August 16, 2010.  Pick of the Week #6:  Clinical & Hygienic Aspects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields.

Dodge, CH.  1969.  Clinical and Hygienic Aspects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields:  A Review of the Soviet and Eastern European Literature.  Biological Effects and Health Implications of Microwave Radiation, Symposium Proceedings, Richmond, Virginia, September 17-19, 1969 (BRH/DBE 70-2) (PB 193 898).

Christopher Dodge, affiliated with the Library of Congress, wrote the first comprehensive review of the world (especially the Soviet and Eastern European) literature on the biological effects of microwaves in 1964.  The current document was written 5 years later during which time the author was with the Biosciences Division, U.S. Naval Observatory, in Washington, D.C. This document concentrates on human clinical studies and occupational hygiene surveys of microwave exposure and is well worth reading.

What is clear is that by the late 1960 the Soviet and Eastern European scientists had conducted numerous studies on the effects of microwave radiation on humans, that biological and health effects were documented for a range of frequencies at non-thermal levels, and that this information was available to the U.S. military.  Why this science was not taken more seriously, why guidelines were not influenced by this research, and why we are still debating thermal vs non-thermal effects is a mystery that I leave for historians and philosophers to debate.

Here are a few gems from this document:

1. By 1933 Soviet scientists recognized that electromagnetic fields affected the human nervous system.  Indeed changes to the central (CNS) and autonomic (ANS) nervous system attributed to radio frequency radiation were frequently documented, as were additional effects as shown in Table 1. Frequencies from 30 MHz to 300 GH at both thermal (greater than 10 mW/cm²) and non-thermal (microW/cm² to milliW/cm²) intensities were known to affect the CNS.
2. The most disappointing aspect of the literature cited was the absence of information on the specific circumstances of the irradiation, characteristics of the environment and the conditions of the body exposed, which makes repetition of the studies difficult.
3. Panov et al. (1966) proposed three chronological stages of human response to microwaves (Table 2).
   - The first stage is not marked by severe episodes such as fainting or dramatic changes in pulse or blood pressure and the subject responds to outpatient treatment.
   - The second stage is called the “syndrome of autonomic and vascular dystonia” and the key features include altered pulse including bradycardia (slow) and tachycardia (rapid), either high or low blood pressure, altered ECG and general neuro-circulatory asthenia.  Severe episodes (fainting) may occur and the subject requires hospitalization of unspecified nature or duration.
   - The third stage is called diencephalic syndrome in which visceral dysfunctions and crisis are observed.  Typical episodes include apathic embolic disorders, hypersomnia, hypokinesis, hypothalamo-pituitary-suprarenal weakness, and inhibition of sexual and digestive reflexes.  Panov claims these changes are not always reversible and that subjects require hospitalization.
4. The general subjective complaints resulting from EMR exposure shown in Table 3 resemble symptoms associated with electrohypersensitivity (EHS).
5. Edelwejn (1966) found that the symptoms (Table 3) experienced by Polish personnel exposed to microwave radiation for up to six hours/day depended on the length of employment and degree of exposure. During the first three years, a dramatic response to microwave exposure accompanied by neurotic symptoms was reported.  This was followed by a gradual adaption phase and then, many years later, by the reappearance of neurologic symptoms. Soviet workers exposed to electric and magnetic fields near hydroelectric stations also complained of symptoms in Table 3.  Ospiov (1965) concluded that most subjective symptoms were reversible and that pathological damage to neural structures was insignificant.
6. In one study, a larger percentage of subjects exposed to weak (1 to 100s microW/cm²) and moderate (100s microW/cm²) levels of EMR experienced symptoms than those who were sporadically exposed to intense levels (3000 to 4000 microW/cm²) (see Figure 1 below, note this figure is based on Table 4 of the original document).
7. Pulsed ultra high frequency (UHF) fields [0.3 to 3 GHz] could be used as a form of contactless electrosleep, which was called radio-sleep.
8. Numerous changes were documented in the blood including altered blood sugar, cholesterol and lipids; altered levels of pyruvic acid, lactic acid, and creatinine; as well as hematopoietic [blood forming processes] and biochemical responses to electromagnetic radiation (see Tables 8,9, 10).
9. Effects on the functioning of and damage to the eyes were mostly documented at either acute or chronic thermal levels of exposure (see Table 11).
10. Major endocrine responses included altered functioning of the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands.  Damage to sex glands and functions have been frequently documented after chronic exposure to primarily thermal intensities (Table 12).  Decreased spermatogenesis, altered sex ratio at birth (excess females), changes in menstruation, retarded fetal development, congenital effects in newborns, decreased lactation in nursing mothers have been documented as result of thermal exposure (greater than 10,000 microW/cm²).

Figure 1.  Percentage of subjects who responded to weak (1 to 100′s microW/cm2), moderate (100′s microW/cm2), and periodic intense (3,000 to 4,000 microW/cm2) levels of microwave radiation. Based on data in Table 4, Dodge, 1969.  [Note:  U.S. and Canadian guidelines are 1,000 microW/cm2 so the weak and moderate exposures are well below these guidelines.]

July 28, 2010.  Researchers prove damage occurs in the mobility and DNA fragmentation of sperm if near the WiFi transmitter. 24/07/2010 | Romina Martoglio.  From Lavoz.com

Assumptions are well known that the electromagnetic waves radiated by cell phones, microwave ovens, computers and electrical appliances may cause adverse health effects. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formed a special division for researchers studying the effect of electromagnetic radiation.

As for the effect of these radiations on the reproduction of human beings, some scientific studies have suggested that electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones may affect sperm quality. On the other hand, it is proposed that the use of laptops (Laptop) could affect sperm production due to increased temperature in the testes to be used on the legs.

A group of researchers from Cordoba, members of Nascentis reproductive medicine center, decided to analyze the effect of laptops on the sperm, and concluded that the use of laptop mobility result in damage and fragment the DNA of these cells, to the point that might affect male reproductive capacity.

“We have found that exposure to the laptops connected to Wi-Fi, mobility decreases and increases the damage to the sperm DNA. Although these studies were performed in vitro, our results suggest it could be a cause of low fertility” says Conrado Avendaño.

While we need further research, our first advice is that people avoid using the laptop on your lap, ESPECIALLY if they are connected to Wi-Fi”, states Sánchez Sarmiento..

The direction of this research was provided by Conrado Avendaño, a biochemist specializing in Andrology. He was accompanied by a team of Ariela Mata, a specialist in Reproductive Biology and Chief of the Laboratory of Embryology, Cesar Sanchez Sarmiento, medical director, Andrew Juarez Villanueva, head of Gynecologic Endoscopy and Valeria Martinez, laboratory specializing in Andrology and Embryology.

For this study, they evaluated semen samples from healthy donors with no history of recent illnesses. Each sample was divided into two portions which were placed in separate rooms at a controlled temperature. One of the fractions was incubated near a laptop connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi, thus, to mimic the situation in which men place the machine on their legs.

“After four hours of incubation of sperm under two different conditions, we found that in the group exposed to the laptop, a large percentage of sperm was affected,” said Conrado Avendaño.

Results. There are three factors that were examined to study the sperm quality: if the sperm were alive, if they moved and if the sperm DNA was intact. “The study showed that exposure to these devices did not cause the death of sperm,” said Avendano.

Meanwhile, the analysis of mobility, it was found that in the group exposed to WiFi radiation, there was less sperm that are moving faster and an increase in the amount of stationary sperm.

“This is a sobering if you take into account that the sperm are moving progressively to finally be able to reach the egg and fertilize it, and then form an embryo,” said César Sánchez Sarmiento.

Finally in terms of sperm DNA integrity, was found through a study known as “Tunnel”, which both groups of spermatozoa had a significant difference. “In the fraction exposed to radiation had a significant increase in sperm with fragmented DNA (broken),” said Avendano. Sánchez Sarmiento argues that the importance of this aspect is that reproductive medicine has proven that “one of the causes of changes in fertilization and embryonic development is therefore the break in the DNA molecules of the sperm.”

Photograph of man with laptop computer from London Tech Calendar Collection 2010

For published papers about the effect of cell phones on sperm CLICK HERE

October 2009.

What next? A wrist watch communicator!

With 4 billion cell phones worldwide, we are conducting the largest experiment in the history of this planet. What the long-term consequences of low level microwave radiation and Bluetooth radio waves are is not yet known but studies showing increased risks of tumors, reduced sperm count/motility/viability, and possible behaviour problems experienced by children born to mothers who used cell phones is most disturbing and should be viewed as an early warning indicator of things to come.

Cell phones use microwaves to transmit and receive information. These are the same microwaves generated by microwave ovens to heat food. This energy is sent from your phone (which may be in your pocket close to your reproductive organs if you are using a Bluetooth device like this wrist watch speaker) to a nearby cell phone antenna and is then relayed through multiple antennas until it reaches the person you are talking with. Every time you use a cell phone your exposure increases as does the exposure of those who live near antennas. The more antennas there are the weaker signal your cell phone has to use to send information. However, the more antennas there are the more people who will be exposed on a daily basis to second-hand microwave radiation.

Children are particularly vulnerable to cell phone radiation and advisories from the UK, Germany, France, Russia, India, Belgium, Finland and from the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (US) and the Toronto Board of Health (Canada) warn that children should not use cell phones except for emergencies.

Sadly few are heeding this warning and the price we pay will be the health of our children and their children unless we reduce our exposure.