EMF Research Studies

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

McNamee, J. · 2003

Effects of high frequency electromagnetic fields on micronucleus formation in CHO-K1 cells

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers exposed CHO-K1 cells to high-frequency electromagnetic fields for 18 hours at SARs of 13, 39, and 50 W/kg and found no increase in micronucleus frequency compared to sham-exposed cells. At higher SARs of 78 and 100 W/kg, micronucleus frequency increased significantly in the middle well at 100 W/kg and in the outer well at 78 W/kg. When combined with bleomycin, exposure at 100 W/kg in the middle well and 78 W/kg in the outer well further increased micronucleus frequency beyond bleomycin alone. A high-temperature control at 39°C also significantly increased micronucleus frequency.

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

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.

Intermittent extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields cause DNA damage in a dose-dependent way

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers exposed cultured human diploid fibroblasts to intermittent ELF electromagnetic fields. DNA damage was measured using alkaline and neutral comet assays. Exposure at 50 Hz sinusoidal, 1-24 h, 20-1,000 mu T, with a 5 min on/10 min off pattern induced dose-dependent and time-dependent DNA single-strand and double-strand breaks. Effects were observed at magnetic flux densities as low as 35 mu T, well below ICNIRP guidelines. The induced comet tail factors returned to normal within 9 h after exposure ended.

Electromagnetic interference of GSM mobile phones with the implantable deep brain stimulator, ITREL-III.

Kainz W, Alesch F, Chan DD. · 2003

Researchers tested 10 GSM phones at 900 MHz and 10 at 1800 MHz on the ITREL-III deep brain stimulator in a phantom model. At maximum phone power of 2 W at 900 MHz and 1 W at 1800 MHz, no influence on the stimulator was observed, and pulse shape and single pulses remained unchanged. However, tests with continuous-wave signals showed inhibition occurs at power levels below GSM phone emissions, with the device more sensitive at 1800 MHz than at 900 MHz and a very low interference threshold around 1500 MHz. The authors concluded no direct risk for patients using the tested phones but recommended precautions similar to cardiac pacemaker guidelines.

The anatomical distribution of cerebral gliomas in mobile phone users.

Kahn AA et al. · 2003

Researchers analysed the association between mobile phone use and the anatomical distribution of glial brain tumours in Irish neurosurgical patients. Fifty mobile phone users and twenty three non-users were identified. Fisher's exact test revealed no statistical significance for glioma location based on handedness in the mobile phone user group and for tumour location in both user and non-user groups.

Whole body exposure of rats to microwaves emitted from a cell phone does not affect the testes.

Dasdag S et al. · 2003

Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into exposed and sham-exposed groups of eight each. The exposed group received cell phone radiation for 20 minutes per day, seven days a week, for one month. No statistically significant alterations were found in any endpoints, including sperm count, morphology, testicular histology, lipid composition, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity, or rectal temperature.

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.

Cell phone-induced failures of visual attention during simulated driving.

Strayer DL, Drews FA, Johnston WA. · 2003

Researchers examined the effects of hands-free cell phone conversations on simulated driving. They found that conversations impaired driver's reactions to vehicles braking in front of them. Cell phone conversations also impaired explicit recognition memory for roadside billboards. Eye-tracking data indicated reduced attention to foveal information. The data suggest that driving impairment is mediated, at least in part, by reduced attention to visual inputs.

The effect of cell phone type on drivers subjective workload during concurrent driving and conversing

Matthews R, Legg S, Charlton S · 2003

Researchers measured subjective workload and speech intelligibility in 13 experienced drivers using three cell phone types while driving on a rural highway. All phone types increased workload components significantly compared to driving without a phone. Personal hands-free phones had the lowest total workload (7.1) and highest intelligibility (74.1), while hands-free speaker phones had the highest workload (10.8) and lowest intelligibility (55.0). Frustration correlated with total workload (0.60) and negatively with intelligibility (-0.35), while physical demand contributed little to total workload.

Nonlinear changes in brain electrical activity due to cell phone radiation

Marino AA, Nilsen E, Frilot C · 2003

Researchers exposed rabbits to cell phone radiation (800 MHz, 600 mW) simulating normal human use and measured EEG changes using a nonlinear recurrence analysis. The EEG was significantly affected in nine of ten rabbits, with increased randomness beginning about 100 ms after field onset and lasting approximately 300 ms. Control experiments showed no effect after sacrifice or when the antenna was moved to the chest, indicating the effect required brain energy absorption.

Wireless telephones and the risk of road crashes.

Laberge-Nadeau C et al. · 2003

This epidemiological study compared cell phone users and non-users to assess the association with road crashes. The relative risk for all collisions and injury collisions was 38% higher for men and women who used cell phones. After adjusting for kilometres driven and driving habits, the relative risks diminished to 1.1 for men and 1.2 for women. A dose-response relationship was found between frequency of cell phone use and crash risks.

Enhancement of allergic skin wheal responses in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome by playing video games or by a frequently ringing mobile phone.

Kimata H. · 2003

The study included two experiments: a video game experiment where participants played Street Fighter II for 2 h, and a mobile phone experiment where participants were exposed to 30 incidences of ringing mobile phones during 30 min. Playing video games significantly increased allergen-induced skin wheal responses and plasma levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and nerve growth factor in atopic eczema patients, and also shifted cytokine production toward a Th2 pattern. Exposure to frequently ringing mobile phones similarly enhanced skin wheal responses and plasma levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and nerve growth factor in atopic eczema patients, but had no effect on normal subjects or allergic rhinitis patients.

Indicators of erythrocyte damage after microwave warming of packed red blood cells.

Hirsch J et al. · 2003

Researchers compared cellular markers of erythrocyte damage with hemolysis indicators to evaluate microwave warming effects on packed red blood cells. Packed red blood cells were warmed in a water bath to temperatures up to 57°C and also to 35°C using a microwave blood warmer. Flow cytometry showed a decrease in the FSC/SSC ratio and antibody binding above 47°C. Free hemoglobin increased up to 25-fold at 52°C, and hemolysis markers rose further after 48 hours at 42°C and 47°C. Microwave warming to 35°C did not significantly change any marker.

Vestibular schwannoma, tinitus and cellular telephones.

Hardell L et al. · 2003

The aim of the study was to investigate vestibular schwannoma, tinnitus, and cellular telephones. An increased odds ratio of 3.45 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.77-6.76 was found for vestibular schwannoma associated with analogue cell phone use. The age-standardized incidence of vestibular schwannoma in Sweden increased significantly by 2.53% per year from 1960 to 1998, with the increase only significant in the period 1980-1998.

A preliminary study to assess possible chromosomal damage among users of digital mobile phones.

Gadhia PK, Shah T, Mistry A, Pithawala M, Tamakuwala D. · 2003

A revised economic analysis of restrictions on the use of cell phones while driving.

Cohen JT, Graham JD. · 2003

Researchers revised assumptions from two previous analyses to make them consistent and updated them with recent data. The best estimate for net benefit of cell phone use while driving was zero, differing substantially from the earlier study. The revised cost-effectiveness estimate showed the cost per quality adjusted life year increased modestly compared to the previous estimate. Both estimates were described as very uncertain.

[Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro]

Gapeev AB et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed NMRI mice to extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation at 42.0 GHz and 0.15 mW/cm2 for 20 minutes and examined chromatin structure in immune cells using a comet assay technique. Three hours after exposure, fluorescence intensity increased by 16% in thymocytes and decreased by 16% in splenocytes, while peripheral blood leukocytes showed no change. In vitro exposure reduced fluorescence intensity by 23% in Raji human lymphoid line cells and by 18% in peripheral blood leukocytes.

Microwave radiation can alter protein conformation without bulk heating.

de Pomerai DI et al. · 2003

Researchers investigated whether microwave radiation could alter protein conformation without bulk heating. Microwave radiation enhanced the aggregation of bovine serum albumin in vitro in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Microwave radiation also promoted amyloid fibril formation by bovine insulin at 60 degrees C. These changes in protein conformation were not accompanied by measurable temperature changes, consistent with estimates of specific absorbed radiation of 15-20 mW kg(-1).

Elliptically polarized magnetic fields do not alter immediate early response genes expression levels in human glioblastoma cells

Unknown authors · 2002

Researchers analyzed expression of immediate early response genes c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc in human glioblastoma T98G cells exposed to 1-500 μT 60 Hz elliptically polarized magnetic fields for up to 3 h. No statistically significant differences were found in gene expression ratios at both transcriptional and translational levels for c-fos and c-jun at 30 min and for c-myc at 180 min after serum stimulation. Similarly, exposure to linearly or circularly polarized 500 μTr fields produced no significant change in expression ratios at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Exposure to power frequency magnetic fields suppresses X-ray-induced apoptosis transiently in Ku80- deficient xrs5 cells

Unknown authors · 2002

Researchers exposed Ku80-deficient xrs5 cells and Ku80-proficient CHO-K1 cells to ELF electromagnetic fields. ELF field exposure alone did not affect cell survival, cell cycle distribution, or protein expression in either cell line. In xrs5 cells, ELF exposure after irradiation inhibited G1 cell cycle arrest, increased bcl-2 expression, and decreased p53, phospho-p53, caspase-3, and p21 protein levels. ELF exposure for 10 hours after irradiation reduced X-ray-induced apoptosis in xrs5 cells from about 1.7% to 0.7%, but this effect was not observed in CHO-K1 cells.

Decreased DNA repair rates and protection from heat induced apoptosis mediated by electromagnetic field exposure

Unknown authors · 2002

Effects of 60 Hz electromagnetic field exposure on APP695 transcription levels in differentiating human neuroblastoma cells

Unknown authors · 2002

Researchers exposed differentiating IMR-32 neuroblastoma cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields at 50, 100, and 200 microT for 4 hours. They measured APP695 mRNA levels using northern hybridization with Digoxygenin-labeled probes. The results provided no support for any relationship between APP695 gene transcription and either differentiation age or magnetic field exposure.

Low frequency EMF regulates chondrocyte differentiation and expression of matrix proteins

Unknown authors · 2002

EMF exposure increased sulfate incorporation, glycosaminoglycan content, chondrocyte number at day 8, cartilage volumetric density, and immunostaining for antibodies 3B3 and 5D4. DNA content and thymidine incorporation did not differ between groups, indicating no increase in cell proliferation. Proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan molecular sizes and composition were unchanged, showing accelerated synthesis of normal cartilage molecules. Expression of proteoglycan and type II collagen mRNA increased, along with greater immunoreactivity for 3B3 and 504, suggesting faster chondrocyte differentiation and phenotypic maturation.