EMF Research Studies

Influence of 50 Hz magnetic field on sex hormones and body, uterine, and ovarian weights of adult female rats

Unknown authors · 2008

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields: a study in the SOD-1 transgenic mouse model

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers used the SOD-1 mouse model to assess the possible effect of ELF magnetic fields on ALS development. Seven mice per group were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 100 and 1000 microT(rms) before clinical signs of ALS appeared. Exposure lasted 7 weeks while body weight, motor performance, and life span were monitored. The results showed no evidence of a link between ELF exposure and ALS in this transgenic animal model.

Extremely Low Frequency-Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) occupational exposure and natural killer activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers examined natural killer activity in 52 workers exposed to different levels of extremely low frequency magnetic fields. Individual exposure was monitored over three work shifts using personal dosimeters and expressed as time-weighted averages. Workers were split into low-exposed (TWA ≤0.2 microT) and higher-exposed (TWA >0.2 microT) groups, with a subgroup of highest-exposed (TWA >1 microT). The higher-exposed group showed a non-significant trend toward reduced NK activity, but the highest-exposed subgroup had a significant reduction in NK activity at multiple effector-to-target ratios and in lytic units. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant negative correlation between exposure level and lytic units, with no correlation to other personal characteristics.

Future needs of occupational epidemiology of extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF): review and recommendations

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.

Assessing the Potential Leukemogenic Effects of 50 Hz and their Harmonics Using an Animal Leukemia Model

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.

Residence Near Power Lines and Mortality From Neurodegenerative Diseases: Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Population

Unknown authors · 2008

Effects of 60 Hz 14 microT magnetic field on the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in mice

Unknown authors · 2008

Exposure did not significantly affect body weight or testosterone levels. TUNEL staining revealed a significantly higher apoptotic rate in germ cells of exposed mice compared to sham controls, with TUNEL-positive cells mainly being spermatogonia. Electron microscopy showed degenerating spermatogonia with condensation of nuclear chromatin similar to apoptosis.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields and the risk of childhood leukaemia: a review

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.

DNA and chromosomal damage in response to intermittent extremely low-frequency magnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers tested whether alternating magnetic fields could induce DNA and chromosomal damage in primary human fibroblasts using comet and gammaH2AX assays. Cells were exposed to switching fields of 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off for 15 hours at intensities from 50 to 1000 microtesla using two different exposure systems. No DNA damage or chromosomal damage was detected with either exposure system. The study could not confirm previous reports of significant genotoxic effects from similar magnetic field parameters.

Case-only study of interactions between DNA repair genes (hMLH1, APEX1, MGMT, XRCC1 and XPD) and low- frequency electromagnetic fields in childhood acute leukemia

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.

Childhood Leukemia in Relation to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Vicinity of TV and Radio Broadcast Transmitters

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.

GSM base stations: Short-term effects on well-being

Unknown authors · 2008

In open provocation the sensitive group reacted to both GSM and UMTS signals (p < 0.0025). In double-blind tests the sensitive group reacted to UMTS. The sensitive group also showed a large, statistically significant increase in skin conductance (p < 0.001). The study required 66 individuals per group for a power 0.90 but only 44 sensitive individuals were tested, reducing power to about 0.7.

Assessment of DNA sensitivity in peripheral blood leukocytes after occupational exposure to microwave radiation: the alkaline comet assay and chromatid breakage assay

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers investigated DNA sensitivity in peripheral blood leukocytes of radar-facility workers daily exposed to microwave radiation and unexposed controls. The study used alkaline comet assay and chromatid breakage assay to evaluate DNA damage and sensitivity. Exposed workers showed increased DNA damage by comet assay and almost three times more bleomycin-induced chromatid breaks than controls. The difference in break per cell values between smokers and non-smokers was statistically significant in the exposed group. Regression analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between the two assay results, with the best correlation between tail moment and number of chromatid breaks.

Biological effects from electromagnetic field exposure and public exposure standards

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.

Mobile phone use, exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field, and brain tumour: a case-control study

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.

Elevation of plasma corticosterone levels and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor translocation in rats: a potential mechanism for cognition impairment following chronic low-power-density microwave exposure

Unknown authors · 2008

Radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure and non-specific symptoms of ill health: A systematic review

Unknown authors · 2008

RF-EMF discrimination was investigated in seven studies including a total of 182 self-declared electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals and 332 non-EHS individuals. The pooled correct field detection rate was 4.2% better than expected by chance (95% CI: -2.1 to 10.5). There was no evidence that EHS individuals could detect presence or absence of RF-EMF better than other persons. There was little evidence that short-term exposure to a mobile phone or base station causes symptoms based on eight randomized trials investigating 194 EHS and 346 non-EHS individuals in a laboratory.

Effect of superposed electromagnetic noise on DNA damage of lens epithelial cells induced by microwave radiation

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed human lens epithelial cells intermittently for 24 hours to radiofrequency fields at specific absorption rates of 1, 2, 3, and 4 W/kg. DNA damage measured by alkaline comet assay increased significantly at 3 and 4 W/kg, while double-strand breaks increased only at 4 W/kg. Intracellular reactive oxygen species levels rose significantly at 3 and 4 W/kg, and cells exposed to 4 W/kg showed G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Apoptosis did not differ between exposed and sham groups, and all observed effects were blocked when the radiofrequency field was superposed with 2 muT electromagnetic noise.

Analysis of time-frequency fine structure of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions to study the effects of exposure to GSM radiofrequency fields

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers recorded TEOAEs in 27 healthy young adults before and after 10 minutes of real or sham GSM exposure in a double-blind design. TEOAE data were analyzed both globally using broadband analysis and with wavelet transform for time-frequency fine structure. Both analyses revealed no significant effect of exposure on TEOAEs.

Recall bias in the assessment of exposure to mobile phones

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.

Radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on the blood-brain barrier

Unknown authors · 2008

The review examines radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on the blood-brain barrier. Evidence indicates that exposure to electromagnetic fields at non-thermal levels can disrupt the blood-brain barrier. The authors note that demonstrated effects have caused societal anxiety and that continued research is needed to understand how to neutralize or reduce these effects.

Mechanism for combined action of microwaves and static magnetic field: slow non uniform rotation of charged nucleoid

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers present a model of slow non-uniform rotation of the charged nucleoid for combined effects of microwaves and static magnetic field. The model suggests that combined action results in slow non-uniform rotation of the nucleoid with angular speed depending on Larmor frequency. The model also predicts that non-thermal effects of microwaves depend on carrier frequency and static magnetic field in the exposure area.

Mobile phone radiation and the risk of cancer; a review

Unknown authors · 2008

Analysis of RF exposure in the head tissues of children and adults

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers developed child head models based on magnetic resonance imaging and analyzed maximum SAR over 10 g in seven child and six adult heterogeneous head models. They also assessed SAR over 1 g in specific tissues for both child and adult head models. Simulations showed that maximum SAR over 10 g differed little between adults and children relative to variability, but maximum SAR in 1 g of peripheral brain tissue was about two times higher in child models aged 5–8 years than in adult models, with no difference for older children.

In vitro testing of cellular response to ultra high frequency electromagnetic field radiation

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed V79 cells to 935 MHz continuous wave UHF radiation at 8.2 V/cm and 0.12 W/kg SAR for 1, 2, and 3 hours. Microtubule structure was assessed by immunocytochemistry and cell growth was measured by cell counts over five post-exposure days. Microtubule structure was clearly altered after 3 hours of exposure compared to controls (p<0.05). Cell growth was significantly decreased in cells exposed for 3 hours, measured three days after irradiation (p<0.05).