An Introduction to An Introduction to Radiofrequency RadiationRadiofrequency Radiation
What is Radiofrequency What is Radiofrequency Radiation (RF)?Radiation (RF)?
Part of the electromagnetic spectrum Part of the electromagnetic spectrum Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves of electric Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves of electric
and magnetic energy that travel together at the speed of and magnetic energy that travel together at the speed of lightlight
EM radiation is characterized by a wavelength and a EM radiation is characterized by a wavelength and a frequencyfrequency Wavelength: distance covered by one complete wave cycleWavelength: distance covered by one complete wave cycle Frequency: number of waves passing a given point in one Frequency: number of waves passing a given point in one
second. second. The frequency of an RF signal is measured in units called the The frequency of an RF signal is measured in units called the
hertz (Hz). One Hz equals one cycle per second. hertz (Hz). One Hz equals one cycle per second. RF generally refers to electromagnetic waves with RF generally refers to electromagnetic waves with
frequencies between about 3 kilohertz (3 kHz) and 300 frequencies between about 3 kilohertz (3 kHz) and 300 gigahertz (300 GHz).gigahertz (300 GHz).
The Electromagnetic SpectrumThe Electromagnetic Spectrum
Common Sources of RF Common Sources of RF PollutionPollution
Federal GuidelinesFederal Guidelines
Safety Code 6 Safety Code 6 Canada’s official document specifying Canada’s official document specifying
the requirements for the safe use of the requirements for the safe use of radiation emitting devices radiation emitting devices
Safety Code 6Safety Code 6
According to Health Canada, as long as According to Health Canada, as long as the radiation emitted doesn't raise the the radiation emitted doesn't raise the body temperature by 1 degree celsius body temperature by 1 degree celsius in six minutes, it's considered safe in six minutes, it's considered safe
Problems:Problems: Based on short term thermal effectsBased on short term thermal effects Does not consider long term effects of Does not consider long term effects of
continual exposure over 20 or more yearscontinual exposure over 20 or more years
Safety Code 6Safety Code 6
An ancient document that has not been An ancient document that has not been updated since 1999updated since 1999
Unacceptable in as rapidly expanding a Unacceptable in as rapidly expanding a field as wireless communicationfield as wireless communication 86.1 million cell phones in use worldwide in 86.1 million cell phones in use worldwide in
19991999 According to the According to the World Almanac and Book of Facts. World Almanac and Book of Facts.
2001: 571.2001: 571.
3 BILLION cell phones in use worldwide 3 BILLION cell phones in use worldwide today!today!
Publicly announced on June 27, 2007 by Reuters Publicly announced on June 27, 2007 by Reuters
Safety Code 6 compared to Safety Code 6 compared to guidelines from other countriesguidelines from other countries
Power Density
uW/cm2
Are radio frequencies at levels Are radio frequencies at levels below Safety Code 6 harmful below Safety Code 6 harmful
to health?to health?
YesYes
Scientific EvidenceScientific Evidence
Epidemiological studies
In vivo studies
In vitro studies
• Exposed-Unexposed Studies:Exposed-Unexposed Studies: Examines two similar groups of people - one
exposed to a risk factor, the other not - and compares the frequency of disease between the two groups.
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
• Often based on self-reported symptoms assessed via a questionnaire• Sometimes involves individual testing (i.e. neurological examination assessing visuomotor speed, problem solving, attention and memory)
Increase in adult and childhood leukemias was found in residents living close to radio and TV broadcast antennas
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
Dolk et al. (1997)Hocking et al. (1996)
Michelozzi et al. (2002)Michelozzi et al. (2002)Michelozzi et al. (1998)Michelozzi et al. (1998)
Park et al. (2004)Park et al. (2004)
People who lived and worked near radio antennae and radar installations showed deficits in psychological and short-term memory tests.
Chiang et al. (1989)
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
Sperm counts of Danish military Sperm counts of Danish military personnel, who operated mobile personnel, who operated mobile ground-to-air missile units that use ground-to-air missile units that use several RFR emitting radar systems several RFR emitting radar systems (maximal mean exposure 10 (maximal mean exposure 10 microW/cm2), were significantly microW/cm2), were significantly low compared to referenceslow compared to references
Hjollund et al. Hjollund et al. (1997)(1997)
Blood cells from cows from a farm close and in front of radar showed significantly higher level of severe genetic damage
Balode (1996)
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
School children who lived in front of a radio station had less developed memory and attention, their reaction time was slower, and their neuromuscular apparatus endurance was decreased
Kolodynski and Kolodynska (1996)
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
Increase in complaint frequencies for ncrease in complaint frequencies for tiredness, headache, sleep disturbance, tiredness, headache, sleep disturbance, discomfort, irritability, depression, loss discomfort, irritability, depression, loss of memory, dizziness, libido decrease, in of memory, dizziness, libido decrease, in people who lived within 300 m of mobile people who lived within 300 m of mobile phone base stations.phone base stations.
Santini et al. (2002)Santini et al. (2002)
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
Operators of satellite station exposed Operators of satellite station exposed to low dose of RFR over a 24-hr shift to low dose of RFR over a 24-hr shift showed an increased secretion of showed an increased secretion of stress hormonesstress hormones
Vangelova et al. et al. (2002)(2002)
Epidemiological Epidemiological StudiesStudies
In Vivo StudiesIn Vivo Studies
Increases in:
Tumours (Novoselova et al., 2004)
Sterility (Magras & Xenos, 1999)
Nerve damage (Salford et al., 2003)
Stress reactions (Pomerai et al., 2000, 2002)
Altered brain waves (Lebedeva et al., 2000)
In Vivo StudiesIn Vivo Studies
Effects on:
Immune system (Fesenko et al., 1999)
Brain-blood barrier (Persson et al, 1997)
In Vivo StudiesIn Vivo Studies
Effects on the production of
Testosterone (Navakatikian & Tamashevskaya, 1994)
Calcium (Wolke et al, 1996)
Cortisol (Mann et al., 1998)
In Vitro StudiesIn Vitro Studies
13 studies showing:
Cell division (tumours)
Genetic changes
Calcium-heart
Immune system
Stress proteins
Brain function (memory)
ChildrenChildren Because of their growing bodies and rapidly Because of their growing bodies and rapidly
multiplying cells, children may be 10 times multiplying cells, children may be 10 times more vulnerable to health effects from more vulnerable to health effects from exposure to mobile phone microwave exposure to mobile phone microwave radiation than adults (US Environmental radiation than adults (US Environmental Protection Agency). Protection Agency).
The county of Palm Beach, FL, the state of The county of Palm Beach, FL, the state of California, the Vancouver School Board and California, the Vancouver School Board and the countries of New Zealand and Greece the countries of New Zealand and Greece have all prohibited cellular antennas near have all prohibited cellular antennas near schools due to safety concerns.schools due to safety concerns.
Mobile Telecommunications Mobile Telecommunications and Health: A Reviewand Health: A Review
Commissioned in 2000 by Cellular Commissioned in 2000 by Cellular industry giant industry giant T-MobileT-Mobile
Conducted by an independent Conducted by an independent research institute: ECOLOG Institute research institute: ECOLOG Institute
Reviewed 220 peer-reviewed and Reviewed 220 peer-reviewed and published papers which dealt with published papers which dealt with the health risks from mobile the health risks from mobile telecommunicationstelecommunications
What the report saidWhat the report said CancerCancer
““Given the results of the present Given the results of the present epidemiological studies, it can be epidemiological studies, it can be concluded that electromagnetic fields with concluded that electromagnetic fields with frequencies in the mobile frequencies in the mobile telecommunications range telecommunications range do play a role do play a role in the development of cancerin the development of cancer” (p.33)” (p.33)
InfertilityInfertility Birth defectsBirth defects Loss of memory and cognitive functionLoss of memory and cognitive function Immune system disruptionsImmune system disruptions
Permeability of the blood-brain Permeability of the blood-brain barrierbarrier
Stress reactionsStress reactions Decreased melatonin productionDecreased melatonin production
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative Report
Written by 14 (fourteen) scientists, public health and public policy experts to document the scientific evidence on electromagnetic fields.
Another dozen outside reviewers have looked at and refined the Report.
August 2007
Report available online at: www.bioinitiative.org
PurposePurpose
To assess scientific evidence on health impacts from electromagnetic radiation below current public exposure limits and evaluate what changes in these limits are warranted now to reduce possible public health risks in the future.
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“People who have used a cell phone for ten years or more have higher rates of malignant brain tumor and acoustic neuromas.
It is worse if the cell phone has been used primarily on one side of the head.”
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“People who have used a cordless phone for ten years or more have higher rates of malignant brain tumor and acoustic neuromas.
It is worse if the cordless phone has been used primarily on one side of the head.”
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“The current standard for exposure to the emissions of cell phones and cordless phones is not safe considering studies reporting long-term brain tumor and acoustic neuroma risks.”
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“RF can cause inflammatory reactions, allergy reactions and change normal immune function at levels allowed by current public safety standards.”
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“The scientific evidence is substantial enough to warrant preventative actions for RF.”
Bio Initiative ReportBio Initiative ReportConclusionsConclusions
“The effects of long-term exposure to wireless technologies including emissions from cell phones and other personal devices, and from whole-body exposure to RF transmissions from cell towers and antennas is simply not known yet with certainty. However, the body of evidence at hand suggests that bioeffects and health impacts can and do occur at exquisitely low exposure levels that can be thousands of times below public safety limits.”
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Ecolog Report - Mobile Telecommunications and Ecolog Report - Mobile Telecommunications and Health - Review of the Current Scientific Research Health - Review of the Current Scientific Research in view of Precautionary Health Protection, in view of Precautionary Health Protection, Ecolog-Institute April 2000 - sponsored by T-Mobil Ecolog-Institute April 2000 - sponsored by T-Mobil (Translated from German into English by Andrea (Translated from German into English by Andrea Klein 2007) –Retrieved from Klein 2007) –Retrieved from http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/ecohttp://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/ecologsum.phplogsum.php
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