" Since radiofrequency EMFs have higher energy than do
power line frequencies, one might expect that they would be even more likely to cause disease." WHO Bioinitiative Report, 2007 http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm Most studies on EMF's have been on power lines, and only recently have people begun to consider the potential risks of Radio Frequency (RF) Wave Radiation and other forms of EMF's. RF antenna's put off much higher energy than power lines, therefore it can be expected that they pose a much more significant risk: "Of even greater concern, ---------------------------------
What About the Cell Towers in Neighborhoods? What Are Scientists and Public Policy Researchers Saying About RFR? The Salzburg Resolution (June 2000) was adopted at the International Conference on Cell Tower Siting and would prohibit any cell site from emanating more than 0.1 microwatt/centimeter squared. This would reduce public exposure below 0.1 µW/cm2 in all places. It is a limit that takes into account nonthermal RF bioeffects and reported health effects. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henry Lai "Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RFR), a form of energy between 10 KHz-300 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum, is used in wireless communication and emitted from antennae of mobile telephones (handys) and from cellular masts. RFR can penetrate into organic tissues and be absorbed and converted into heat. One familiar application of this energy is the microwave ovens used in cooking."
"Exposure to RFR from mobile telephones is of a short-term, repeated nature at a relatively high intensity, whereas exposure to RFR emitted from cell masts is of long duration but at a very low intensity"
"For those who have questions on the possible health effects of exposure to radiation from cell masts, there are studies that show biological effects at very low intensities. The following are some examples: Kwee and Raskmark [1997] reported changes in cell proliferation (division) at SARs of 0.000021- 0.0021 W/kg; Magnras and Xenos [1997] reported a decrease in reproductive functions in mice exposed to RFR intensities of 160-1053 nW/square cm (the SAR was not calculated); Ray and Behari [1990] reported a decrease in eating and drinking behavior in rats exposed to 0.0317 W/kg; Dutta et al. [1989] reported changes in calcium metabolism in cells exposed to RFR at 0.05-0.005 W/kg; and Phillips et al. [1998] observed DNA damage at 0.024-0.0024 W/kg. Most of the above studies investigated the effect of a single episode of RFR exposure. As regards exposure to cell mast radiation, chronic exposure becomes an important factor. Intensity and exposure duration do interact to produce an effect. We [Lai and Carino, In press] found with extremely low frequency magnetic fields that 'lower intensity, longer duration exposure' can produce the same effect as from a 'higher intensity, shorter duration exposure'. A field of a certain intensity, that exerts no effect after 45 min of exposure, can elicit an effect when the exposure is prolonged to 90 min. Thus, as described earlier, the interaction of exposure parameters, the duration of exposure, whether the effect is cumulative, involvement of compensatory responses, and the time of break down of homeostasis after long-term exposure, play important roles in determining the possible health consequence of exposure to radiation emitted from cell masts."
"It is difficult to deny that RFR at low intensity can affect the nervous system."
Henry Lai -------------------------------------------------------------------
Health effects associated with mobile base stations
in communities: the need for health studies : Dr. Neil Cherry : 8 June 2000 Environmental Management and Design Division P.O. Box 84 , Lincoln University , Canterbury, New Zealand , email: Neil.Cherry@ecan.govt.nz In 1995 a New Zealand Environment Court (as the Planning Tribunal) decided to set a public exposure limit of 2m W/cm2 for from a BellSouth GSM cell site. This was based on evidence of biological effects, including calcium ion efflux, enhanced ODC activity and EEG change down to 2.9m W/cm2. There was also epidemiological evidence of childhood leukaemia at 2.4m W/cm2. The primary expert witness for BellSouth was WHO staff member Dr Michael Repacholi from Australia. He stated that there was no evidence of adverse effects below the international guideline of SAR = 0.08W/kg because the only effect of RF/MW was tissue heating. The Court's decision rejected this position and set the exposure level of 1% of the standard. The decision also stated that this should be revised with new evidence. Subsequently two Australian studies were carried out to assure the public that both cell phones and cell sites were safe. Both of these studies, Hocking et al. (1996) and Repacholi et al. (1997), showed that leukaemia/lymphoma was more than doubled for people and mice. It is now clear that the results of both of these were quite predicable from earlier human and rodent studies. This includes studies that are claimed by ICNIRP, WHO and Dr Repacholi (both in reviews and in the Environment Court) to show that there were no adverse effects. To this day cell phone companies and some government bodies, such as the U.K independent expert committee, chaired by Sir William Stewart, that included Dr Repacholi,still claims that there is no evidence that cell phone radiation is harmful. There is a large and growing body of published scientific studies that show that this is not true. This includes Dr Repacholi's own research. Over forty cell phone radiation studies are cited here. They show that cell phone radiation mimics the biological and epidemiological studies for EMR over the past 4 decades. This includes DNA strand breakage, chromosome aberrations, increased oncogene activity in cells, reduced melatonin, altered brain activity, altered blood pressure and increased brain cancer. (for full research article, see Information files section of our website) Meta-Analysis: Studies of Childhood Leukemia and EMF
Greenland et al., (2000) reported a significantly elevated risk of 1.68 [95% CI 1.23-2.31] based on pooled results from 12 studies using a time-weighted average of exposure greater than 3 mG (0.3 μT). This is a 68% increased risk of childhood leukemia.
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Ahlbom et al., (2000) reported a doubling of risk based on a meta-analysis of nine (9) studies. The results reported an elevated risk of 2.0 [95% CI 1.27-3.13] for EMF exposures equal to or greater than 4 mG (0.4 μT) as compared to less than 1 mG (0.1 μT)
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In 2002, the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) designated EMF as a “possible human carcinogen” or Group 2B Carcinogen based on consistent epidemiological evidence. The exposure levels at which increased risks of childhood leukemia are reported in individual studies range from above 1.4 mG or 0.14 μT (Green et al., 1999). for younger children to age six (6) to 4 mG (0.4 μT). Many individual studies with cutpoints of 2 mG or 3 mG (0.2-0.3 μT)) report increased risks. Plausible biological mechanisms exist that may reasonably account for a causal relationship between EMF exposure and childhood leukemia. ------------------------------- Recurrence of Childhood Leukemia and Poorer Survival Rates with Continued ---------------------------------- Higher Lifetime Cancer Risks with Childhood EMF Exposure ----------------------------------- Childhood Brain Tumors There is suggestive evidence that other childhood cancers may be related to EMF exposure. The meta-analysis by Wartenberg et al., (1998) reported increased risks for childhood brain tumors. Risks are quite similar whether based on calculated EMF fields (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.8 – 2.3] or based on measured EMF fields (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.8 – 2.4). ------u--b--------------------------------- Brain Tumors in Electrical Workers and in Electrical Occupations (Meta-analysis) A significant excess risk for adult brain tumors in electrical workers and those adults with occupational EMF exposure was reported (Kheifets et al., 1995). This is about the same size risk for lung cancer and second hand smoke (US DHHS, 2006). A total of 29 studies with populations from 12 countries were included in this meta-analysis. The relative risk was reported as 1.16 (CI = 1.08 – 1.24) or a 16% increased risk for all brain tumors. For gliomas, the risk estimate was reported to be 1.39 (1.07 – 1.82) or a 39% increased risk for those in electrical occupations. A second meta-analysis published by Kheifets et al., ((2001) added results of 9 new studies published after 1995. It reported a new pooled estimate (OR = 1.16, 1.08 – 1.01) that showed little change in the risk estimate overall from 1995. -------------------------------- Alzheimer’s Disease and ALS ------------------------------------- A meta-analysis by Erren (2001) on EMF and breast cancer reported pooled relative risks ELF and Toxic Chemical Exposures
INCREASED INCIDENCE OF CANCER NEAR A CELL-PHONE TRANSMITTER STATION. RONNI WOLF MD1 DANNY WOLF MD2 From: The Dermatology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rechovot, and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, ISRAEL. The Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Hasharon Region, Kupat Holim, ISRAEL. Running title: Cancer near a cell-phone transmitter station. Abstract Significant concern has been raised about possible health effects from exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields, especially after the rapid introduction of mobile telecommunications systems. Parents are especially concerned with the possibility that children might develop cancer after exposure to the RF emissions from mobile telephone base stations erected in or near schools. The few epidemiologic studies that did report on cancer incidence in relation to RF radiation have generally presented negative or inconsistent results, and thus emphasize the need for more studies that should investigate cohorts with high RF exposure for changes in cancer incidence. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an increased cancer incidence in populations, living in a small area, and exposed to RF radiation from a cell-phone transmitter station. This is an epidemiologic assessment, to determine whether the incidence of cancer cases among individuals exposed to a cell-phone transmitter station is different from that expected in Israel, in Netanya, or as compared to people who lived in a nearby area. Participants are people (n=622) living in the area near a cell-phone transmitter station for 3-7 years who were patients of one health clinic (of DW). The exposure began 1 year before the start of the study when the station first came into service. A second cohort of individuals (n=1222) who get their medical services in a clinic located nearby with very closely matched, environment, workplace and occupational characteristics was used for comparison. In the area of exposure (area A) eight cases of different kinds of cancer were diagnosed in a period of only one year. This rate of cancers was compared both with the rate of 31 cases per 10,000 per year in the general population and the 2/1222 rate recorded in the nearby clinic (area B). Relative cancer rates for females were 10.5 for area A, 0.6 for area B and 1 for the whole town of Netanya. Cancer incidence of women in area A was thus significantly higher (p<0.0001) compared with that of area B and the whole city. A comparison of the relative risk revealed that there were 4.15 times more cases in area A than in the entire population. 3 The study indicates an association between increased incidence of cancer and living in proximity to a cell-phone transmitter station. http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20050207_israel.pdf ---------------------------------- The Influence of Being Physically Near to a Cell Phone Transmission Mast on the Incidence of Cancer Horst Eger, Klaus Uwe Hagen, Birgitt Lucas, Peter Vogel, Helmut Voit Published in Umwelt·Medizin·Gesellschaft 17,4 2004, as:‘Einfluss der räumlichen Nähe von Mobilfunksendeanlagen auf die Krebsinzidenz ’Summary http://www.tetrawatch.net/papers/naila.pdf -----------------------------------------------
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