cases, and 2,162 population-based controls. Ipsilateral mobile phone use for over 10 years showed an odds ratio of 3.3 for astrocytoma, while cordless phone use showed an odds ratio of 5.0. For acoustic neuroma, ipsilateral mobile phone use with >10 year latency had an odds ratio of 3.0, and cordless phone use had an odds ratio of 2.3. The annual age-adjusted incidence of astrocytoma increased significantly by 2.16% from 2000 to 2007 in Sweden.
Han YY, Kano H, Davis DL, Niranjan A, Lunsford LD. · 2009
The authors conducted a PubMed search and reviewed 10 case-control studies, one cohort study, and a meta-analysis on cell phone use and acoustic neuroma risk. Most studies did not find an association between cell phone use and acoustic neuroma, but some studies with 10 years or more of follow-up showed an association. The meta-analysis of three case-control studies found a 2.4-fold greater risk of ipsilateral acoustic neuroma for those who used cell phones for at least 10 years.
Cao Y, Zhang W, Lu MX, Xu Q, Meng QQ, Nie JH, Tong J. · 2009
In this study, exposure to 900-MHz EMF expanded γ-ray damage to SHG44 cells. Preexposure EMF enhanced the decrease in cell proliferation induced by γ-ray irradiation and the rate of apoptosis. The combination of EMF and γ-ray exposure resulted in a synergistic effect by triggering stress response, which increased reactive oxygen species, but the expression of hsp70 at both mRNA and protein levels remained unaltered.
Anghileri LJ, Mayayo E, Domingo JL. · 2009
The study found a synergism between aluminum and radiofrequency that increased early mortality in lymphoma-bearing mice. This synergism was stronger with aluminum lactate than with aluminum citrate due to higher ionization at physiological pH. The dissociation of aluminum complexes appears to induce a remarkable acceleration of mortality and lymphoid-related hypertrophy of the spleen and liver at an early age. Calcium chloride overload had no effect when cellular calcium homeostasis was functional. The researchers measured organ hypertrophy using the organ-to-body-weight ratio and histopathological examination.
Pérez-Castejón C et al. · 2009
Researchers exposed human astrocytoma cells (Clonetics line 1321N1) to a 9.6 GHz carrier wave amplitude-modulated by extremely low frequency pulses in a GTEM cell. The exposure parameters included pulse widths of 100-120 ns, pulse repetition frequencies of 100-800 Hz, power of 0.34-0.60 mW, electric field strength of 1.25-1.64 V/m, and a SAR of 4.0 x 10-4 W/Kg. Cells were exposed for 15, 30, 60 minutes, and 24 hours using a double-blind method with sham controls. Cytoskeleton proteins, cell morphology, and viability were unchanged, but cell proliferation rate increased significantly after 24 hours of exposure. Hsp-70 and Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins were present in both control and exposed samples, while connexin 43 protein expression increased in exposed samples.
Kundi M, Hutter HP. · 2009
Cross-sectional investigations of subjective health as a function of distance or measured field strength found indications for an effect of exposure that is likely independent of concerns and attributions. Experimental studies applying short-term exposure to base station signals gave various results, but there is weak evidence that UMTS and to a lesser degree GSM signals reduce wellbeing in persons that report to be sensitive to such exposures. Two ecological studies of cancer near base stations reported a strong increase in incidence within 350 and 400 meters, but limitations prevent firm conclusions.
Unknown authors · 2008
Epidemiological studies reported increased childhood leukemia risk from ELF magnetic field exposure, suggesting possible human carcinogenicity. Animal studies found no carcinogenic effects from ELF magnetic fields alone, and genotoxicity studies generally showed no effects from fields alone. However, ELF magnetic fields were reported to enhance effects of known carcinogens in some animal and several in vitro studies. Most in vitro studies showed positive findings, supporting that fields of 100 microT or higher interact with other chemical and physical agents.
Unknown authors · 2008
The author develops a hypothesis that naturally occurring magnetic nanoparticles could mediate EMF-induced DNA damage, which could increase the risk of childhood leukaemia. Physics calculations estimate that a magnetic nanoparticle within a cell generates a field of about 1-200 millitesla, far exceeding the geomagnetic field. The proposed mechanism suggests that weak alternating magnetic fields of the order of 0.4 muT could increase leukaemia rates via millitesla fields around superparamagnetic nanoparticles in hematopoietic stem cells.
Unknown authors · 2008
Numerical models are used for analysis of Fröhlich's vibration states in cells. The models indicate that reduction of mitochondrial activity and energy production, and disintegration of cytoskeleton structures by phosphorylation during cancer transformation, can diminish excitation of Fröhlich's vibration states and the generated electromagnetic field, resulting in disturbances of the interaction forces between cells. Interaction forces between cancer cells may be smaller than those between healthy cells and cancer cells according to the numerical models.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers exposed groups of 108 DMBA-treated Fischer 344 rats to a 100 muT, 50 Hz magnetic field or sham exposure for 26 weeks. MF exposure significantly facilitated mammary tumorigenesis. The incidence of histologically verified adenocarcinomas was increased by 45% (P = 0.0095). The most pronounced effect on tumor incidence was seen in the cranial inguinal complexes.
Unknown authors · 2008
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 13 studies on magnetic field exposure and childhood brain tumors. Summary odds ratios were 0.88 (0.57-1.37) for distance less than 50 meters and 1.14 (0.78-1.67) for calculated or measured magnetic fields above 0.2 microtesla. For exposures above 0.3 or 0.4 microtesla, the summary odds ratio was 1.68 (0.83-3.43) with no differences by exposure assessment method. No single study substantially influenced the summary estimates and there was no indication of publication bias.
Unknown authors · 2008
Sixteen teachers developed 18 cancers, yielding an observed-to-expected risk ratio of 2.78 for all cancers. Risk ratios were especially high for malignant melanoma (9.8), thyroid cancer (13.3), and uterine cancer (9.2). Sixty Hertz magnetic fields showed no association with cancer, while high frequency voltage transients showed a positive correlation.
Unknown authors · 2008
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers at a 2006 workshop reviewed occupational EMF exposure studies with an emphasis on methodological weaknesses and proposed analytical approaches. Extensive epidemiological research over the past 20 years does not indicate strong or consistent associations with cancer or any other health outcomes. Inconsistent results for many outcomes may be attributable to numerous shortcomings, most notably in exposure assessment. The highest priorities for future research emerge in exposure assessment and investigation of ALS.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers used a rat model of chemically induced B acute lymphoblastic leukemia to test effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields with and without harmonics. The experiment included 280 rats and compared body weight, survival time, bone marrow blast cells, cumulative leukemia incidence, and leukemia type between exposed and unexposed groups. No significant differences were found for any parameter (p > 0.05). Results did not support the hypothesis that ELF-MFs, with or without harmonics, affect the development of B acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.
Unknown authors · 2008
Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on epidemiological studies showing an association with childhood leukaemia at long-term average exposures above 0.3/0.4 microT. No mechanism to explain this finding has been established and experimental studies have not supported a causal link. Chance or bias cannot be ruled out as an explanation, and if the association were causal it would account for only a small fraction of cases. Recent large-scale systematic studies in Korea and Germany found no association between radiofrequency fields from broadcast towers and childhood leukaemia risk.
Unknown authors · 2008
A case-only study was conducted in 123 patients with sporadic acute leukemia. Distances from homes to electric transformers and power lines were measured. An interaction was found between the XRCC1 Ex9+16A allele and electric transformers and power lines within 100 m (COR=4.31). A similar interaction was observed within 50 m (COR=4.39). The authors suggest a possible association between these installations and the allele in childhood acute leukemia.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers conducted a case-control study in West Germany examining childhood leukemia and radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from TV and radio broadcast transmitters. Individual exposure to RF-EMFs one year before diagnosis was estimated with a field strength prediction program. Comparing high and low exposure quantiles, the odds ratio for all leukemia types was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.11). No increased risks were found for amplitude-modulated or frequency-modulated transmitters separately, or for children living within 2 km of a transmitter.
Unknown authors · 2008
The review notes increasing public concern about health risks from ELF and RF fields. It lists a wide range of health endpoints associated with ELF and/or RF, including childhood leukaemia, brain tumours, and neurodegenerative diseases. The BioInitiative Report concludes that a reasonable suspicion of risk exists and recommends new lower exposure limits for ELF and precautionary limits for RF. Current microwave exposure guidelines for mobile phones are 1.6 W/Kg in the US and 2 W/Kg in Europe, and the authors argue a biologically based guideline is warranted because mobile phone use is linked to increased brain tumour risk after 10 years.
Unknown authors · 2008
The case-control study in Japan estimated specific absorption rate inside tumours using a novel approach accounting for spatial relationships. Personal interviews included 88 glioma patients, 132 meningioma patients, 102 pituitary adenoma patients, and 683 matched controls. All maximal SAR values were below 0.1 W kg−1, and adjusted odds ratios for regular mobile phone users were 1.22 for glioma and 0.70 for meningioma. When maximal SAR inside tumour tissue was accounted for, the overall odds ratio was not increased and no significant trend with SAR-derived exposure indices was found.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers compared mobile phone records from network operators with self-reported use for 212 cases and 296 controls across three countries over an average of two years. Mean ratios of reported to recorded use were virtually identical for cases and controls, with both groups underestimating number of calls by a factor of 0.81 and overestimating call duration by a factor of 1.4. For cases but not controls, ratios increased with increasing time before the interview, though these trends were based on few subjects with long-term data, and ratios increased by level of use. The authors concluded there was little evidence for differential recall errors overall or in recent periods, but apparent overestimation by cases in more distant time periods could cause positive bias in risk estimates.
Unknown authors · 2008
