EMF Research Studies

Occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and mortality from cardiovascular disease

Unknown authors · 2003

Residential and occupational exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields and hematological cancers in Norway

Unknown authors · 2003

This nested case-control study tested whether exposure to electromagnetic fields from high-voltage power lines increases hematological cancer incidence in adults. Residential time-weighted average magnetic fields were calculated from 1967 until diagnosis using cut-off points at 0.05 and 0.20 microT. The two highest residential exposure categories showed non-significant elevated odds ratios for all leukemia combined (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.5 and OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.8-3.0). The increased risk was confined to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic and acute myeloid leukemia. Occupational exposure showed no significant association for any cancer site.

Symptoms experienced by people in vicinity of base stations: II/ Incidences of age, duration of exposure, location of subjects in relation to the antennas and other electromagnetic factors

Unknown authors · 2003

Researchers conducted a survey of 530 people living near or not near cellular phone base stations. They compared frequencies of 16 non-specific health symptoms using a chi-square test with Yates correction. Older subjects showed a significant increase in symptoms. Facing the base station within 100 meters was the worst position for some symptoms. No significant difference was found for exposure duration except irritability increased after more than five years, and other electromagnetic factors also affected symptom frequency.

[Effects of 2,450 MHz microwave on DNA damage induced by three chemical mutagens in vitro]

Zhang MB, Jin LF, He JL, Hu J, Zheng W. · 2003

The study aimed to investigate the combined DNA-damaging effects of low-intensity 2,450 MHz microwave radiation with three chemical mutagens on human lymphocyte DNA. Microwave exposure alone did not significantly increase comet tail length compared with controls at 0 h or 21 h incubation. When lymphocytes were incubated with 30.00 micro mol/L or 3.00 micro mol/L MMC, microwave exposure significantly increased comet tail lengths compared with MMC alone. Combinations of microwave with BLM or MMS did not produce significantly greater DNA damage than BLM or MMS alone.

Lack of Genotoxic Effects (Micronucleus Induction) in Human Lymphocytes Exposed In Vitro to 900 MHz Electromagnetic Fields.

Zeni et al. · 2003

Cellular telephone use and risk of intratemporal facial nerve tumor.

Warren HG, Prevatt AA, Daly KA, Antonelli PJ. · 2003

Researchers conducted a case-control study using a structured telephone survey at an academic tertiary-care referral center, matching 18 patients with IFN tumors to control groups with acoustic neuroma, rhinosinusitis, and dysphonia or gastroesophageal reflux disease. The odds ratio for developing an IFN tumor was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.2-1.9) with any handheld cellular telephone use and 0.4 (95% CI, 0.1-2.1) with regular cellular telephone use. No factors were associated with an increased risk for IFN tumor development, and regular cellular telephone use did not appear to be associated with a higher risk.

Genotoxic Potential of 1.6 GHz Wireless Communication Signal: In Vivo Two-Year Bioassay.

Vijayalaxmi, Sasser LB, Morris JE, Wilson BW, Anderson LE. · 2003

Timed-pregnant Fischer 344 rats and their nursing offspring were exposed to a far-field 1.6 GHz Iridium signal for 2 h/day, 7 days/week. The offspring then received chronic head-only near-field exposure to a 1.6 GHz signal for 2 h/day, 5 days/week over 2 years. Near-field exposures were conducted at brain SARs of 0.16 or 1.6 W/kg. The incidence of micronuclei in bone marrow did not differ significantly between exposed, sham-exposed, and cage control rats.

The effects of cellular telephone use on serum PSA levels in men.

Simsek V, Sahin H, Akay AF, Kaya H, Bircan MK · 2003

Average free PSA was 2.070 ng/ml before and 2.0 ng/ml after, while total PSA was 0.500 ng/ml before and 0.505 ng/ml after. No significant difference was found between initial and final PSA values (p > 0.05).

Influence of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on different modes of cell death and gene expression.

Port M, Abend M, Romer B, Van Beuningen D. · 2003

Researchers exposed human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro to high-frequency electromagnetic fields 25 times higher than ICNIRP occupational reference levels. Cells were harvested at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after exposure, and apoptosis, micronuclei, abnormal cells, and expression of 1176 genes were measured. No significant changes were found in apoptosis, micronucleation, abnormal cells, or differential gene expression.

The effect of chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiofrequency radiation on the incidence of spontaneous tumors in rats.

La Regina M et al. · 2003

Eighty male and 80 female rats were randomly placed in each of three irradiation groups: sham, 835.62 MHz FDMA, and 847.74 MHz CDMA, with exposure 4 hours per day, 5 days per week for 2 years. There were no significant differences in final body weights or survival days between groups, and no significant differences in any tumor incidence between treated and sham-exposed animals. The researchers concluded that chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA RF radiation had no significant effect on spontaneous tumor incidence in F344 rats.

Effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on human eeg: A brain mapping study.

Kramarenko AV, Tan U. · 2003

Researchers used a 16-channel telemetric electroencephalograph to record EEG changes during exposure of the human skull to EMF from a mobile phone. During exposure, median frequency increased in areas close to the antenna after 10-15 seconds, and slow-wave activity (2.5-6.0 Hz) appeared in contralateral frontal and temporal areas after 20-40 seconds. The slow waves lasted about one second and repeated every 15-20 seconds, and both the slow-wave activity and increased median frequency disappeared after the phone was turned off.

Effects of chronic exposure of electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on hearing in rats.

Kizilay A et al. · 2003

Researchers investigated the effects of chronic mobile phone EMF exposure on the inner ear of adult and developing rats using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). In a sham-controlled design, seven of 14 adult rats and four newborn rats were exposed to mobile phone EMF for 1 hour per day over 30 days, while seven adult rats served as controls. DPOAEs were measured before and after exposure, and no measurable EMF-associated changes were found in either adult or developing rats (P>0.05).

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.

Effects of mobile phone radiation on UV-induced skin tumourigenesis in ornithine decarboxylase transgenic and non-transgenic mice.

Heikkinen P et al. · 2003

Researchers evaluated the effects of low-level radiofrequency radiation on ultraviolet-induced skin tumorigenesis in ornithine decarboxylase transgenic and non-transgenic mice. UV exposure caused macroscopic skin tumours in 11.5% of non-transgenic and 36.8% of transgenic animals. Radiofrequency radiation did not significantly affect tumour development in either mouse type, though tumour appearance was slightly accelerated in non-transgenic animals. RFR exposure did not affect urinary melatonin metabolite excretion or skin polyamine levels.

Effects of a 902 MHz mobile phone on cerebral blood flow in humans: a PET study.

Haarala C et al. · 2003

Fourteen healthy right-handed subjects were scanned using PET with a [15O]water tracer during exposure to electromagnetic field emitted by a mobile phone and a sham-exposure under double-blind conditions. During scanning, the subjects performed a visual working memory task. Exposure to an active mobile phone produced a relative decrease in regional cerebral blood flow bilaterally in the auditory cortex but no rCBF changes were observed in the area of maximum EMF. The researchers considered it more likely that the findings resulted from an auditory signal from the active mobile phone and stated it is not reasoned to attribute the finding to the EMF emitted by the phone.

Effect of a 902 MHz electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human cognitive function: A replication study.

Haarala C et al. · 2003

Sixty-four subjects (32 men, 32 women) in two independent laboratories performed nine cognitive tasks twice, once with the EMF on and once with it off. Reaction times and accuracy were recorded, and the order of exposure and tasks was counterbalanced across subjects and gender. There were no statistically significant differences in performance between genders or laboratories. The previous results were not replicated, and the researchers concluded that EMF had no effect on reaction times or accuracy.

Cell phone use and visual attention.

Golden C, Golden CJ, Schneider B. · 2003

Researchers evaluated how cell phones and speaking interfere with visual attention skills using the Connors Continuous Performance Test II. Licensed adult drivers were divided into three groups of 15 each: no distraction, conversation with someone in the room, and cell phone conversation. There were substantial differences among groups, primarily between the control group and the two experimental groups. The cell phone group had lower mean scores than the talking group, but the differences were not significant. Cell phones were distracting to visual attention functions on the Connors task, but not more distracting than a similarly active conversation without a cell phone.

Effects of In Vivo Exposure to GSM-Modulated 900 MHz Radiation on Mouse Peripheral Lymphocytes.

Gatta L et al. · 2003

Researchers exposed C57BL/6 mice to 900 MHz GSM-modulated radiation at SAR 1 or 2 W/kg for 2 hours per day over 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The number of spleen cells, percentages of B and T cells, and CD4/CD8 distribution were not altered by exposure. After 1 week of exposure, IFN-gamma production increased, but this effect was not seen after 2 or 4 weeks.

Head-only exposure to GSM 900-MHz electromagnetic fields does not alter rat's memory in spatial and non-spatial tasks.

Dubreuil D, Jay T, Edeline JM. · 2003

Researchers exposed rats head-only to 900 MHz GSM electromagnetic fields at 1 and 3.5 W/kg for 45 minutes and compared performance with sham and control rats. In the first experiment, a slightly improved performance was found at 3.5 W/kg, but this was not seen in the delay task. In the third experiment, exploratory activity showed some effects but recognition memory was unaffected. Overall, the experiments provided no evidence that spatial or non-spatial memory is affected by this exposure.

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.

Exposure of magnetic bacteria to simulated mobile phone-type RF radiation has no impact on mortality.

Cranfield CG, Wieser HG, Dobson J. · 2003

Researchers exposed magnetic bacteria to simulated mobile phone RF radiation and found no impact on mortality. Repeat experiments with only the GSM RF component in a waveguide system showed no significant change in cell mortality compared to sham exposures. A nonmagnetite control strain also showed no significant change in mortality between RF and sham samples.

Cellular telephone use and time trends for brain, head and neck tumours.

Cook A, Woodward A, Pearce N, Marshall C. · 2003

Researchers investigated whether trends in tumour incidence rates in New Zealand varied since the introduction of cellular telephones in 1987. The exposure measure was the proportion of cellular telephone subscribers within the national population. They compared trends in tumour rates at anatomical sites receiving high, medium, and low levels of cellular telephone radiation based on dosimetry data. Graphs for high, medium, and low exposure sites showed no significant changes in trend patterns for either gender from 1986 to 1998. Incidence rates for head and neck malignancies, including sites hypothetically receiving the highest radiofrequency radiation, did not change materially after cellular telephone introduction.

GSM modulated radiofrequency radiation does not affect 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion of rats.

Bakos J, Kubinyi G, Sinay H, Thuroczy G. · 2003

Researchers studied the effect of 900 and 1800 MHz GSM-like radiofrequency radiation on urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in adult male Wistar rats. Seventy-two rats were used in six independent experiments with exposures in a GTEM cell at power densities of 100 μW/cm² at 900 MHz and 20 μW/cm² at 1800 MHz. Animals were exposed for 2 hours daily between 8:00 AM and noon for 14 days with 218 Hz GSM modulation. No statistically significant changes in 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion were found at either frequency.

Effects of GSM-900 microwaves on the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) rat model of multiple sclerosis.

Anane R et al. · 2003

Researchers investigated the effects of acute GSM-900 microwave exposure on the clinical parameters of the acute EAE rat model in two independent experiments with habituated and nonhabituated rats. Female Lewis rats were divided into cage control, sham exposed, and two groups exposed at 1.5 or 6.0 W/kg local SAR averaged over the brain using a loop antenna over their heads. EAE was induced with a mixture of myelin basic protein and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The 21-day exposure at 2 hours per day had no effect on the onset, duration, or termination of the EAE crisis.