- Ms Word Format
- 65 Pages
- ₦3000
- 1-5 Chapters
POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HUMAN HEALTH
POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HUMAN HEALTH
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Since their introduction, more than a decade ago, the use of mobile phones has increased rapidly and became a popular form of electronic communication worldwide. Currently, the amount of connections exceeds the amount of inhabitants in the Netherlands. For every 100 inhabitants 113 connections were present in 2007 (1). With this increased mobile phone use (and accompanying growth of mobile phone base stations), the public concern on potential harmful effects of every day exposure to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) has also increased, as these fields are emitted by mobile phones and other wireless communication devices. The RF-EMF emitted by mobile phones is absorbed through the skull to some extent, and the brain is exposed to this radiation (2). Therefore a physiological interaction could be hypothesized between this RF-EMF and the human brain, altering physiology, activity and human behavior and functioning. While a potential link between (brain) tumors and RF exposure from mobile phone use was a primary concern, other potential RF-EMF related effects on the brain are currently also of scientific interest. Over the past years, several studies have investigated the effects of RF-EMF emitted by mobile phones on brain activity and neurobehavioral function in humans. As these abilities play an important role in everyday functioning, small alterations could have a significant impact on cognitive function and related health aspects. Especially when taking into account the large number of mobile phone users worldwide, even small adverse alterations of cognitive function could have major public health implications.
More devices, like mobile phone base stations and other wireless communication devices emit RF-EMF. However, mobile phones are of specific interest as this thesis will focus on human brain activity and neurobehavioral outcomes in relation to RF-EMF from mobile phone signals. Besides their widespread use, mobile phone exposure is localized at the head of an individual, resulting in high peak exposure values for the brain tissue at the side where the mobile phone is held during calling. Mobile phone use is therefore considered to be more relevant for the outcomes of interest, than for example continuous whole body exposure to RF-EMF from mobile phone base-stations.
The use of mobile phones is not limited to adults only. Children and adolescents are currently an important group of mobile phone users, and this use is starting at an increasingly younger age. A Danish cohort study reported exposure to mobile phones, although infrequently, in already 30% of the 7 year-olds in Denmark (3). It is hypothesized that children should be regarded as a potentially susceptible group of individuals, as their brain and central nervous system (CNS) are still in development and their skull is relatively thin. Furthermore they are an active group of mobile phone users with high cumulative lifetime exposure to RF-EMF.
Although a large number of studies have been published that investigated the effect of RF-EMF emitted by mobile phones on brain activity and cognitive functioning, the reviews and conclusions on mobile phone use and health provided by different national authorities remain inconsistent. By making an inventory of available literature on the subject with an extensive and structured literature search, the aim of this thesis is to present a literature review on relevant studies investigating effects of RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone signals on brain activity and neurobehavioral performance.
EMF are present everywhere in our environment, some visible (light), but most invisible to the human eye. They are an interaction between electric and magnetic forces. Natural sources of electric fields are produced by the local build-up of electric charges in the atmosphere associated with thunderstorms and the best known natural magnetic field surrounds the earth. But besides these natural sources, many man-made sources are present which generate EMF like x-rays, (high voltage) electricity and various kinds of high frequency radio waves which are used to transmit information.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The main research questions that will be addressed in this literature review is the following: ‘Is there evidence for effects of RF-EMF from mobile phone signals on brain activity and neurobehavioral performance, thereby impairing human cognitive functioning?’. This main research objective will be divided in smaller sections, in order to create a structured assessment of the main research question. The first sub-question is: ’What is the effect of RF-EMF from mobile phone signals, on human brain activity?’ Furthermore, ‘What is the effect of RF-EMF from mobile phone signals, on human neurobehavioral performance?’ An issue resulting from these first two sub-questions is whether the effects of RF-EMF on brain activity and cognitive performance found in these studies, will have any practical implications for human cognitive functioning in every day life. There might be observations of small changes in brain function for example, but without any clinical, health or performance implications their relevance for public health and society is limited.
Purpose of the Study
The specific objectives were to:
- To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human brain functionality
- To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human mental activity
-
To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on serve headache
- Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:
- What is the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human brain functionality?
- What is the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human mental activity?
- What is the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on serve headache?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study would be beneficial to the health personnel, telecommunication firms.
This study would also be significant in the sense that its finding would serve as reference materials for future researchers to carry out further studies in the field of knowledge under study in other human health.
The Ministry of Health would benefit from the findings of this study in view of the revealed indices or how an efficacious radiation affects human health.
Delimitation of the Study
The study is delimited to analysis of effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones
- Limitations of the study
In every research work, it is likely that the researcher may encounter some limitations. The researcher encountered some challenges during the period of carrying out this research. Some of these challenges include the dearth of materials for a proper and effective research work constituted a major limitation. Again, how to get the true and required information from the respondents through questionnaire also constituted a constraint in the study.