POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HUMAN HEALTH

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POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HUMAN HEALTH

ABSTRACT
The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has updated the previous opinion on “Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), Radio Frequency Fields (RF) and Microwave Radiation on human health” by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) from 2001, with respect  to whether or not exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is a cause of disease or other health effects. The opinion is primarily based on scientific articles, published in English language peer-reviewed scientific journals. Only studies that are considered relevant for the task are cited and commented upon in the opinion. The opinion is divided into frequency (f) bands,  namely: radio frequency (RF) (100 kHz < f  â‰¤ 300 GHz), intermediate frequency (IF) (300 Hz < f  â‰¤ 100 kHz), extremely low frequency (ELF)
(0< f ≤ 300 Hz), and static (0 Hz) (only static magnetic fields are considered in this opinion). There is a separate section for environmental effects.
 Radio Frequency Fields (RF fields)
Since the adoption of the 2001 opinion extensive research has been conducted regarding possible health effects of exposure to low intensity RF fields, including epidemiologic, in vivo, and in vitro research.  In conclusion, no health effect has been consistently demonstrated at exposure levels below the limits of ICNIRP (International Committee on Non Ionising Radiation Protection) established in 1998. However, the data base for evaluation remains limited especially for long-term low-level exposure.
 Intermediate Frequency Fields (IF fields)
Experimental and epidemiological data from  the IF range are very sparse. Therefore, assessment of acute health risks in the IF range is currently based on known hazards at lower frequencies and higher frequencies. Proper evaluation and assessment of possible health effects from long-term exposure to IF fields are important because human exposure to such fields is increasing due to new and emerging technologies.
 Extremely low frequency fields (ELF fields)
The previous conclusion that ELF magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic, chiefly based on occurrence of childhood leukaemia, is still valid. For breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, recent research  has indicated that an association is unlikely. For neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumours, the link to ELF fields remains uncertain.  No consistent relationship between ELF fields and self-reported symptoms (sometimes referred to as electrical hypersensitivity) has been demonstrated.
 Static Fields
Adequate data for proper risk assessment of static magnetic fields are very sparse.  Developments of technologies involving static magnetic fields, e.g. with MRI (Magnetic  Resonance Imaging) equipment requires risk assessments to be made in relation to occupational exposure.
 Environmental Effects
There are insufficient data to identify whether a single exposure standard is appropriate to protect all environmental species from EMF. Similarly the data are inadequate to judge whether the environmental standards should be the same or significantly different from those appropriate to protect 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:

  1. To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human brain functionality
  2. To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human mental activity
  3. To effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on serve headache
    • Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:

  1. What is the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human brain functionality?
  2. What is the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on human mental activity?
  3. 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.

POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HUMAN HEALTH

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