The authors conducted meta-analyses regarding the association between cellular and mobile phone use and brain tumor development by applying various radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure subcategories. With changing patterns of mobile phone use and rapidly developing Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology (such as Bluetooth), this study will provide insight into the importance of more precise exposure subcategories for RF-EMR.
Methods
The medical librarian searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until 16 December 2020.
Results
In these meta-analyses, 19 case-control studies and five cohort studies were included. Ipsilateral users reported a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.40 (95% CI 1.21–1.62) compared to non-regular users. Users with years of use over 10 years reported a pooled OR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.48). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, only meningioma (OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.04–1.39)), glioma (OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.16–1.82)), and malignant brain tumors (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.55–2.39)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance for ipsilateral users. For users with years of use over 10 years, only glioma (OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01–1.71)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance. When 11 studies with an OR with cumulative hours of use over 896 h were synthesized, the pooled OR was 1.59 (95% CI 1.25–2.02). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma reported the pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.13–2.44), 1.29 (95% CI 1.08–1.54), and 1.84 (95% CI 0.78–4.37), respectively. For each individual study that considered cumulative hours of use, the highest OR for glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma was 2.89 (1.41–5.93) (both side use, > 896 h), 2.57 (1.02–6.44) (both side use, > 896 h), and 3.53 (1.59–7.82) (ipsilateral use, > 1640 h), respectively. For five cohort studies, the pooled risk ratios (RRs) for all CNS tumors, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma, were statistically equivocal, respectively. However, the point estimates for acoustic neuroma showed a rather increased pooled RR for ever-use (1.26) and over 10 years of use (1.61) compared to never-use, respectively.
Excerpts
“In consideration of these rapidly changing mobile phone technologies, the currently used proxies for RF-EMR exposure assessment are crude and insufficient to clarify the relationship between RF-EMR exposure from cell phones and brain tumor incidence.... The usual exposure measures, such as the years of mobile phone use, the cumulative duration of calls, and the number of calls per week, are rough indicators of mobile phone use.... the authors conducted a series of meta-analyses and subgroup analyses using various exposure measuring categories, from crude to more precise ones. In consideration of crude exposure classifications used in previous meta-analyses, this study will give insight into the importance of more precise exposure subcategories in investigating this topic."
"... the authors analyzed the risk of bias regarding selection and recall
bias for the amount of cell phone use and misclassification and recall
bias for ipsilateral/contralateral use. A major reason was that typical
risk of bias rating tools such as the National Toxicology Program Office
of Health Assessment and Translation Risk of Bias rating tool (NTP OHAT
RoB rating tool, Supplementary material B)
were not appropriate for assessing individual studies regarding this
topic." [Note: The WHO systematic reviews relied on this rating tool.]
"With the conversion from 2G cellular phones through 3G and 4G mobile phones to current 5G mobile phones, transmission of large data became possible. With the introduction of 3G technology, all aspects of our society and daily lives have changed drastically. Currently, we are using mobile phones nearly continuously and putting mobile phones near our bodies even when we are not using them. For example, if people use their mobile phone for morning-alarming purposes, they might put their mobile phone near the bed, sometimes even beside their head, all night. These changed patterns of mobile phone use could increase exposure to RF-EMR from cellular and mobile phones. Therefore, precise exposure assessment for RF-EMR from mobile phones would become more complex in future studies."
"The results of cumulative meta-analyses according to precision
indicated that the pooled OR was biased downwards with the addition of
studies with lower precision. This indicates that the results of studies
with a lower precision should be interpreted cautiously."
"Because
brain tumors require a latency period to develop [29], an accurate
assessment of brain tumor risk associated with RF-EMR exposure requires a
long observation span. However, each included study did not consider a
sufficient latency period in their study design. This could have led to a
possible underestimation of brain tumor risk. Future studies with long
observation spans might resolve this problem.”
It is quite relevant to investigate possible outcomes of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) since contemporary children and adolescents have become active users of the most advanced technologies. They are especially susceptible to electromagnetic factors; therefore, it is necessary to have a proper insight into outcomes of such exposures for the body.
The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the main targets under exposure to RF EMF. In most cases, users hold mobile phones close to their heads thereby directly exposing their brains to RF EMF.
As the analysis of literature data has shown, there are few studies in this area; however, proposed options for assessing the impact of RF EMF on children and adolescents are very diverse.
This part of the review focuses on various types of modeling. These are not only phantom, voxel models or the finite difference method but also new approaches such as distribution matrices, Monte Carlo simulations and an integrated radio frequency model based on the results of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and other methods.
The review provides the results obtained by investigating encephalography under exposure to RF EMF created by mobile communication devices. They are rather contradictory; however, changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain are detected in most cases, in particular, a decrease in the alpha rhyme.
Since the characteristics of sensorimotor reactions quite clearly reflect the power relations in the cerebral cortex, we analyzed changes in the parameters of simple auditory-motor and visual-motor reactions in children and adolescents who were mobile communication users. In addition, the review covers the results of changes in working capacity, fatigue, the duration of an individual minute and the reproduction of a given rhythm.
This paper continues the authors’ review that dwells on modeling radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) and results obtained by measuring electroencephalography indicators, sensorimotor reactions, fatigue, work capacity, duration of an individual minute and the reproduction of a given rhythm in children and adolescents.
Health risk assessment is always based on data obtained by either laboratory tests or epidemiological studies. This paper analyses publications that describe effects of RF EMF exposure, including Wi-Fi, on cognitive processes in children and adolescents as well as methodical approaches to investigating this exposure. However, there are few such studies; in particular, effects produced by Wi-Fi exposure on cognitive indicators of adolescents aged 14–17 years, were found only in two publications.
Literature analysis has established that research findings do not always give an unambiguous estimation of RF EMF effects. The review covers the reasons for ambiguous interpretation of research results: a variable range of test-systems used for investigating indicators of cognitive processes; simultaneous analysis of single exposures including descriptions of ‘effect of improvement’ in indicators; changes in cognitive indicators registered for a group of children and adolescents in a wide age range.
Nevertheless, most results give evidence of negative changes in attention and memory of children and adolescents. Given that, longitudinal studies are becoming especially relevant since they estimate changes in various indicators in dynamics, including those induced by changes in mobile phone use. The review highlights the relevance of comprehensive investigations with their focus on health outcomes of RF EMF exposure intrinsic to 5G technologies considering their global implementation.
Open access paper: https://journal.fcrisk.ru/eng/
Russian version: https://journal.fcrisk.ru/
Following the global progressive deployment of 5G networks, considerable attention has focused on assessing their potential impact on human health. This study aims to investigate autonomous nervous system changes by exploring skin temperature and electrodermal activity (EDA) among 44 healthy young individuals of both sexes during and after exposure to 3.5 GHz antenna-emitted signals, with an electrical field intensity ranging from 1 to 2 V/m. The study employed a randomized, cross-over design with triple-blinding, encompassing both 'real' and 'sham' exposure sessions, separated by a maximum interval of 1 week. Each session comprised baseline, exposure and postexposure phases, resulting in the acquisition of seven runs. Each run initiated with a 150 s segment of EDA recordings stimulated by 10 repeated beeps. Subsequently, the collected data underwent continuous decomposition analysis, generating specific indicators assessed alongside standard metrics such as trough-to-peak measurements, global skin conductance and maximum positive peak deflection. Additionally, non-invasive, real-time skin temperature measurements were conducted to evaluate specific anatomical points (hand, head and neck). The study suggests that exposure to 3.5 GHz signals may potentially affect head and neck temperature, indicating a slight increase in this parameter. Furthermore, there was a minimal modulation of certain electrodermal metrics after the exposure, suggesting a potentially faster physiological response to auditory stimulation. However, while the results are significant, they remain within the normal physiological range and could be a consequence of an uncontrolled variable. Given the preliminary nature of this pilot study, further research is needed to confirm the effects of 5G exposure.
Abstract
Exposure to non-ionizing radiation has become inevitable because people cannot escape sources of electromagnetic fields, such as Wi-Fi or cell phones. Among the mechanisms mentioned, the energy emitted by this non-ionizing radiation could cause heating which would have harmful effects on semen quality. The objective of our study was to carry out a systematic review of the literature concerning the impact of exposure to non-ionizing radiation from mobile phones (or other sources) on sperm parameters. We selected 12 studies: the majority of in vivo studies in humans and in vitro studies in animals report a significant impact on sperm count, mobility and vitality. Mobility and vitality seem to be the parameters most regularly impacted by exposure to non-ionizing radiation. Additional studies are necessary to complete this study in order to deepen knowledge with new generations of mobile phones which can raise health concerns.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
Kim JH,
Kang D-J, Seok JY,
Kim M-H, Kim D-S,
Jeon S-B, Choi H-D,
Moon JI,
Kim N, Kim HR.
Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
Enhances Melanin Synthesis by Activating the P53 Signaling Pathway in
Mel-Ab Melanocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(22):12457.
doi: 10.3390/
Methods: Genetic data on digital device use and migraines were sourced from large-scale genome-wide association studies conducted by the UK Biobank, the FinnGen study, and the International Headache Genetics Consortium. Univariable MR (UVMR), meta-analysis, and multivariable MR (MVMR) approaches were conducted to explore and verify the causal effects of digital device use (including mobile phone use, computer use, playing computer games, and watching television) on migraine risk. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q, MR-Egger intercept test, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier, MR Radial, MR Steiger, and leave-one-out methods.
Results: UVMR analyses revealed that genetically predicted mobile phone use was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall migraine (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39, p = 9.78e-5) and migraine without aura (MO) (OR = 2.25, p = 0.024). Additionally, there were significant positive associations between genetically predicted television watching and the risk of overall migraine (OR = 1.63, p = 2.12e-5) and MO (OR = 2.10, p = 4.98e-5). These results were further supported by the meta-analysis and MVMR analysis. Sensitivity analysis indicated no heterogeneity or pleiotropy.
Conclusion: This comprehensive MR study provides preliminary evidence for the causal impact of mobile phone use and television watching on the risk of migraines. Further studies are needed to explore these associations across different populations.
Background: The exponential growth in mobile phone usage has raised concerns about electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and its health risks. Blood pressure and BMI, which impair heart function due to decreased adrenoreceptor responsiveness, parasympathetic tone withdrawal, and increased sympathetic activity, may further exacerbate these risks. However, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic (RF-EM) exposure from mobile phones on electrocardiograms (ECGs) and heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals remain unclear.
Purpose: Building upon our previous findings on HRV changes due to mobile phone proximity, this study is aimed at significantly enhancing the analytical approach used to assess the effects of mobile phones on cardiac parameters. This study exploits data from a previous study but with a different purpose. The aim of this study is twofold: (a) to examine whether exposure to mobile phones changes the five variables (P-R, QRS, QT, ST, and HR) in a multivariate manner and (b) to examine whether the blood pressure and/or the body mass index (BMI), which acts as a proxy for obesity, have an effect on the change of these five variables. For both aspects of the study, four cycles are performed.
Method: We conducted multivariate analysis on previously collected electrical cardiac measurement data from 20 healthy male subjects exposed to mobile phone EMF, with the mobile phones placed at four different body locations. The one-sample Hotelling T 2 test on the mean vector of differences was utilised instead of multiple paired t-tests. This multivariate method comprehensively analyzes data features and accounts for variable correlations, unlike multiple univariate analyses. Given our small sample size, we employed the MMPC variable selection algorithm to identify predictor variables significantly related to mean changes.
Results: Significant alterations in ECG intervals and heart rate were noted in the subjects before and after the first EMF exposure cycle, independent of their BMI. Notably, heart rate, P-R, and QRS intervals fell postexposure while QT and ST intervals increased. These changes were influenced by variations in systolic blood pressure, with BMI showing no significant effect.
Conclusion: The observed modifications in cardiac electrical measurements due to mobile phone EMF exposure are attributed to the effects of EMF itself, with no impact from BMI on the extent of these changes.
Deltour I, Guida F, Ribet C, Zins M, Goldberg M, Schüz J. Use of Mobile Phones and Radiofrequency-Emitting Devices in the COSMOS-France Cohort. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(11):1514. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21111514.
In this study, the impact of mobile phone radiation on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was investigated. A total of 21 New Zealand rabbits were used for the experiments, divided into three groups, each consisting of 7 rabbits. One group served as the control, while the other two were exposed to electromagnetic radiation at frequencies of 1800 MHz with a distance of 14.5 cm and 2100 MHz with a distance of 17 cm, maintaining a constant power intensity of 15 dBm, for a duration equivalent to the current average daily conversation time of 38 min. The exposure was conducted under non-thermal conditions, with RF radiation levels approximately ten times lower than normal values. Evans blue (EB) dye was used as a marker to assess BBB permeability. EB binds to plasma proteins, and its presence in brain tissue indicates a disruption in BBB integrity, allowing for a quantitative evaluation of radiation-induced permeability changes. Left and right brain tissue samples were analyzed using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) solutions to measure EB amounts at 620 nm via spectrophotometry. After the experiments, BBB tissue samples were collected from the right and left brains of all rabbits in the three groups and subjected to a series of medical procedures. Samples from Group 1 were compared with those from Group 2 and Group 3 using statistical methods to determine if there were any significant differences. As a result, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in the BBB of rabbits exposed to 1800 MHz radiation, whereas there was a statistically significant difference at a 95% confidence level in the BBB of rabbits exposed to 2100 MHz radiation. A decrease in EB values was observed upon the arithmetic examination of the BBB.
The two primary frequencies utilized in contemporary mobile telecommunications, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz, have garnered substantial attention due to their widespread application in cellular networks worldwide [13, 14]. For example, in ref. [15], it has been demonstrated that radiation from mobile phones at 900, 1800, and 2100 MHz frequencies can increase oxidative damage in the frontal lobes of rat brain tissues, an increase in lipid peroxidation, and oxidative DNA damage. Additionally, exposure to 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation has been shown to induce single-strand breaks in DNA. In ref. [16], it was observed and presented that exposure to 900–1800 MHz radiation caused oxidative stress in the tissues of pregnant mothers and their offspring. In ref. [17], it has been observed that radiofrequency radiation at 2100 MHz can damage the nasal septal mucosa and disrupt mucociliary clearance in rats. While numerous studies have explored the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation, the specific impact of these frequencies on BBB permeability remains an area of ongoing investigation [18,19,20]....
Our research was conducted with three distinct groups, each consisting of seven female rabbits with an average weight ranging from 2 to 5 kg. These groups were categorized as follows: with “N” signifying the number of subjects in each group: Group I, control female group (N = 7); Group II, 1800 MHz GSM group (N = 7); and Group III, 2100 MHz GSM group (N = 7)....
The exposure duration of rabbits to RF radiation was determined to be 38 min, taking into account the current average daily talk time of 19 min for mobile phone users [29]....
It is evident that various studies have investigated the impact of electromagnetic radiation at different frequencies on brain tissue. The analysis of these studies indicates that while lower frequencies may affect brain structure over a longer time frame, higher frequencies like 2.1 GHz have more immediate, statistically significant impacts, suchas compromising BBB integrity. This comparison underscores the importance of further investigating the threshold effects of different frequencies, especially those commonly used in mobile telecommunications.
Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) can penetrate
tissues and potentially influence endocrine and brain development.
Despite increased mobile phone use among children and adolescents, the
long-term effects of RF-EMF exposure on brain and endocrine development
remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of long-term
evolution band (LTE) EMF exposure on thyroid hormone levels, crucial for
metabolism, growth, and development. Four-week-old male mice (C57BL/6)
were exposed to LTE EMF (whole-body average specific absorption rate
[SAR] 4 W/kg) or a positive control (lead; Pb, 300 ppm in drinking
water) for 4 weeks. Subsequently, the mice underwent behavioral tests
including open field, marble burying, and nest building. Blood pituitary
and thyroid hormone levels, and thyroid hormone-regulating genes within
the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were analyzed. LTE
exposure increased T3 levels, while Pb exposure elevated T3 and T4 and
decreased ACTH levels. The LTE EMF group showed no gene expression
alterations in the thyroid and pituitary glands, but hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3
expressions were significantly reduced compared to that in the
sham-exposed group. Pb exposure altered the hypothalamic mRNA levels of Oatp1c1 and Trh, pituitary mRNA of Trhr, and Tpo and Tg expression in the thyroid. In conclusion, LTE EMF exposure altered hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3
expression, potentially impacting the HPT axis function. Further
research is needed to explore RF-EMF's impacts on the endocrine system.
Open access paper: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-
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Exposure of 1.95 GHz electromagnetic fields at 5 W/kg whole-body average specific absorption rate increases core body temperature by 0.4°C.
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The increased thermal energy at 3.75 W/kg is effectively managed by thermoregulation (max increase = 0.24°C).
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An extended habituation period prior to RF-EMF exposure is necessary to account for the large effect of handling on mice core body temperature.
Objective: The advancement of telecommunication technology and devices promptly transformed mobile phones into indispensable objects in our day-to-day lives, but their biological effects remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential histopathological changes induced by mobile phone radiation in the parotid gland and the nearby tissues.
Materials and methods: Thirty female Rattus Norvegicus rats were divided into three groups: group 1 (exposed for 30 days), group 2 (exposed for 60 days), and control group (non-exposed). Each subject was exposed to mobile phone radiation in the form of a phone call for two hours every day for their subsequent exposure time. The exposure was always directed towards the same side of the face throughout the whole exposure period. At the end of the exposure period, a comprehensive examination was conducted, including inspection of the orofacial structures, tissue sections of the parotid glands, overlying skin, oral mucosa, and cervical lymph nodes, as well as obtaining smears from the oral cavity. To highlight the presence of micronuclei within the exfoliated squamous cells of the oral epithelium, Feulgen stain was performed.
Results: The results showed a significant activation of the fibroblasts in the parotid gland septa, in both exposed experimental groups, compared to the control group. We also detected significant cervical lymph node reactive changes, hyperkeratosis of the oral epithelium, and activated fibroblasts in the dermis and oral mucosa lamina propria in both experimental groups. Dermal fibrosis and lamina propria fibrosis were significantly increased in the second experimental group, compared to the control group. Moreover, vascular congestion in the parotid gland, dermal, and lamina propria fibrosis were significantly increased in the second study group compared to the first one.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that exposure to mobile phone radiation may lead to pathological changes in the parotid gland and nearby tissues of experimental rats.
Open access paper: https://www.europeanreview.
Gurhan H, Barnes F. Frequency-Dependent Antioxidant Responses in HT-1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells Exposed to Weak Radio Frequency Fields. Antioxidants. 2024; 13(10):1237. doi: 10.3390/antiox13101237.
Abstract
This study explores the complex relationship between radio frequency (RF) exposure and cancer cells, focusing on the HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line. We investigated the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase, and glutathione (GSH), as well as mitochondrial superoxide levels and cell viability. Exposure to RF fields in the 2–5 MHz range at very weak intensities (20 nT) over 4 days resulted in distinct, frequency-specific cellular effects. Significant increases in SOD and GSH levels were observed at 4 and 4.5 MHz, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial superoxide levels and enhanced cell viability, suggesting improved mitochondrial function. In contrast, lower frequencies like 2.5 MHz induced oxidative stress, evidenced by GSH depletion and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. The findings demonstrate that cancer cells exhibit frequency-specific sensitivity to RF fields even at intensities significantly below current safety standards, highlighting the need to reassess exposure limits. Additionally, our analysis of the radical pair mechanism (RPM) offers deeper insight into RF-induced cellular responses. The modulation of ROS and antioxidant enzyme activities is significant for cancer treatment and has broader implications for age-related diseases, where oxidative stress is a central factor in cellular degeneration. The findings propose that RF fields may serve as a therapeutic tool to selectively modulate oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in cancer cells, with antioxidants playing a key role in mitigating potential adverse effects.
Open access paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-
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The influence of eyelashes on electric field distribution and absorbed power density in the cornea under millimeter-wave exposure
Foroughimehr N, Vilagosh Z, Yavari A, Wood A. The influence of eyelashes
on electric field distribution and absorbed power density in the cornea
under millimeter-wave exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 2024 Oct 14. doi:
10.1002/bem.22526.
Abstract
As millimeter wave (MMW) technology, particularly in fifth-generation
(5G) devices, gains prominence, there is a crucial need for
comprehensive electromagnetic (EM) models of ocular tissues to
understand and characterize EM exposure conditions accurately. This
study employs numerical modeling to investigate the interaction between
MMW and the cornea, aiming to characterize EM field distributions and
absorption within an anatomically accurate eye model while considering
the influence of eyelashes. Using the finite-difference time-domain
(FDTD) method, we conduct simulations of EM radiation interactions from
20.0 to 100.0 GHz with a human eye model. Moreover, we analyze the
temperature distribution increase within the eye model using a thermal
sensor in XFdtd, employing a scheme based on the finite difference (FD)
method. Our findings reveal a nonuniform distribution of the EM field,
particularly intensified in corneal regions adjacent to eyelashes and
eyelids. Despite similar EM field patterns, the presence or absence of
eyelashes has minimal impact on temperature differences. However, the
study highlights increased radiation absorption by the eyelid's
epidermis at 100.0 GHz, reducing the rise in the cornea's temperature.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
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Exploring the potential link between prostate cancer and magnetic fields
Dart DA, Koushyar S, Uysal-Onganer P. Exploring the potential link between prostate cancer and magnetic fields. Medical Hypotheses. Volume 189, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2024.111384.
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most common solid cancer in men worldwide. Various lifestyle factors have been established as contributors to cancer risk, and prostate cancer is no exception. Elements such as advanced age, diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, circadian rhythm disruptions, Afro-Caribbean ethnicity, and sexual activity have all been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Notably, famous male guitarists from bands spanning the last few decades are now entering the age demographic most closely associated with prostate cancer. It is not surprising that they may fall into the ’at-risk’ category. Media speculation has hinted at a potentially higher incidence of prostate cancer among guitarists compared to their bandmates, although no tangible correlation has been established. This speculation piqued our curiosity and prompted an exploration into potential reasons why musicians, particularly guitarists, might be at an elevated risk of developing prostate cancer. We hypothesise the electromagnetic fields generated by the electric guitar may in part explain the possible increase in prostate cancer risk among electric guitarists. This study delves into these intriguing possibilities, shedding light on an area of research that remains speculative but warrants further investigation.
Highlights
Prostate cancer is the most common solid cancer in men globally.
Age, diet, ethnicity, sexual activity and circadian rhythm disruptions, are identified as contributors to prostate cancer risk.
Magnetic fields (MF) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) may amplify prostate cancer risks.
Magnetic fields may potentially affect the behaviour of quantum systems within biological molecules.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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Electromagnetic Field Exposure in the Public Space of the Slovakian CityTrnka M, Gálik P, Kráľová E, Važan R. Electromagnetic Field Exposure in the Public Space of the Slovakian City. Scientific Letters of the University of Zilina 2023, 25(1):G1-G6. doi: 10.26552/com.C.2023.014
The main objective of our research was to map the exposure to electromagnetic smog in the frequented space of shopping centres in the city of Bratislava and to compare our results to the actual hygienic limits. The measurements of the low- and high-frequency electromagnetic fields were performed at different places in shopping centres. Our results did not exceed the Slovak current limits in any of the measurements. However, almost all of them markedly exceed new permitted limits according to EUROPAEM. Based on our results, stricter limits in many European countries and increasing evidence on possible harmfulness of long-term exposures to artificial electromagnetic fields, preventive carefulness can be recommended - to support the research in this field, to prepare professional public education and possibly to prepare the stricter Slovak exposure limits.
Open access paper: https://komunikacie.uniza.sk/
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Development of electromagnetic pollution maps utilizing Gaussian process spatial models
Kiouvrekis Y, Zikas S, Katis I, Tsilikas I, Filippopoulos I. Development
of electromagnetic pollution maps utilizing Gaussian process spatial
models. Sci Total Environ. 2024 Oct 21;955:176907. doi:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.
Abstract
The rapid proliferation of wireless technologies in everyday environments demands the quick and precise estimation of electromagnetic field distribution. This distribution is commonly depicted through the electric field strength across various geographical areas. The objective of this research is to determine the most effective geospatial model for generating a national-level electric field strength map within the 30 MHz-6 GHz frequency range. To achieve this, we employed five different methodologies for constructing the electric field strength map. Four of these methodologies are based on Gaussian process regression, while the fifth utilizes the classical weighted-average method of the nearest neighbor. Our study focused on a country with a total area of 9251 km2, using a dataset comprising 3621 measurements. The findings reveal that Gaussian process spatial models, also known as Kriging models, generally outperform other methods when applied to spatial data. However, it was observed that, after excluding some outlier data points, the performance of the classical nearest neighbor models becomes comparable to that of the Gaussian process models. This indicates the potential for both approaches to be effective, depending on the data quality and the presence of outliers.
For the Total (Fig. 4 and Table 2), the mean stands at 4.78 V/m, with a maximum value of 37.99 V/m, a minimum of 0.28 V/m, and a median of 3.42 V/m....
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Deaconescu DB, Miclaus S. The 5G-FR1 Signals: Beams of the Phased Antennas Array and Time-Recurrence of Emissions with Consequences on Human Exposure. Electronics. 2023; 12(2):297. doi: 10.3390/electronics12020297.
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Preliminary Study on the Impact of 900MHz Radiation on Human Sperm: An In Vitro Molecular Approach
Keskin I, Karabulut S, Kaplan AA, Alagöz M, Akdeniz M, Tüfekci KK, Davis
DL, Kaplan S. Preliminary Study on the Impact of 900MHz Radiation on
Human Sperm: An In Vitro Molecular Approach. Reprod Toxicol. 2024 Nov
4:108744. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.
Abstract
The use of technologies that produce and emit electromagnetic fields (EMF) is growing exponentially worldwide. The biological effects of EMF-emitting equipment, such as mobile phones and other wireless devices, have been studied in the last decade using in vitro and in vivo methods. Infertility is a growing health problem, and nearly half of cases are because of male-factor. This study investigated the direct in vitro effects of 900MHz radiation exposure on sperm parameters, genetic status, apoptotic markers, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in healthy normozoospermic men. Semen samples were divided into four groups, two control (30min and 1h) and two EMF exposure (30min and 1h). Sperm parameters (motility, progressive motility, acrosomal index, morphology), genetic status (DNA fragmentation and chromatin integrity), apoptotic markers (cytokine-c and caspase-3 expression) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (phosphoinoitide 3-kinase-PI3K- and phosphorylated AKT- p-AKT-) were analysed. Sperm motility were significantly reduced in 30min EMF exposure while a significant increase in the expression of p-AKT were observed in 1h EMF exposure group. An increased vacuolisation, acrosomal defect, extension of subacrosomal space, uncondensed chromatin structure, apoptotic signs and disrupted axoneme were observed in both EMF groups which were not observed in the control group. Other sperm parameters (morphology and acrosomal index), genetic status, apoptotic markers and the PI3K expression rates had no significant change.
Rok T, Kacprzyk A, Rokita E, Kantor D, and Taton G. Quantitative Assessment of Thermal Effects on the Auricle Region Caused by Mobile Phones Operating in Different Modes. AIMS Biophys 11, no. 4 (2024): 427–44. https://doi.org/10.3934/
Abstract
To analyze thermal effects caused by mobile phones on the human auricle region, we performed an experiment with controlled exposure to mobile phones operating in different modes for a group of 40 men. Temperature changes were measured with the use of infrared thermography. Thermograms were taken before and after a standardized 15-minute phone call when the mobile phone was placed lightly against the skin surface in the auricle region. The measurements were performed in three modes: OFF, ON, and FLIGHT. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.03) were observed between the experimental temperature increase of the auricle region in OFF mode (average temperature rise = 1.1 °C ± 0.2 °C) and in ON mode (average temperature rise = 1.9 °C ± 0.3 °C), while between FLIGHT (average temperature rise = 1.4 °C ± 0.2 °C) and ON modes, no statistical differences were observed (p = 0.20). Based on thermographic measurements and the model of heat transfer between the ear and the phone, it was shown that the human ear is the largest heat source in the system and that the increase in skin temperature is mainly caused by the handheld mobile phone restricting heat dissipation from the skin surface.
Excerpt for the assessment of near-field exposure, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) were used. During exposure sessions RSSI values were continuously measured and retrospectively controlled. All the participants received exposure at an arbitrary mean value of RSSI between −90 and −80 dBm. The SAR quantifies the absorption of RF-EMF in tissues, and for the human body, it depends on the dielectric properties of tissues due to the complexity of the human head anatomy its estimation is a subject of great challenge [21],[22] and for the phone used (Huawei P20 Lite), it was reported as 0.75 W/kg in the manual.
For the far-field exposure a personal exposure meter (ExpoM-RF, Zurich, Switzerland) performing a spectral analysis of RF-EMF within 16 different frequency bands from 87.5 MHz up to 5.875 GHz was used. Based on electric field strength, the power density was calculated as 45 µW. The uplink and downlink radiation remained on a comparable level throughout a simulated phone call.
In OFF mode, the smartphone was switched off, while in FLIGHT mode, there was no connection with the GSM network, so music was constantly playing. In ON mode, the mobile phone was fully connected to the GSM network and the smartphone was operating at a frequency of 1800 MHz.
Open access paper: http://www.aimspress.com/
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Open access paper: https://ijrr.com/article-1-
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Excerpts
Conclusion
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Blueberry anthocyanins regulate SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and reduce testicular tissue damage induced by microwave radiation in rats
Pang Y, Men J, Li Y, Zhang J, Zhao L, et al. Blueberry anthocyanins regulate SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and reduce testicular tissue damage induced by microwave radiation in rats. Journal of Functional Foods. Vol. 122, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2024.106523.
Abstract
Researches have shown that microwave radiation could cause oxidative stress injury in male reproductive system, and blueberry anthocyanins had excellent oxidation resistance. Our study aimed to investigate the protective effect of blueberry anthocyanins (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/d) on testicular tissue damage in Wistar rats exposed to 2.856 GHz microwave and the optimal dose. We found that blueberry anthocyanins could ameliorate the decrease of sperm motility and sex hormone levels and testicular tissue structure damage caused by microwave radiation, increase SIRT1 expression and decrease FoxO1 expression, increase GSH/GSSG, SOD and inhibit MDA. The LDH, SDH and ATP synthase were increased, and Caspase-3 expression was decreased, and the high-dose of blueberry anthocyanins (400 mg/kg/d) had the best protective effect. These results suggested that blueberry anthocyanins could inhibit oxidative stress injury induced by 2.856 GHz microwave radiation in rat testicular tissue by regulating SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway, enhance energy metabolism and reduce cell apoptosis.
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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Effects of 4.9 GHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure on Brain Metabolomic and Proteomic Characterization in Mice
Wang X, Zhou G, Lin J, Zhang Z, Qin T, Guo L, Wang H, Huang Z, Ding G. Effects of 4.9 GHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure on Brain Metabolomic and Proteomic Characterization in Mice. Biology (Basel). 2024 Oct 10;13(10):806. doi: 10.3390/biology13100806.
Abstract
Electromagnetic exposure has become increasingly widespread, and
its biological effects have received extensive attention. The purpose of
this study was to explore changes in the metabolism profile of the
brain and serum and to identify differentially expressed proteins in the
brain after exposure to the 4.9 GHz radiofrequency (RF) field. C57BL/6
mice were randomly divided into a Sham group and an RF group, which were
sham-exposed and continuously exposed to a 4.9 RF field for 35 d, 1
h/d, at an average power density (PD) of 50 W/m2. After
exposure, untargeted metabolomics and Tandem Mass Tags (TMT)
quantitative proteomics were performed. We found 104 and 153 up- and
down-regulated differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the
RF_Brain group and RF_Serum group, and the DEMs were significantly
enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Moreover, 10 up-regulated
and 51 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were
discovered in the RF group. Functional correlation analysis showed that
most DEMs and DEPs showed a significant correlation. These results
suggested that 4.9 GHz exposure induced disturbance of metabolism in the
brain and serum, and caused deregulation of proteins in the brain.
Simple Summary
Open access paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-
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Cellular signaling pathways in the nervous system activated by various mechanical and electromagnetic stimuli
Kazuhito M, Ferguson AR, Aboubacar W, Youngjae R. Cellular signaling pathways in the nervous system activated by various mechanical and electromagnetic stimuli. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. Vol. 17. 2024. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1427070.
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli, such as stretch, shear stress, or compression, activate a range of biomolecular responses through cellular mechanotransduction. In the nervous system, studies on mechanical stress have highlighted key pathophysiological mechanisms underlying traumatic injury and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the biomolecular pathways triggered by mechanical stimuli in the nervous system has not been fully explored, especially compared to other body systems. This gap in knowledge may be due to the wide variety of methods and definitions used in research. Additionally, as mechanical stimulation techniques such as ultrasound and electromagnetic stimulation are increasingly utilized in psychological and neurorehabilitation treatments, it is vital to understand the underlying biological mechanisms in order to develop accurate pathophysiological models and enhance therapeutic interventions. This review aims to summarize the cellular signaling pathways activated by various mechanical and electromagnetic stimuli with a particular focus on the mammalian nervous system. Furthermore, we briefly discuss potential cellular mechanosensors involved in these processes
Open access paper:
https://www.frontiersin.org/
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Magnetic fields are widely used in medical diagnostics because of
their superior non-invasive properties. In addition, with the widespread
use of magnetic fields in transportation and other areas, their
potential hazards to human health and the assessment of their safety
have attracted considerable attention. The effects of magnetic fields on
living organisms have a long history. The biological effects of
magnetic field exposure in mice and rats depend on the magnetic field
strength, exposure time, and direction; depending on these and
potentially other factors, magnetic fields can cause a series of
neurobiological effects. We reviewed global research on the
neurobiological effects of magnetic fields from recent years to provide
an overview and insights into the underlying mechanisms. This review
focuses on the biological effects of static and dynamic magnetic fields
of different frequencies and intensities on animals and nerve cells and
their mechanisms of action.
Conclusion
In summary, this article reviews the progress in research on the neural effects of SMF and DMF at the level of animal models and nerve cells in recent years. The number of studies on the effects of MFs on learning memory, emotional behavior, nerve cells, and neurotransmitters is gradually increasing, but owing to the diversity of MF parameters, experimental subjects, and conditions, the conclusions are inconsistent. Certain conditions of MF exposure can lead to changes in emotional behavior and learning memory and cause or relieve anxiety-like and depressive behaviors, with or without significant effects. The biological effects of MFs on neurons and glial cells include alterations in cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis. However, some problems remain unclear. Due to the unspecific nature of MFs, their neurobiological effects are difficult to target experimentally. Urgent problems to be solved by future research include how to establish proper experimental animal and neural cell models, and how to select the appropriate MF exposure intensity and time.
The frequent use of electronic devices in daily lives, predominantly reliant on non-ionizing radiation, has increased the prevalence of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in natural environment. In light of this, effects of EMR at frequencies of 1800 MHz and 2400 MHz characterized by a power of 10.0 dBm (0.01 W), across varying exposure durations of 1 h/day, 2 h/day, 4 h/day, 6 h/day, and 8 h/day for 7 days, in Allium cepa L. were studied. The effects of the treatment on the morphological features (root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of roots) and biochemical characteristics (protein content and antioxidative enzymes, namely, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and dehydroascorbate (DHAR)) were studied in roots and bulbs of Allium cepa L. Further genotoxicity for different exposure periods at both frequencies was also conducted. Prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at both frequencies was found to reduce root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of plant. Furthermore, significant effects were observed on protein content, indicating a reduction with prolonged exposure duration. Investigation into the activities of antioxidative enzymes such as APX, GR, GST, DHAR, CAT, SOD, and POD at a frequency of 1800 MHz and 2400 MHz in roots and bulbs demonstrated a significant enhancement in enzyme activity during 6 h/day and 8 h/day exposure periods. Additional investigation during genotoxicity studies demonstrated the induction of chromosomal aberrations in the root tip cells of the Allium cepa L. plant test system. The current study revealed the initiation of oxidative stress and genotoxicity resulting from long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the studied plant test systems.
Pei, J., Cheng, L. Representations of 5G in the Chinese and British press: a corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis.
Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11, 400 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/
Abstract
This study employs a corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis to
demystify the dominant patterns of representations around 5G in the
Chinese and British press. Keyword analyses identify four thematic
categories around the representation of 5G: the nature of 5G, social
actors in 5G discourse, actions around 5G and timing in 5G discourse.
Findings suggest that the Chinese press tends to use positive evaluative
expressions to depict 5G as a trustworthy and beneficial issue and
stress China’s strong support for 5G development. In contrast, the
British press prefers to frame 5G as a product of geopolitical rivalry
and an issue with scientific uncertainties and controversies by
repeatedly employing negative language patterns related to 5G risks and
conspiracy theories. Besides, a subtle but varying “self versus other”
schema is constructed by the two presses. The Chinese press is inclined
to use positive predication strategies to construct a positive
self-representation, whereas the British press tends to adopt negative
predication strategies to portray China as an outgroup and meanwhile use
scapegoating strategies to profile Britain as a positive self by using
recurrent patterns denoting the pressure exerted on Britain by the
United States. Such differences could result from their journalistic
ideologies and values and the contrasting socio-political contexts where
the two presses are situated.
Open access paper: https://www.nature.com/
Abstract
Objectives: Studies assessing the association of adult cancers with extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) have provided inconclusive results, probably affected by limitations such as low exposure levels, confounding and various forms of bias. This study investigated the association between residential ELF MF exposure and adult cancer using a design that avoids the main limitations of previous studies.
Methods: Persons who have lived in buildings with indoor transformer stations during the period 1971-2016 formed the study cohort. Their MF exposure was assessed based on the location of their apartment in relation to the transformer room. Information on their cancer diagnoses was obtained from the Finnish Cancer Registry. SIR with 95% CI was calculated to investigate the association of MF exposure with overall cancer and specific cancers.
Results: The SIR for all primary sites was 1.01 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.09). An increased risk of digestive organ cancers was observed among the exposed persons, with a SIR of 1.23 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.46). The highest SIR was observed for gallbladder cancer (3.92, 95% CI 1.44 to 8.69). Increased risk of testicular cancer was observed among men exposed to MF during childhood, but this is likely to be due to confounding associated with living on the lowest floors. No other significant associations were observed for other primary cancer sites studied.
Conclusions: Overall cancer risk was not affected by residential MF exposure. The increased risk of digestive organ cancers among MF-exposed persons is a novel finding requiring confirmation in further studies.
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MFs) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic. The evidence is strongest for increased risk of childhood leukaemia and more inconsistent for risks of adult cancers.
This study was carried out using a unique database of residential buildings with indoor transformer stations. Many limitations of previous studies could be avoided. The study suggested an association between residential MF exposure and digestive organ cancers. The overall cancer risk was not affected by MF exposure.
As there is little previous evidence of an association between digestive organ cancers and MF exposure, further research on this topic is required. Compared with previous studies, this study included higher exposure levels and thus provides a useful addition to the data available for health risk assessment and risk communication.
Radil R,
Carnecka L, Judakova Z,
Pobocikova I, Bajtos M,
Janousek L.
Exploring Non-Thermal Mechanisms of Biological Reactions
to Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(20):9409.
https://doi.org/10.3390/
Migratory birds are able to navigate over great distances with remarkable accuracy. The mechanism they use to achieve this feat is thought to involve two distinct steps: locating their position (the 'map') and heading towards the direction determined (the 'compass'). For decades, this map-and-compass concept has shaped our perception of navigation in animals, although the nature of the map remains debated. However, some recent studies suggest the involvement of the Earth's magnetic field in the map step. Here, we tested whether migratory songbirds, Eurasian reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), can determine their position based on two magnetic field components that are also associated with direction finding, i.e. magnetic inclination and magnetic declination. During a virtual magnetic displacement experiment, the birds were exposed to altered magnetic inclination and magnetic declination values that would indicate a displacement from their natural migratory corridor, but the total intensity of the field remained unchanged, creating a spatial mismatch between these components. The response was a change in the birds' migratory direction consistent with a compensatory re-orientation. This suggests that birds can extract positional as well as directional information from these cues, even when they are in conflict with another component of the magnetic field. It remains to be seen whether birds use the total intensity of Earth's magnetic field for navigation.
Abstract
