Radiation literature survey

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This cross-sectional study investigated whether using a mobile phone is associated with adverse health symptoms in children. The study included 2042 randomly selected children aged 11-15 years who provided information on their mobile phone use. Information on perceived health symptoms reported by their parents was also collected. Mobile phone use was associated with headaches and migraine (odds ratio, OR = 1.42, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.12-1.81) and skin itches (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.47-2.29). The authors suggest for a more cautious use of mobile phones in children, due to the expected longer lifetime exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) from mobile phones.

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This retrospective cohort study investigated whether occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) is associated with neurodegenerative disease. In the study, 73,051 electricity supply employees in the UK, hired between1952-82, were followed from 1973 till 2010 for neurodegenerative disease mortality. Exposure to occupational ELF MF was calculated using engineering data to determine the average magnetic fields in specified areas of work and then applied to information about the time spent in these areas. The study found no statistically significant associations between neurodegenerative disease and lifetime, recent (less than 10 years), or distant (more than 10 years) exposure to magnetic fields. The authors conclude that there is no convincing evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to ELF MF is a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease.

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There have been many studies investigating the association between ELF MF exposure and neurodegenerative disease (see meta-analysis by Vergara et al 2013, presented in the February 2013 report). Further research is required in this area as other studies have shown a possible association.

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This paper presents results from a survey of RF electromagnetic field levels at 94 sites across four urban areas in the USA. Results are compared with those obtained by a similar, although much larger, study at 15 major metropolitan areas conducted prior to the introduction of mobile phone networks in 1980. The authors also discuss their results in the context of more recent studies in several European countries. All measured values were found to be far lower than the maximum permissible exposure limit for the general public mandated by the Federal Communications Commission in the USA. FM radio was found to be the dominant contributor to the measured RF levels.

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This review looks at whether exposure to ELF magnetic fields affects reproductive function. The review concludes that there is no established evidence from epidemiological and in vivo studies. However there is increasing evidence that exposure to ELF magnetic fields is involved with germ cell apoptosis in testes. This review proposes the possible mechanism of germ cell apoptosis in testes induced by ELF magnetic fields.

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This is a case-control study investigating whether maternal lifestyle risk factors including mobile phone and computer use are associated with threatened miscarriage. In the study self-reported duration of mobile phone and computer use per day is compared between 154 cases (women presenting with threatened miscarriage in the 5th to 10th weeks of gestation) and 264 controls. There were statistically significant associations between mobile phone and computer use and threatened miscarriage; for mobile phone use of more than 2 hours/day the OR was 6.32 (95% CI 2.71 – 14.75) and for computer use of more than 4 hours/day the OR was 6.03 (95% CI 2.82 – 12.88). The authors conclude that mobile phone and computer use could be related to threatened miscarriage.

Lifestyle Risk Factors Associated with Threatened Miscarriage: A Case-Control Study

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This meta-analysis investigated whether exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields is associated with breast cancer. The meta-analysis included results from sixteen case-control studies, published from 2000 to 2007. The authors reported that, for premenopausal women, the occurrence of breast cancer was related to ELF magnetic fields (odds ratio, OR, 1.25, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.05 – 1.49), but not for menopausal women (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.93-1.18). The authors conclude that exposure to ELF magnetic fields may be a risk factor for breast cancer when women are non-menopausal.

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The hypothesis that long-term exposure to relatively weak ELF magnetic fields could increase the risk of breast cancer is based on the assumption that magnetic field exposure suppresses nocturnal melatonin production and that melatonin is a protective factor against breast cancer, possibly by affecting the level of estrogen.

A previous meta-analysis of 23 case-control studies by Chen et al (2013) also found that exposure to ELF magnetic fields may be related to an increased risk of female breast cancer for premenopausal women (see July 2013 report).

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This is a systematic review of eight epidemiological studies investigating the association between physiotherapists’ occupational exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields from shortwave and microwave diathermy devices and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The reproductive outcomes analysed included: spontaneous abortion, delayed time to pregnancy of more than 6 months, altered gender ratio, low birth weight, still birth and congenital malformations in the physiotherapists’ offspring. The authors identified that the lack of data on the intensity and duration of RF exposure and the distances to diathermy devices, to be the major flaw in most of the reviewed studies. The authors concluded that the findings of the reviewed studies for adverse reproductive outcomes are not consistent enough to draw a causal relationship with RF exposure from diathermy devices and that further research is warranted.

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This in vivo study investigated whether perinatal (immediately before and after birth) exposure to ELF magnetic fields is associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the study male mice were either exposed or sham-exposed to a 1 mT 50 Hz magnetic field continuously during the last week of gestation and for 7 days after delivery. The exposed mice demonstrated reduced social interaction. The authors conclude that these results are supportive of a causal link between exposure to ELF and ASD.

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This case-control study investigated whether occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks are related to mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the study the occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks was compared between 5,886 cases (that died of ALS between 1991 and 1999) and 57,667 controls. Exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks was assessed via the same JEM used by van der Mark et al. There was a statistically significant positive association between occupational magnetic fields greater than 0.3 µT and ALS mortality (odds ratio, OR = 1.09, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.00-1.19). There was a statistically significant protective effect between electrical shocks and ALS mortality (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.67-0.79). The authors report that ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks are inversely related to ALS mortality.

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This case-control study investigated whether occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks are related to Parkinson’s disease. In the study the occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks was compared between 444 cases of Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed between 2006 and 2011) and 876 controls. Exposure to ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks was assessed via a JEM. The authors report no association between ELF magnetic fields and electrical shocks and Parkinson’s disease.

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