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Hardell L, Nilsson M. Summary of seven Swedish case reports on the microwave syndrome associated with 5G radiofrequency radiation. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2024; 0:reveh-2024-0017. [PMID: 38889394 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2024-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The fifth generation, 5G, for wireless communication is currently deployed in Sweden since 2019/2020, as well as in many other countries. We have previously published seven case reports that include a total of 16 persons aged between 4 and 83 years that developed the microwave syndrome within short time after being exposed to 5G base stations close to their dwellings. In all cases high radiofrequency (RF) radiation from 4G/5G was measured with a broadband meter. RF radiation reached >2,500,000 to >3,180,000 μW/m2 in peak maximum value in three of the studies. In total 41 different health issues were assessed for each person graded 0 (no complaint) to 10 (worst symptoms). Most prevalent and severe were sleeping difficultly (insomnia, waking night time, early wake-up), headache, fatique, irritability, concentration problems, loss of immediate memory, emotional distress, depression tendency, anxiety/panic, dysesthesia (unusual touched based sensations), burning and lancinating skin, cardiovascular symptoms (transitory high or irregular pulse), dyspnea, and pain in muscles and joints. Balance disorder and tinnitus were less prevalent. All these symptoms are included in the microwave syndrome. In most cases the symptoms declined and disappeared within a short time period after the studied persons had moved to a place with no 5G. These case histories are classical examples of provocation studies. They reinforce the urgency to inhibit the deployment of 5G until more safety studies have been performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Hardell
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Mona Nilsson
- Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, Adelsö, Sweden
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2
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Hardell L, Moskowitz JM. A critical analysis of the MOBI-Kids study of wireless phone use in childhood and adolescence and brain tumor risk. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2023; 38:409-421. [PMID: 35567503 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The MOBI-Kids case-control study on wireless phone use and brain tumor risk in childhood and adolescence included the age group 10-24 years diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Overall no increased risk was found although for brain tumors in the temporal region an increased risk was found in the age groups 10-14 and 20-24 years. Most odds ratios (ORs) in MOBI-Kids were <1.0, some statistically significant, suggestive of a preventive effect from RF radiation; however, this is in contrast to current knowledge about radiofrequency (RF) carcinogenesis. The MOBI-Kids results are not biologically plausible and indicate that the study was flawed due to methodological problems. For example, not all brain tumor cases were included since central localization was excluded. Instead, all brain tumor cases should have been included regardless of histopathology and anatomical localization. Only surgical controls with appendicitis were used instead of population-based controls from the same geographical area as for the cases. In fact, increased incidence of appendicitis has been postulated to be associated with RF radiation which makes selection of control group in MOBI-Kids questionable. Start of wireless phone use up to 10 years before diagnosis was in some analyses included in the unexposed group. Thus, any important results demonstrating late carcinogenesis, a promoter effect, have been omitted from analysis and may underestimate true risks. Linear trend was in some analyses statistically significant in the calculation of RF-specific energy and extremely low frequency (ELF)-induced current in the center of gravity of the tumor. Additional case-case analysis should have been performed. The data from this study should be reanalyzed using unconditional regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors to increase statistical power. Then all responding cases and controls could be included in the analyses. In sum, we believe the results as reported in this paper seem uninterpretable and should be dismissed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Hardell
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE-702 17 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Joel M Moskowitz
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Héroux P, Belyaev I, Chamberlin K, Dasdag S, De Salles AAA, Rodriguez CEF, Hardell L, Kelley E, Kesari KK, Mallery-Blythe E, Melnick RL, Miller AB, Moskowitz JM. Cell Phone Radiation Exposure Limits and Engineering Solutions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5398. [PMID: 37048013 PMCID: PMC10094704 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the 1990s, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) restricted its risk assessment for human exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in seven ways: (1) Inappropriate focus on heat, ignoring sub-thermal effects. (2) Reliance on exposure experiments performed over very short times. (3) Overlooking time/amplitude characteristics of RFR signals. (4) Ignoring carcinogenicity, hypersensitivity, and other health conditions connected with RFR. (5) Measuring cellphone Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) at arbitrary distances from the head. (6) Averaging SAR doses at volumetric/mass scales irrelevant to health. (7) Using unrealistic simulations for cell phone SAR estimations. Low-cost software and hardware modifications are proposed here for cellular phone RFR exposure mitigation: (1) inhibiting RFR emissions in contact with the body, (2) use of antenna patterns reducing the Percent of Power absorbed in the Head (PPHead) and body and increasing the Percent of Power Radiated for communications (PPR), and (3) automated protocol-based reductions of the number of RFR emissions, their duration, or integrated dose. These inexpensive measures do not fundamentally alter cell phone functions or communications quality. A health threat is scientifically documented at many levels and acknowledged by industries. Yet mitigation of RFR exposures to users does not appear as a priority with most cell phone manufacturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Héroux
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Igor Belyaev
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 814 38 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kent Chamberlin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Suleyman Dasdag
- Biophysics Department, Medical School, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34700, Turkey
| | - Alvaro Augusto Almeida De Salles
- Graduate Program on Electrical Engineering (PPGEE), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90010-150, Brazil
| | | | - Lennart Hardell
- Department of Oncology, Orebro University Hospital, 701 85 Orebro, Sweden (Retired)
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, 702 17 Orebro, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth Kelley
- ICBE-EMF and International EMF Scientist Appeal, and Electromagnetic Safety Alliance, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Kavindra Kumar Kesari
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Erica Mallery-Blythe
- Physicians’ Health Initiative for Radiation and Environment, East Sussex TN6, UK
- British Society of Ecological Medicine, London W1W 6DB, UK
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association, Scarborough, QLD 4020, Australia
| | - Ronald L. Melnick
- National Toxicology Program (Retired), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
- Ron Melnick Consulting LLC, North Logan, UT 84341, USA
| | - Anthony B. Miller
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Joel M. Moskowitz
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
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McCredden JE, Cook N, Weller S, Leach V. Wireless technology is an environmental stressor requiring new understanding and approaches in health care. Front Public Health 2022; 10:986315. [PMID: 36605238 PMCID: PMC9809975 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.986315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Electromagnetic signals from everyday wireless technologies are an ever-present environmental stressor, affecting biological systems. In this article, we substantiate this statement based on the weight of evidence from papers collated within the ORSAA database (ODEB), focusing on the biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields and radiation. More specifically, the experiments investigating exposures from real-world devices and the epidemiology studies examining the effects of living near mobile phone base stations were extracted from ODEB and the number of papers showing effects was compared with the number showing no effects. The results showed that two-thirds of the experimental and epidemiological papers found significant biological effects. The breadth of biological and health categories where effects have been found was subsequently explored, revealing hundreds of papers showing fundamental biological processes that are impacted, such as protein damage, biochemical changes and oxidative stress. This understanding is targeted toward health professionals and policy makers who have not been exposed to this issue during training. To inform this readership, some of the major biological effect categories and plausible mechanisms of action from the reviewed literature are described. Also presented are a set of best practice guidelines for treating patients affected by electromagnetic exposures and for using technology safely in health care settings. In conclusion, there is an extensive evidence base revealing that significant stress to human biological systems is being imposed by exposure to everyday wireless communication devices and supporting infrastructure. This evidence is compelling enough to warrant an update in medical education and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie E. McCredden
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Naomi Cook
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Steven Weller
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Environmental and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Victor Leach
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Choji VD, Rampedi IT, Modley LAS, Ifegbesan AP. An Evaluation of the Quality of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports in the Mobile Telecommunications Infrastructure Sector: The Case of Plateau State in Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12659. [PMID: 36231958 PMCID: PMC9564770 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental impact assessment reports meant for proposed development actions can be evaluated to reveal their quality and fitness for the purpose of environmental decision-making. Therefore, this study evaluated the quality and identified strengths and weaknesses in environmental impact assessment reports of telecommunications infrastructure proposed for Plateau State in Nigeria. To this end, 80 reports were evaluated using the modified version of the Lee and Colley review package. The results revealed the following points. In Review Area 1.0 (Description of the proposed telecommunications facilities) and Review Area 5.0 (Communication of results), the quality of environmental impact assessment reports was found to be generally satisfactory. However, the quality of all reports was considered 'very unsatisfactory' ('F') regarding their overall legal compliance with the requirements stipulated in the remaining three Review Areas, namely, Review Area 2.0 (Terrain susceptibility in the proposed project areas), Review Area 3.0 (Associated and potential environmental impacts), and Review Area 4.0 (Mitigation measures/alternatives). This 'F' rating was assigned to 65% (52/80) of reports regarding Review Area 3.0 because the information provided was 'very unsatisfactory'; important tasks were poorly carried out or not attempted at all. Moreover, in review areas such as Review Area 2.0 and Review Area 4.0, all reports in the evaluation were assigned an 'F' quality. Such an unsatisfactory quality rating is ascribable to the very unsatisfactory manner in which the reports were populated, especially as important task(s) were poorly performed or not attempted at all. Historically, only Review Area 1.0 and Review Area 5.0 indicated improvements in quality over time, whereas the remaining three review areas (Review Area 2.0, Review Area 3.0 and Review Area 4.0) did not improve. Based on the results obtained from the study, we recommend that there should be periodic reviews of environmental impact assessment reports by independent reviewers and environmental consultants should adhere to the sectoral guidelines for telecommunication infrastructure during the production of these reports. Moreover, in order to build technical capacity, more studies on report quality must be conducted in all sectors in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent D. Choji
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Isaac T. Rampedi
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Lee-Ann S. Modley
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Ayodeji P. Ifegbesan
- Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye 120107, Nigeria
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6
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Oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity microwave radiation on quail embryos. UKRAINIAN BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.15407/ubj94.01.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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7
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Hardell L, Carlberg M. Lost opportunities for cancer prevention: historical evidence on early warnings with emphasis on radiofrequency radiation. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2021; 36:585-597. [PMID: 33594846 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Some historical aspects on late lessons from early warnings on cancer risks with lost time for prevention are discussed. One current example is the cancer-causing effect from radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Studies since decades have shown increased human cancer risk. The fifth generation, 5G, for wireless communication is about to be implemented world-wide despite no comprehensive investigations of potential risks to human health and the environment. This has created debate on this technology among concerned people in many countries. In an appeal to EU in September 2017, currently endorsed by more than 400 scientists and medical doctors, a moratorium on the 5G deployment was required until proper scientific evaluation of negative consequences has been made (www.5Gappeal.eu). That request has not been taken seriously by EU. Lack of proper unbiased risk evaluation of the 5G technology makes adverse effects impossible to be foreseen. This disregard is exemplified by the recent report from the International Commission on non-ionizing radiation protection (ICNIRP) whereby only thermal (heating) effects from RF radiation are acknowledged despite a large number of reported non-thermal effects. Thus, no health effects are acknowledged by ICNIRP for non-thermal RF electromagnetic fields in the range of 100 kHz-300 GHz. Based on results in three case-control studies on use of wireless phones we present preventable fraction for brain tumors. Numbers of brain tumors of not defined type were found to increase in Sweden, especially in the age group 20-39 years in both genders, based on the Swedish Inpatient Register. This may be caused by the high prevalence of wireless phone use among children and in adolescence taking a reasonable latency period and the higher vulnerability to RF radiation among young persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Hardell
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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8
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Belpomme D, Carlo GL, Irigaray P, Carpenter DO, Hardell L, Kundi M, Belyaev I, Havas M, Adlkofer F, Heuser G, Miller AB, Caccamo D, De Luca C, von Klitzing L, Pall ML, Bandara P, Stein Y, Sage C, Soffritti M, Davis D, Moskowitz JM, Mortazavi SMJ, Herbert MR, Moshammer H, Ledoigt G, Turner R, Tweedale A, Muñoz-Calero P, Udasin I, Koppel T, Burgio E, Vorst AV. The Critical Importance of Molecular Biomarkers and Imaging in the Study of Electrohypersensitivity. A Scientific Consensus International Report. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7321. [PMID: 34298941 PMCID: PMC8304862 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical research aiming at objectively identifying and characterizing diseases via clinical observations and biological and radiological findings is a critical initial research step when establishing objective diagnostic criteria and treatments. Failure to first define such diagnostic criteria may lead research on pathogenesis and etiology to serious confounding biases and erroneous medical interpretations. This is particularly the case for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and more particularly for the so-called "provocation tests", which do not investigate the causal origin of EHS but rather the EHS-associated particular environmental intolerance state with hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, because those tests depend on multiple EMF-associated physical and biological parameters and have been conducted in patients without having first defined EHS objectively and/or endpoints adequately, they cannot presently be considered to be valid pathogenesis research methodologies. Consequently, the negative results obtained by these tests do not preclude a role of EMF exposure as a symptomatic trigger in EHS patients. Moreover, there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects. This international consensus report pleads for the acknowledgement of EHS as a distinct neuropathological disorder and for its inclusion in the WHO International Classification of Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Belpomme
- Association for Research Against Cancer (ARTAC), 57/59 rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris, France;
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
| | - George L. Carlo
- The Science and Public Policy Institute, Washington, DC 20006, USA;
| | - Philippe Irigaray
- Association for Research Against Cancer (ARTAC), 57/59 rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris, France;
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
| | - David O. Carpenter
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Lennart Hardell
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, SE-702 17 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Michael Kundi
- Center for Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (M.K.); (H.M.)
| | - Igor Belyaev
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Science, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Magda Havas
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
- Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
| | - Franz Adlkofer
- Verum-Foundation for Behaviour and Environment c/o Regus Center Josephspitalstrasse 15/IV, 80331 München, Germany;
| | - Gunnar Heuser
- Formerly UCLA Medical Center, Department of Medicine, P.O. Box 5066, El Dorado Hills, Los Angeles, CA 95762, USA;
| | - Anthony B. Miller
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada;
| | - Daniela Caccamo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Morpho Functional Imaging, Polyclinic Hospital University, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Chiara De Luca
- Department of Registration & Quality Management, Medical & Regulatory Affairs Manager, MEDENA AG, 8910 Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland;
| | - Lebrecht von Klitzing
- Medical Physicist, Institute of Environmental and Medical Physic, D-36466 Wiesenthal, Germany;
| | - Martin L. Pall
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
| | - Priyanka Bandara
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), P.O. Box 152, Scarborough, QLD 4020, Australia;
| | - Yael Stein
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91905, Israel;
- Hadassah Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Jerusalem 91905, Israel
| | - Cindy Sage
- Sage Associates, Montecito, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, USA;
| | - Morando Soffritti
- Istituto Ramazzini, via Libia 13/A, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Collegium Ramazzini, Castello di Bentivoglio, via Saliceto, 3, 40010 Bentivoglio, Italy
| | - Devra Davis
- Environmental Health Trust, P.O. Box 58, Teton Village, WY 83025, USA;
| | - Joel M. Moskowitz
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
| | - S. M. J. Mortazavi
- Medical Physics and Medical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz P.O. Box 71348-14336, Iran;
- Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz P.O. Box 71348-14336, Iran
| | - Martha R. Herbert
- A.A. Martinos Centre for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Neurology, MGH, Harvard Medical School, MGH/MIT/Harvard 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
| | - Hanns Moshammer
- Center for Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (M.K.); (H.M.)
- Department of Hygiene, Karakalpak Medical University, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan
| | - Gerard Ledoigt
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
| | - Robert Turner
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
- Clinical Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - Anthony Tweedale
- Rebutting Industry Science with Knowledge (R.I.S.K.) Consultancy, Blv. Edmond Machtens 101/34, B-1080 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Pilar Muñoz-Calero
- Foundation Alborada, Finca el Olivar, Carretera M-600, Km. 32,400, 28690 Brunete, Spain;
| | - Iris Udasin
- EOHSI Clinical Center, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Tarmo Koppel
- AI Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA;
| | - Ernesto Burgio
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
| | - André Vander Vorst
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (D.O.C.); (L.H.); (I.B.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (E.B.); (A.V.V.)
- European Microwave Association, Rue Louis de Geer 6, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Hardell L. Health Council of the Netherlands and evaluation of the fifth generation, 5G, for wireless communication and cancer risks. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:393-403. [PMID: 34189065 PMCID: PMC8223711 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i6.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently the fifth generation, 5G, for wireless communication is about to be rolled out worldwide. Many persons are concerned about potential health risks from radiofrequency radiation. In September 2017, a letter was sent to the European Union asking for a moratorium on the deployment until scientific evaluation has been made on potential health risks (http://www.5Gappeal.eu). This appeal has had little success. The Health Council of the Netherlands released on September 2, 2020 their evaluation on 5G and health. It was largely based on a World Health Organization draft and report by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, both criticized for not being impartial. The guidelines by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection were recommended to be used, although they have been considered to be insufficient to protect against health hazards (http://www.emfscientist.org). The Health Council Committee recommended not to use the 26 GHz frequency band until health risks have been studied. For lower frequencies, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines were recommended. The conclusion that there is no reason to stop the use of lower frequencies for 5G is not justified by current evidence on cancer risks as commented in this article. A moratorium is urgently needed on the implementation of 5G for wireless communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Hardell
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, Örebro SE-702 17, Sweden
- Department of Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden (retired)
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Carlberg M, Koppel T, Hedendahl LK, Hardell L. Is the Increasing Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in the Nordic Countries Caused by Use of Mobile Phones? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E9129. [PMID: 33297463 PMCID: PMC7730276 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17239129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized in 2011 radiofrequency (RF) as a possible human carcinogen, Group 2B. During use of the handheld wireless phone, especially the smartphone, the thyroid gland is a target organ. During the 21st century, the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing in many countries. We used the Swedish Cancer Register to study trends from 1970 to 2017. During that time period, the incidence increased statistically significantly in women with average annual percentage change (AAPC) +2.13%, 95% confidence interval (CI) +1.43, +2.83%. The increase was especially pronounced during 2010-2017 with annual percentage change (APC) +9.65%, 95% CI +6.68, +12.71%. In men, AAPC increased during 1970-2017 with +1.49%, 95% CI +0.71, +2.28%. Highest increase was found for the time period 2001-2017 with APC +5.26%, 95% CI +4.05, +6.49%. Similar results were found for all Nordic countries based on NORDCAN 1970-2016 with APC +5.83%, 95% CI +4.56, +7.12 in women from 2006 to 2016 and APC + 5.48%, 95% CI +3.92, +7.06% in men from 2005 to 2016. According to the Swedish Cancer Register, the increasing incidence was similar for tumors ≤4 cm as for tumors >4 cm, indicating that the increase cannot be explained by overdiagnosis. These results are in agreement with recent results on increased thyroid cancer risk associated with the use of mobile phones. We postulate that RF radiation is a causative factor for the increasing thyroid cancer incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Carlberg
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE 702 17 Örebro, Sweden; (L.K.H.); (L.H.)
| | - Tarmo Koppel
- School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, SOC353 Ehitajate Tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Lena K. Hedendahl
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE 702 17 Örebro, Sweden; (L.K.H.); (L.H.)
| | - Lennart Hardell
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE 702 17 Örebro, Sweden; (L.K.H.); (L.H.)
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11
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Shih YW, Hung CS, Huang CC, Chou KR, Niu SF, Chan S, Tsai HT. The Association Between Smartphone Use and Breast Cancer Risk Among Taiwanese Women: A Case-Control Study. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:10799-10807. [PMID: 33149685 PMCID: PMC7605549 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s267415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Breast cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Smartphones have gradually become indispensable to our modern lives and have already changed lifestyles of human beings. To our best knowledge, no study has investigated the relationship between smartphone use and breast cancer. This case-control study purposely investigated the relationship between smartphone use and breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods This was a case-control study comprising 894 healthy controls and 211 patients with breast cancer. All participants were asked to respond to standard questionnaires to collect information on sleep quality, smartphone addiction, and smartphone use. Results Participants with smartphone addiction had a significantly higher 1.43-fold risk of breast cancer. Individuals with the habitual behavior of smartphone use >4.5 minutes before bedtime had a significantly increased 5.27-fold risk of breast cancer compared to those who used a smartphone for ≤4.5 minutes before bedtime. Additionally, a closer distance between the smartphone and the breasts when using the smartphone exhibited a significantly increased 1.59-fold risk. Participants who carried their smartphone near their chest or waist-abdomen area had significantly increased 5.03-fold and 4.06-fold risks of breast cancer, respectively, compared to those who carried the smartphone below the waist. Moreover, there was a synergistic effect of smartphone addiction and smartphone use of >4.5 minutes before bedtime which increased the breast cancer risk. Conclusion Excessive smartphone use significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, particularly for participants with smartphone addiction, a close distance between the breasts and smartphone, and the habit of smartphone use before bedtime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Shih
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Sheng Hung
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chiao Huang
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Ru Chou
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Center for Nursing and Healthcare Research in Clinical Practice Application, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Psychiatric Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Niu
- Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sally Chan
- UON Singapore Campus, Univesrity of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Hsiu-Ting Tsai
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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12
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Li DY, Song JD, Liang ZY, Oskouei K, Xiao XQ, Hou WZ, Li JT, Yang YS, Wang ML, Murbach M. Apoptotic Effect of 1800 MHz Electromagnetic Radiation on NIH/3T3 Cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17030819. [PMID: 32013005 PMCID: PMC7037840 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the effect of 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on apoptosis, we exposed NIH/3T3 cells at 1800 MHz with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W/kg intermittently for 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. After exposure, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis; the expression of p53, a molecule with the key role in apoptosis, was measured by real-time qPCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence; and images of the structure of the mitochondria, directly reflecting apoptosis, were captured by electron microscopy. The results showed that the viability of cells in the 12, 36, and 48 h exposure groups significantly decreased compared with the sham groups; after 48 h of exposure, the percentage of late apoptotic cells in the exposure group was significantly higher. Real-time qPCR results showed that p53 mRNA in the 48 h exposure group was 1.4-fold of that in the sham group; significant differences of p53 protein fluorescence expression were observed between the exposure groups and the sham groups after 24 h and 48 h. The mitochondrial swelling and vesicular morphology were found in the electron microscopy images after 48 h exposure. These findings demonstrated 1800 MHz, SAR 2 W/kg EMR for 48 h may cause apoptosis in NIH/3T3 cells and that this apoptosis might be attributed to mitochondrial damage and upregulation of p53 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Yang Li
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
| | - Jing-Dong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China; (J.-D.S.); (W.-Z.H.)
| | - Zhao-Yuan Liang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
| | - Kiana Oskouei
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
| | - Xiang-Qian Xiao
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Antivirus Drug, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Wen-Zhe Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China; (J.-D.S.); (W.-Z.H.)
| | - Jin-Tao Li
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
| | - Yi-Shu Yang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Antivirus Drug, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Ming-Lian Wang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (D.-Y.L.); (Z.-Y.L.); (K.O.); (X.-Q.X.); (J.-T.L.); (Y.-S.Y.)
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Antivirus Drug, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
- Correspondence: (M.-L.W.); (M.M.)
| | - Manuel Murbach
- IT’IS Foundation, Zeughausstrasse 43, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (M.-L.W.); (M.M.)
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13
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Appeals that matter or not on a moratorium on the deployment of the fifth generation, 5G, for microwave radiation. Mol Clin Oncol 2020; 12:247-257. [PMID: 32064102 PMCID: PMC7016513 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2020.1984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the frequency range of 30 kHz-300 GHz is classified as a 'possible' human carcinogen, Group 2B, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 2011. The evidence has since then been strengthened by further research; thus, RF radiation may now be classified as a human carcinogen, Group 1. In spite of this, microwave radiations are expanding with increasing personal and ambient exposure. One contributing factor is that the majority of countries rely on guidelines formulated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), a private German non-governmental organization. ICNIRP relies on the evaluation only of thermal (heating) effects from RF radiation, thereby excluding a large body of published science demonstrating the detrimental effects caused by non-thermal radiation. The fifth generation, 5G, for microwave radiation is about to be implemented worldwide in spite of no comprehensive investigations of the potential risks to human health and the environment. In an appeal sent to the EU in September, 2017 currently >260 scientists and medical doctors requested for a moratorium on the deployment of 5G until the health risks associated with this new technology have been fully investigated by industry-independent scientists. The appeal and four rebuttals to the EU over a period of >2 years, have not achieved any positive response from the EU to date. Unfortunately, decision makers seem to be uninformed or even misinformed about the risks. EU officials rely on the opinions of individuals within the ICNIRP and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), most of whom have ties to the industry. They seem to dominate evaluating bodies and refute risks. It is important that these circumstances are described. In this article, the warnings on the health risks associated with RF presented in the 5G appeal and the letters to the EU Health Commissioner since September, 2017 and the authors' rebuttals are summarized. The responses from the EU seem to have thus far prioritized industry profits to the detriment of human health and the environment.
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Conflicts of Interest and Misleading Statements in Official Reports about the Health Consequences of Radiofrequency Radiation and Some New Measurements of Exposure Levels. MAGNETOCHEMISTRY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/magnetochemistry5020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Official reports to governments throughout the Western world attempt to allay public concern about the increasing inescapability of the microwaves (also known as radiofrequency radiation or RF) emitted by “smart” technologies, by repeating the dogma that the only proven biological effect of RF is acute tissue heating, and assuring us that the levels of radiation to which the public are exposed are significantly less than those needed to cause acute tissue heating. The present paper first shows the origin of this “thermal-only” dogma in the military paranoia of the 1950s. It then reveals how financial conflict of interest and intentionally misleading statements have been powerful factors in preserving that dogma in the face of now overwhelming evidence that it is false, using one 2018 report to ministers of the New Zealand government as an example. Lastly, some new pilot measurements of ambient RF power densities in Auckland city are reported and compared with levels reported in other cities, various international exposure limits, and levels shown scientifically to cause biological harm. It is concluded that politicians in the Western world should stop accepting soothing reports from individuals with blatant conflicts of interest and start taking the health and safety of their communities seriously.
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