EMF Research Studies

Influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on growth performance, innate immune response, biochemical parameters and disease resistance in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Unknown authors · 2015

Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Electric Power Generating Facilities

Unknown authors · 2015

Hazard zoning around electric substations of petrochemical industries by stimulation of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2015

The study assessed extremely low-frequency magnetic fields at electric substations of a petrochemical complex in southern Iran using a single-axis HI-3604 device. Magnetic fields were measured in three axes (x, y, z) with the resultant value used as the magnetic field value, following IEEE std 644-1994. Maximum magnetic flux density was 49.90 μT at the boiler substation and minimum was 0.02 μT at the control room. Simulation using MATLAB software identified spaces around incoming panels, transformers, and cables as hazardous zones.

Non-thermal extremely low frequency magnetic field effects on opioid related behaviors: Snails to humans, mechanisms to therapy

Prato FS · 2015

The author reports that ELF-MF exposure conditions were identified that can either increase or decrease nociception in snails and mice. The research also found that ELF-MF can induce analgesia in humans. The 1984 discovery in mice showed that ELF-MF could reduce opiate-induced analgesia. The author's team pioneered the use of electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging to monitor effects during exposure. The article presents the author's contributions and is not intended as a balanced review.

Occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and electrical shocks and acute myeloid leukemia in four Nordic countries

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers studied 5,409 adult AML cases and 27,045 matched controls across four Nordic countries from 1961 to 2005. Lifetime occupational ELF-MF exposure and electrical shock risk were assigned using job-exposure matrices based on census-reported jobs. Approximately 40% of subjects had low-level ELF-MF exposure, 7% had high-level exposure, 18% had low electrical shock risk, and 15% had high electrical shock risk. No association was observed between high ELF-MF exposure (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77-1.01) or high electrical shock risk (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.85-1.05) and AML compared to background exposure. Results remained unchanged in sensitivity analyses.

Could Magnetic Fields Affect the Circadian Clock Function of Cryptochromes? Testing the Basic Premise of the Cryptochrome Hypothesis (ELF Magnetic Fields)

Unknown authors · 2015

The paper describes the cryptochrome hypothesis, which suggests that weak 50/60 Hz magnetic fields could disrupt circadian rhythms by affecting cryptochrome clock function. The hypothesis rests on the premise that Earth-strength static magnetic fields alter the redox balance of cryptochromes and possibly their signaling state.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields in households--trends from 2006 to 2012

Tomitsch J, Dechant E et al · 2015

In revisited households, median ELF electric fields decreased from 23.20 V/m in 2006 to 13.90 V/m in 2012, median all-night ELF magnetic fields at 50 Hz decreased from 13.50 to 11.37 nT, and median total RF-EMFs increased from 28.13 to 52.16 µW/m². The highest RF-EMF increases were for UMTS and WLAN, urban areas had higher median total RF-EMFs (117.73 µW/m²) than rural areas (34.52 µW/m²), and LTE at 2600 MHz was detected at 17 locations up to 38.20 µW/m². Indoor sources showed decreased exposure in the DECT frequency range and increased exposure in the WLAN frequency range.

Validation of self-reported start year of mobile phone use in a Swedish case-control study on radiofrequency fields and acoustic neuroma risk

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers used network operator data to validate self-reported start year of mobile phone use in a case-control study of acoustic neuroma risk. The validation included 96 cases (29%) and 111 controls (22%), with cases showing more complete subscription history reporting. Agreement categorized into short, intermediate, and long-term use was moderate with a kappa statistic of 0.42.

Exposure Knowledge and Risk Perception of RF EMF

Freudenstein F et al · 2015

The study evaluated respondents' risk perception of different RF EMF sources and their subjective knowledge about exposure characteristics. Results showed participants were more concerned about base stations than all other RF EMF sources. A linear regression indicated that exposure characteristics except distance influence general RF EMF risk perception. Better exposure knowledge tended to lead to higher risk perception, especially for mobile phones.

Mobile phones: Time to rethink and limit usage

Paul B et al · 2015

The authors state that radiofrequency waves generated from mobile phones cause potential public health problems. They report that short-term effects like changes in sleep, heart rate, and blood pressure and long-term effects like carcinoma are well documented. They note that the Government of India's regulatory efforts are still in a nascent stage.

Aggregated data from two double-blind base station provocation studies comparing individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields and controls

Eltiti S et al · 2015

Researchers aggregated data from two previous double-blind provocation studies to test whether base station EMF exposure affects well-being in people with IEI-EMF and controls. In open provocation trials, 102 IEI-EMF and 237 control participants took part, and 88 IEI-EMF and 231 controls completed double-blind trials with GSM/UMTS or TETRA signals and a sham condition. IEI-EMF participants reported lower well-being during real versus sham exposure in open provocation but not in double-blind trials, and well-being was lower in high-load versus low-load trials regardless of EMF exposure.

The Role of the Location of Personal Exposimeters on the Human Body in Their Use for Assessing Exposure to the Electromagnetic Field in the Radiofrequency Range 98-2450 MHz and Compliance Analysis: Evaluation by Virtual Measurements

Gryz K et al · 2015

Researchers modeled personal exposimeters measuring electric fields from 98–2450 MHz using a human body model and finite integration technique software. Calculations with 256 exposure scenarios showed the human body causes measurement errors from −96% to +133% compared to unperturbed fields. Placing a single exposimeter on the waist to the back side of the human body or on the front of the chest reduces the range of exposure assessment uncertainty across various conditions. Uncertainty using a single exposimeter remains significantly higher than spot measurements of unperturbed fields.

Mobile phone radiation causes brain tumors and should be classified as a probable human carcinogen (2A) (Review)

Unknown authors · 2015

The authors review evidence from the CERENAT study, a French national study, which found an increased risk of glioma from mobile phone use. The CERENAT finding of increased glioma risk is consistent with other studies of long-term mobile phone use and corroborates research showing meningioma risk. The review notes that CERENAT did not evaluate exposure from DECT cordless phones, which were used by over half the French population during the study period. The authors conclude that radiofrequency fields should be classified as a Group 2A probable human carcinogen by IARC criteria.

No Dynamic Changes in Blood-brain Barrier Permeability Occur in Developing Rats During Local Cortex Exposure to Microwaves

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers exposed the cortex of juvenile and young adult rats to 1457 MHz RF at 2.0 W/kg for 50 minutes. They measured blood-brain barrier permeability in the pia mater using intravital fluorescence microscopy. No significant difference in dye extravasation was found between exposed and sham-exposed groups, and no albumin leakage was detected after exposure.

Assessment of levels of occupationsl exposure to workers in radiofrequency fields of two television stations in Accra, Ghana

Unknown authors · 2015

1950 MHz Electromagnetic Fields Ameliorate AB Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Mice

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers exposed transgenic 5xFAD and wild-type mice to 1950 MHz RF-EMF for eight months at a SAR of 5 W/kg, two hours per day, five days per week. The exposure significantly reduced Aβ plaques, APP, and APP carboxyl-terminal fragments in the whole brain including hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, and reduced the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio in the hippocampus of Tg-5xFAD mice. RF-EMF inhibited parenchymal BACE1 expression and neuroinflammation in the transgenic mice. The treatment rescued memory impairment in the transgenic mice. Gene profiling showed that five Aβ-related genes were significantly altered in transgenic mice, with opposite expression patterns compared with wild-type mice.

Occupational exposures to radiofrequency fields: results of an Israeli national survey

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers conducted an Israeli national survey of occupational radiofrequency field levels between 100 kHz and 40 GHz across 25 occupations. They recorded almost 4300 measurements from 900 sources and categorized exposures as routine, incidental, or unintended. The geometric mean of routine exposures was below 1% of ACGIH threshold limit values for most occupations, but walkie-talkie, induction heating, plastic welding, industrial heating, and diathermy workers had higher percentages. Incidental and unintended exposures exceeded the TLV for one and 14 occupations respectively. Walkie-talkie workers dominated collective exposure, accounting for 96.3% of the total.

Anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as an emerging threat to wildlife orientation

Unknown authors · 2015

Current evidence indicates that exposure at levels found in the environment may particularly alter the receptor organs to orient in the magnetic field of the earth. These results could have important implications for migratory birds and insects, especially in urban areas. These results could also apply to birds and insects in natural and protected areas where there are powerful base station emitters of radiofrequencies. Therefore, more research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation in nature is needed to investigate this emerging threat.

International policy and advisory response regarding children's exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF- EMF)

Unknown authors · 2015

The review examines policy and advisory responses to children's RF-EMF exposure from a wide variety of sources. It categorizes approaches ranging from ICNIRP/IEEE guidelines stating no extra precautions needed to precautionary standards with much lower exposure limits and extensive advice. The wide range of policy approaches can be confusing for parents and carers of children. The author recommends minimum exposure of children to RF-EMF, noting this does not indicate a need for alarm but mirrors routine health-and-safety precautions.

Public Exposure from Indoor Radiofrequency Radiation in the City of Hebron

Unknown authors · 2015

Researchers measured indoor radiofrequency exposure at 343 locations in Hebron. The maximum total power density was about 2.3 × 10 W m with an exposure quotient of about 0.01, well below the ICNIRP limit. FM radio contributed 46% of the exposure quotient, GSM900 26%, DECT phones 15%, WLAN 9%, unknown sources 3%, and TV broadcasting 1%.

Mobile phone use and risk of glioma: a case-control study in Korea for 2002-2007.

Yoon S, Choi JW, Lee E, Ahn H, Kim HS, Choi HD, Kim N. · 2015

Among ipsilateral users, the adjusted odds ratios for lifetime years of use and cumulative hours of use were 1.25 (95% CI 0.55 to 2.88) and 1.77 (95% CI 0.32 to 1.84), respectively. The authors concluded that the results do not support the hypothesis that mobile phone use increases glioma risk, but suggest further evaluation for long-term users.

Biomarkers in volunteers exposed to mobile phone radiation.

Söderqvist F, Carlberg M, Hardell L · 2015

Researchers conducted a single-blinded randomized counterbalanced study with 24 healthy subjects aged 18–30 years who underwent three exposure conditions. The study tested whether microwaves from an 890-MHz phone-like signal at SAR10G of 2 W/kg and 0.2 W/kg versus sham gave acute effects on brain-shielding barriers using blood serum biomarkers. Over time, statistically significant variations were found for TTR and β-trace protein, but no difference was found between exposure conditions and no interaction between exposure condition and time of blood sampling. The study concluded it failed to show any acute clinically or statistically significant effect of short-term microwave exposure on serum levels of S100β, TTR, and β-trace protein with follow-up limited to two hours.

Pituitary tumor risk in relation to mobile phone use: A case-control study.

Shrestha M, Raitanen J, Salminen T, Lahkola A, Auvinen A · 2015

A case-control study in Finland included 80 pituitary tumor cases and 240 matched controls. Mobile phone use history was obtained via structured interview and analyzed with conditional logistic regression. Regular mobile phone users showed a reduced odds ratio of 0.39 (95% CI 0.21-0.72) compared to never or non-regular users, though the authors noted this may reflect methodological limitations. No increased risk was found after 10 or more years since first use (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.25-1.89), nor in relation to duration, cumulative hours, or cumulative number of calls, with similar results for analog and digital phones. The authors noted no excess risk for short- or medium-term use, but uncertainties remained for longer duration due to few participants reporting use beyond 10 years.

Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Adolescents in Relation to Mobile Phone Use during Night.

Schoeni A, Roser K, Röösli M. · 2015

In a cross-sectional study, 439 adolescents completed questionnaires about mobile phone use at night and health, and 233 provided operator-recorded use data. Standardized computerized cognitive tests assessed memory and concentration capacity. Adolescents who reported being awakened at least once a month had higher odds of daytime tiredness (OR 1.86) and rapid exhaustibility (OR 2.28). Similar associations were seen with objective operator-recorded data for tiredness (OR 1.63) and rapid exhaustibility (OR 2.32). Cognitive test performance was not related to nighttime mobile phone use.

Magnetoreception in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus): influence of weak frequency-modulated radio frequency fields.

Malkemper EP et al. · 2015

The researchers tested the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus for magnetoreception using a simple behavioural assay in which mice were allowed to build nests overnight in a visually symmetrical, circular arena. When plotted with respect to magnetic north, the nests were bimodally clustered in the northern and southern sectors, indicating the animals used magnetic cues. Wood mice exposed to a 0.9 to 5 MHz frequency sweep changed their preference from north-south to east-west. A constant frequency field tuned to the Larmor frequency (1.33 MHz) had no effect on mouse orientation. The study demonstrated magnetoreception in wood mice and provided first evidence for a radical-pair mechanism in a mammal.