EMF Research Studies

Occup Environ Med 54(9):676-680, 1997

Unknown authors · 1997

Neurophysiological effects of flickering light in patients with perceived electrical hypersensitivity

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers exposed ten patients with perceived electrical hypersensitivity and ten healthy controls to amplitude-modulated light. The sensitivity of the brain to this type of visual stimulation was tested using electroretinography and visual evoked potentials. Patients had higher cortical response amplitudes at all stimulation frequencies, but retinal responses did not differ.

Skin changes in "screen dermatitis" versus classical UV- and ionizing irradiation-related damage-- similarities and differences

Unknown authors · 1997

The authors conducted a literature study comparing skin changes in screen dermatitis with those from UV light or ionizing radiation. Screen dermatitis patients had a much higher number of mast cells. The most remarkable cellular change was the disappearance of Langerhans cells, which also occurs after UV or ionizing radiation.

Residential exposure to 60-Hertz magnetic fields and adult cancers in Taiwan

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers conducted a case-control study in northern Taiwan matching on date of birth, sex, and date of diagnosis to evaluate risks of adult leukemia, brain tumors, and female breast cancers in relation to residential exposure to 60-Hertz magnetic fields. The analysis included 870 leukemia cases, 577 brain tumor cases, and 1,980 female breast cancer cases. For leukemia, exposure to magnetic fields above 0.2 microtesla versus below 0.1 microtesla yielded an odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.0-1.9), and living within 50 meters versus 100 meters or more from transmission lines gave a relative risk of 2.0 (95% CI = 1.4-2.9).

Electromagnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Norwegian high-voltage power lines

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers conducted a nested case-control study of children aged 0 to 14 years who lived in census wards crossed by high-voltage power lines during selected years from 1960 to 1989. Exposure to electric and magnetic fields was calculated using computer programs that accounted for power line characteristics and distance. No association was found between time-weighted average magnetic field exposure and cancer at all sites, brain tumors, lymphoma, or leukemia. Cancer at other sites showed elevated odds ratios in the two highest exposure categories for some exposure measures, but the researchers noted that no firm conclusions could be drawn due to small numbers.

Childhood leukemia and electromagnetic fields: results of a population-based case-control study in Germany

Unknown authors · 1997

The population-based case-control study conducted in northwestern Germany between 1992 and 1995 included 129 children with leukemia and 328 controls. Exposure was assessed by 24-hour magnetic field measurements in the child's bedroom at the residence where the child had lived longest before diagnosis. For exposure above 0.2 microtesla the odds ratio was 3.2 with a 95 percent confidence interval of 0.7 to 14.9, based on four leukemia cases and three controls. Exploratory analyses found no statistically significant increases for other magnetic field characteristics at varying cut-points.

Mortality among a cohort of electric utility workers, 1960-1991

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers examined mortality trends among a cohort of 40,335 electric utility workers with at least one year of experience from 1960 to 1991, observing 3,753 deaths. They used standardized mortality ratios and internal cohort analyses to compare mortality across occupational groups. Standardized mortality ratios were generally at or below 1.0, indicating lower overall mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and nonintentional injury rates than the general population. Internal comparisons showed higher respiratory cancer mortality for field staff, linecrew, and power plant workers relative to office staff, and higher injury mortality for nonmanagement occupations.

Radiofrequency exposure near high-voltage lines

Unknown authors · 1997

Many epidemiologic studies suggest a relationship between leukemia incidence and exposure to 50/60 Hz magnetic fields. Radiofrequency currents used for communications have been detected on high- and medium-voltage lines. The intensity of RF fields is low but induced currents in the human body increase with frequency, so the authors argue RF fields must be considered in epidemiologic studies.

Psychological effects of chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields in humans living near extra-high-voltage transmission lines

Unknown authors · 1997

Electrical power lines and childhood leukemia: a study from Greece

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers conducted a case-control study in Greece from 1993 to 1994 examining residential proximity to electrical power lines and childhood leukemia. The study included 117 incident cases of childhood leukemia and 202 matched controls. No statistically significant elevations of disease risk were found at higher exposure levels across four magnetic field exposure measures.

The psychosocial work environment and skin symptoms among visual display terminal workers: a case referent study

Unknown authors · 1997

From an initial questionnaire study among 4943 office workers, 163 VDT workers were selected for a case referent study of facial skin symptoms. The data comprise a self-administered questionnaire filled out by 149 subjects and interviews with representatives of the organizations concerned. Psychosocial conditions, especially lack of social support from co-workers, were associated with an increased risk of reporting skin symptoms. Stratification by sex showed that the associations between some psychosocial factors and health differed between men and women. The results indicate that there might be an interaction between psychosocial factors and electric fields in the workplace which increases the risk of reporting skin symptoms.

Magnetic fields of transmission lines and depression

Unknown authors · 1997

Researchers used data from 12,063 Finnish twins who completed a depression inventory in 1990. Exposure was assessed using 20-year histories of distance to and calculated magnetic fields from 110- to 400-kV overhead power lines. Adjusted mean depression scores did not differ by exposure level. The risk of severe depression was 4.7 times higher for those living within 100 meters of a high-voltage line, though this was based on small numbers.

Proliferation and cytogenetic studies in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to 2450 MHz radiofrequency radiation.

Vijayalaxmi, Mohan, N, Meltz, ML, Wittler, MA, · 1997

No short-term effects of digital mobile radio telephone on the awake human electroencephalogram

Roschke, J, Mann, K · 1997

Researchers tested 34 healthy men in a single-blind cross-over study with a 900 MHz GSM field at 0.05 mW/cm² for nearly 3.5 minutes. They measured spontaneous EEG from C3 and C4 under closed eyes and found no difference in spectral power density between active and inactive phone conditions.

Exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation: cardiovascular effects in humans.

Jauchem, JR, · 1997

The review examined cardiovascular changes in humans exposed to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation. Most studies showed no acute effect of ELF EMFs on blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiogram waveform, though some reported subtle heart rate effects. Soviet reports from the 1960s linked long-term ELF EMF exposure to arrhythmias and tachycardia in switchyard workers, but Western studies did not confirm this. MRI-related RFR exposures were concluded not likely to cause adverse cardiovascular effects. Overall, no obvious cardiovascular hazards were found for exposures below current standards.

Effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Antonopoulos A, Eisenbrandt H, Obe G, · 1997

Human peripheral lymphocytes were incubated in the presence of high-frequency electromagnetic fields of 380, 900 and 1800 MHz. The measured endpoints were cell cycle progression and the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges. No differences between treated and control cultures could be found.

Measurement of DNA damage after exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the cellular phone communication frequency band (835.62 and 847.74 MHz).

Malyapa RS et al. · 1997

Researchers exposed mouse C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts and human glioblastoma U87MG cells to FMCW (835.62 MHz) and CDMA (847.74 MHz) radiation at 0.6 W/kg SAR for up to 24 hours. They used the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA damage. No significant differences were found between exposed cells and sham controls.

Effects of acute exposure to ultrahigh radiofrequency radiation on three antenna engineers.

Schilling, CJ · 1997

A thermal model for human thresholds of microwave-evoked warmth sensations.

Riu PJ, Foster KR, Blick DW, Adair ER, · 1997

Researchers measured human thresholds for skin warmth sensations at frequencies from 2.45 to 94 GHz. The thermal analysis suggests these thresholds correspond to a localized temperature increase of about 0.07°C at and near the skin surface. The thermal model results were insensitive to blood flow but sensitive to thermal conduction, with sensitivity increasing strongly with frequency. Thermal conduction becomes a dominant factor for surface temperature rise at microwave frequencies over 10 GHz.

Blood-brain barrier permeability in rats exposed to electromagnetic fields used in wireless communication.

Persson BRR, Salford LG, Brun A · 1997

Researchers studied blood-brain barrier permeability in Fischer 344 rats of both sexes exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. The exposure used 915 MHz microwaves delivered as either pulse-modulated or continuous wave signals. The rate of pathological leakage rose from 0.17 in controls to 0.39 across all exposed rats, a highly significant difference. Continuous wave exposure produced a higher rate of pathological rats (0.50 ± 0.07) than pulse-modulated exposure (0.35 ± 0.03), and that difference was also statistically significant.

Cytogenetic effects of 935.2-MHz (GSM) microwaves alone and in combination with mitomycin C.

Maes A, Collier M, Van Gorp U, Vandoninck S, Verschaeve L · 1997

Researchers exposed cells to 935.2 MHz microwaves alone and in combination with mitomycin C and found no direct cytogenetic effect. Combined exposure to microwaves followed by mitomycin C produced a very weak effect compared to mitomycin C alone.

Mortality of plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequencies.

Lagorio S et al. · 1997

Researchers investigated the mortality of Italian plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequency fields from dielectric heat sealers. Follow-up ran from 1962 to 1992 and the analysis included 481 women workers representing 78% of person-years. Mortality from malignant neoplasms was slightly elevated and increased risks of leukemia and accidents were detected. The all-cancer standardised mortality ratio was higher among women in the sealing department than in the whole cohort.

[Evaluation of selected functional circulation parameters of workers from various occupational groups exposed to electromagnetic fields of high frequency. III. 24-h monitoring of arterial blood pressure].

Gadzicka E, Bortkiewicz A, Zmyslony M, Palczynski C · 1997

The study used 24-hour blood pressure monitoring with a Medilog ABP kit to assess male workers from middlewave broadcast stations, radioservice stations, and radio line stations. Mean arterial blood pressure and day-night blood pressure variability did not differ significantly between exposed and control groups. Daily heart rate was significantly lower in middlewave broadcast station workers compared to controls despite similar work and non-occupational activities. Day-night heart rate variability was significantly lower in exposed groups, which may suggest neurovegetative regulation disorders. Radioservice station workers had a higher incidence of increased arterial blood pressure than controls.

Cancer incidence near radio and television transmitters in Great Britain. II. All high power transmitters.

Dolk H, Elliott P, Shaddick G, Walls P, Thakrar B · 1997

Researchers conducted a small-area study of cancer incidence from 1974 to 1986 near 20 high-power TV and FM radio transmitters in Great Britain using the national database of postcoded cancer registrations with population and socioeconomic data from the 1981 census. The study examined adult leukemias, skin melanoma, bladder cancer, childhood leukemia, and brain cancer. A decline in risk of adult leukemia was found for all transmitters combined (p=0.05), but excess risk was no more than 15% at any distance up to 10 km and there was no excess within 2 km (O/E ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.78-1.21). For childhood leukemia, brain cancer, adult skin melanoma, and bladder cancer, results did not indicate a decline in risk with distance from transmitters.

Cancer incidence near radio and television transmitters in Great Britain. I. Sutton Coldfield transmitter.

Dolk H et al. · 1997

Researchers conducted a small-area study of cancer incidence from 1974 to 1986 around the Sutton Coldfield TV and FM radio transmitter in England. They used national cancer registration data and 1981 census data, calculating expected cancers with indirect standardization stratified by socioeconomic index. Adult leukemia risk within 2 km was 1.83 (95% CI 1.22-2.74) and declined significantly with distance (p=0.001), with similar patterns for skin and bladder cancer.