Vorobyov VV, Galchenko AA, Kukushkin NI, Akoev IG · 1997
Researchers studied averaged EEG frequency spectra in eight unanesthetized adult male rats with chronically implanted electrodes in symmetrical somesthetic areas during intermittent exposure to a weak 945 MHz microwave field amplitude-modulated at 4 Hz. Hemispheric asymmetry showed power decreases in the 1.5-3 Hz range on the left and in the 10-14 and 20-30 Hz ranges on the right hemisphere. No differences between control and exposure were found in averaged spectra over 10 or 1 minute periods. However, significant elevations of EEG asymmetry in the 10-14 Hz range occurred during the first 20 seconds after most microwave field onsets when spectra were averaged every 10 seconds.
Jensh RP · 1997
This review examined whether chronic prenatal microwave exposure in rats caused adverse effects at birth or alterations in offspring development and growth. Pregnant rats were exposed throughout pregnancy to continuous wave 915 MHz, 2450 MHz, or 6000 MHz radiation at power density levels of 10, 20, or 35 mW/cm2, respectively. Animals exposed to 915 MHz did not exhibit any consistent significant alterations in any of the parameters measured. Offspring exposed to 6000 MHz showed an initial slight but significant retardation in term weight, delayed eye opening, lower weekly weights that recovered by the fifth week, and changes in water T-maze and open field performance.
Hocking B, Gordon IR, Grain HL, Hatfield GE · 1997
Researchers compared cancer incidence and mortality from 1972 to 1990 in nine municipalities, three of which surround TV towers and six of which are further away. Among children, the rate ratio for leukaemia incidence was 1.58 and for mortality it was 2.32. Brain cancer incidence and mortality were not increased. The researchers found an association between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortality and proximity to TV towers.
French PW, Donnellan M, McKenzie DR, · 1997
Researchers exposed a human astrocytoma cell line, U-87 MG, to 835 MHz electromagnetic radiation for 20 min, 3 times per day for 7 days, at power densities of either 40 ± 15 mW cm−2 or 8.1 ± 3 mW cm−2. At the lower power density, the rate of DNA synthesis decreased and the cells flattened and spread out compared to unexposed cultures. At 40 mW cm−2 there were no effects on cell proliferation, but changes in cell shape included increased spreading and the appearance of actin-containing blebs on the membrane.
Bortkiewicz et al. · 1997
This study evaluated the circulatory system function of workers occupationally exposed to medium-frequency electromagnetic fields. The study included 71 workers at four AM broadcast stations operating at 0.738–1.503 MHz and 22 workers at radio link stations who had no history of regular electromagnetic-field exposure. ECG abnormalities were significantly more frequent in exposed workers than in non-exposed workers (75% versus 25%, p = 0.006), and a tendency for more rhythm disturbances was observed in AM broadcast station workers.
Blick DW et al. · 1997
Researchers measured the power levels at which human skin first detected warmth from microwave radiation at frequencies of 2.45, 7.5, 10, 35, and 94 GHz. Detection thresholds were measured on the skin in the middle of the back in 15 adult male human subjects at all microwave frequencies and with infrared radiation. Sensitivity increased monotonically with frequency, and the threshold at 94 GHz (4.5 ± 0.6 mW/cm2) was more than an order of magnitude less than at 2.45 GHz (63.1 ± 6.7 mW/cm2). The threshold at 94 GHz was comparable to the threshold for infrared radiation (5.34 ± 1.07 mW/cm2).
Unknown authors · 1996
Researchers examined 21,744 male electrical utility workers in Québec and identified 49 suicide deaths between 1970 and 1988. Cumulative and current exposures to electric, magnetic, and pulsed electromagnetic fields were estimated using a job exposure matrix and both arithmetic and geometric means. The highest risk was seen in the medium exposure group for the geometric mean of electric fields, with a rate ratio of 2.76 (95% CI 1.15-6.62), while other fields showed mostly small non-significant increases.
Unknown authors · 1996
The ferromagnetic transduction model proposes that biogenic magnetic particles in the brain coupled to mechanosensitive ion gates may mediate interactions with environmental magnetic fields. The authors show that pulsed fields, square waves, and DC fields could force open these membrane gates long enough to disrupt normal neurophysiological processes. The extended model may explain central nervous system effects in epileptic patients exposed to low frequency square wave and DC magnetic fields.
Weyandt, TB, Schrader, SM, Turner, TW, Simon, SD · 1996
Researchers compared semen quality and hormone levels among artillerymen (n=30), radar equipment operators (n=20), and a comparison group (n=31). Questionnaire data showed many initial controls had potential microwave exposure as radar operators, so a comparison group without lead or microwave exposure was selected. Radar equipment operators with potential microwave exposure had significantly lower sperm counts per milliliter (P=0.009) and per ejaculate (P=0.027) than the comparison group. Artillerymen who perceived fertility concerns also had lower sperm counts per ejaculate (P=0.067) and per milliliter (P=0.014) than the comparison group.
Nowak B et al. · 1996
Researchers evaluated 31 patients with three types of single lead VDD pacemakers for interference from a 2-W mobile phone in the digital D-net. Atrial and ventricular sensitivity were programmed to their most sensitive values and ventricular sensing to unipolar. The phone's extendable antenna was placed in direct skin contact at the right sternal border just below the clavicle, within 5 cm of the pacemaker connector, while ECG was continuously monitored. No interference was detected and programmed values remained unchanged after the test. The authors concluded the interference risk appears low but could not be entirely excluded due to study design.
Grayson JK · 1996
A nested case-control study investigated electromagnetic field exposures and brain tumor risk in the US Air Force. Cumulative extremely low frequency and radiofrequency/microwave exposures were estimated from a job-exposure matrix, and ionizing radiation exposures came from personal dosimetry records. Nonionizing electromagnetic field exposure showed a small excess risk with extremely low frequency OR 1.28 (95% CI 0.95-1.74) and radiofrequency/microwave OR 1.39 (95% CI 1.01-1.90), while ionizing radiation had OR 0.58 (95% CI 0.22-1.52). Military rank was consistently associated with brain tumor risk, with officers having OR 2.11 (95% CI 1.48-3.01) versus enlisted men and senior officers OR 3.30 (95% CI 1.99-5.45) versus all others.
Andersson B, Berg M, Arnetz BB, Melin L, Langlet I, Lidén S. · 1996
Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a waiting-list control group in a pretest-posttest control group design. Patients participated in double-blind provocation tests before and after treatment. Subjective symptom ratings and blood samples for stress-related variables were collected. The experimental group reduced disability evaluations more than the control group, but no significant between-group differences were found in psychophysiological measures or subjective reactions to provocation. The provocation test concluded that alleged hypersensitive patients did not react to electromagnetic fields.
Wilke A, Grimm W, Funck R, Maisch B, · 1996
Researchers tested 50 patients with permanent pacemakers using a D-net cellular phone (Ericsson, 890–915 MHz) during three pacemaker settings. A six-channel surface ECG was continuously recorded to detect interactions. Only 2 patients (4%) repeatedly showed intermittent pacemaker inhibition during calls, and both had unipolar sensing. The authors concluded that interactions appear rare but pacemaker-dependent patients should avoid cellular phone use.
Tynes T, Hannevik M, Andersen A, Vistnes AI, Haldorsen T · 1996
The Norwegian cohort consisted of 2,619 women certified as radio and telegraph operators between 1920 and 1980. Cancer incidence was analyzed using the standardized incidence ratio with the Norwegian female population as the comparison group. The standardized incidence ratio for all cancers was 1.2, while breast cancer showed an excess risk with an SIR of 1.5. A nested case-control analysis found an association between breast cancer in women aged 50 and older and shift work. After adjusting for fertility factors, the rate ratio for breast cancer associated with being a radio and telegraph operator was 1.5 compared to all Norwegian women born 1935 or later.
Szmigielski, S · 1996
Researchers compared cancer morbidity between occupationally exposed and non-exposed personnel using observed and expected rates to calculate an observed/expected ratio. The overall cancer morbidity rate was 119.1 per 100 000 annually in exposed personnel versus 57.6 in non-exposed, yielding an OER of 2.07 (P < 0.05). Higher rates were seen for alimentary tract neoplasms (OER = 3.19–3.24), brain tumours (OER = 1.91), and haemopoietic/lymphatic malignancies (OER = 6.31).
Rothman KJ, Loughlin JE, Funch DP, Dreyer NA · 1996
Researchers conducted a record-based mortality surveillance of a cohort of more than 250,000 portable and mobile telephone customers during 1994. Age-specific mortality rates were similar for users of the two types of telephones. For customers with accounts at least 3 years old, the mortality rate ratio for portable versus mobile telephone users was 0.86 with a 90% confidence interval of 0.47 to 1.53.
Mann, K, Roschke, J · 1996
Researchers investigated the influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields from digital mobile radio telephones on sleep in healthy humans. They found a hypnotic effect that shortened sleep onset latency and a REM suppressive effect that reduced REM sleep duration and percentage. Spectral analysis showed qualitative alterations of the EEG signal during REM sleep with increased spectral power density.
Holly EA, Aston DA, Ahn DK, Smith AH. · 1996
Researchers conducted a case-control study in the western United States to examine the relation between occupations or chemical exposures and uveal melanoma risk. Among 221 male cases and 447 controls, intense ultraviolet light exposure, welding exposure, asbestos exposure, and occupations as chemists, chemical engineers, or chemical technicians were associated with elevated odds ratios.
Hofgartner F, Muller T, Sigel H · 1996
Researchers tested 104 patients with 58 different pacemaker models using three mobile phones from the C and D networks. They varied the distance between the phone antenna and the pacemaker, and adjusted the pacemaker's sensitivity and polarity settings during continuous ECG monitoring. Interference occurred in 43 patients (41.3%) and 28 pacemaker types (48.3%), including inhibition, switching to interference frequencies, and triggering of tachycardias. The D-network portable phone caused interference more often and at greater distances than the D-network handy phone, which performed similarly to the C-network phone. Reducing pacemaker sensitivity and switching to bipolar reception only partly eliminated the interference.
Bortkiewicz A, Gadzicka E, Zmyslony M, · 1996
The study compared 71 workers at medium-frequency broadcast stations with 22 non-exposed radio link station workers. Age and work tenure distributions did not differ significantly between groups. Heart rate variability was measured from 512 normal heart evolutions at rest using a Medea-HV system. Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters showed no statistically significant differences between exposed and non-exposed groups. In the exposed group, maximum EM field intensity correlated negatively with high-frequency power spectrum.
Bortkiewicz A, Zmyslony M, Gadzicka E, Szymczak W · 1996
The study covered 71 workers at four AM broadcast stations, 40 workers at ten radio link stations, and 42 workers at three radioservices. Workers underwent subjective and objective medical examinations, resting electrocardiogram, Holter measurements, high intensity ECG, and long-term blood pressure recording for cardiac rhythm analysis. Exposure to EMF at AM broadcast stations increased the risk of electrographic disturbances six times in comparison with radio link station workers not exposed to medium wave EMF. Radioservice workers had twice the risk of electrographic disturbances compared to link station workers.
Bielski J, Sikorski M · 1996
The study examined 50 workers exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the form of radiowaves. Average glucose levels were 155 mg% at 30 minutes, 180 mg% at 60 minutes, 153 mg% at 90 minutes, and 124 mg% at 120 minutes. Among those with glucose tolerance disturbances, 10 persons (32%) also had abnormal EEG records indicating disorders in brain bioelectric activity.
Barbaro V, Bartolini P, Donato A, Militello C · 1996
Researchers used a human trunk simulator and two TACS-standard analog cellular telephones to test pacemaker interference. The electromagnetic field from the telephones interfered with 10 of 25 pacemakers tested. Close proximity of the telephone antenna caused desensitizing, sensitizing, and pulse inhibition during incoming calls and ringing, with the worst case showing three skipped beats. Maximum sensing threshold variation reached about 186% increase and 62% decrease, and pulse inhibition also occurred during failed connections and cell crossing, though the latter did not appear to pose a risk under experimental conditions.
Unknown authors · 1995
The study examined childhood cancer risk in relation to factors indicating magnetic field exposure from ground currents in homes. Researchers obtained plumbing conductivity data from water suppliers for 347 cases and 277 controls from a Denver area study. Children in homes with conductive plumbing had a matched odds ratio of 1.72, which rose to 3.00 for residentially stable participants. A metric of nonvertical magnetic fields above median intensity showed a matched odds ratio of 4.0, and similar associations appeared in an independent Seattle leukemia dataset.
Sherry CJ, Blick DW, Walters TJ, Brown GC, Murphy MR · 1995
Researchers examined the effect of acute ultrawideband electromagnetic radiation exposure on monkeys performing a Primate Equilibrium Platform task. The exposure had no effect on task performance when tested immediately after exposure. Each monkey was exposed twice for 2 minutes at a pulse repetition rate of 60 Hz with a peak electric field strength of 250 kV/m.
