Effect of electromagnetic field on abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The increasing use of new technologies by pregnant women inevitably exposes them to the risks of the electromagnetic fields (EMFs). According to the World Health Organization, EMFs are the major sources of pollutants which harm human health. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of EMF exposure on abortion.

Methods

Web of Science, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until 2021. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was explored using Cochran’s Q test and I² index. A meta-regression method was employed to investigate the factors affecting heterogeneity between the studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the credibility of the studies.

Results

Eligible studies (N = 17) were analyzed with a total of 57,693 participants. The mean maternal age (95% CI) was 31.06 years (27.32–34.80). Based on meta-analysis results, the pooled estimate for OR of EMF with its effects was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.10–1.46). According to the results of meta-regression, sample size had a significant effect on heterogeneity between studies (p: 0.030), but mother’s age and publication year had no significant effect on heterogeneity (p-value of bothwere >0.05). No publication bias was observed.

Conclusion

Exposure to EMFs above 50 Hz or 16 mG is associated with 1.27× increased risk of abortion. It may be prudent to advise women against this potentially important environmental hazard. Indeed, pregnant women should receive tailored counselling.

Nonionizing Electromagnetic Field: A Promising Alternative for Growing Control Yeast

In the food industry, some fungi are considered to be common spoilage microorganisms which reduce the shelf life of products. To avoid this outcome, different technologies are being developed to control their growth. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been used to combat bacterial growth, but there are few studies on yeasts and their possible action mechanisms. For this reason, we studied the effect of EMF between 1 to 5.9 GHz bands on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and observed that all the frequencies of the band used cause the reduction of the viability of this yeast. In addition, we observed that the distance between the antenna and the sample is an important factor to consider to control the growing yeast. By using transmission electron microscopy, we found that the EMF caused a loss of continuity of the yeast cell membrane. Therefore, EMF may be used as a control method for yeast growth.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of mobile phone use on the oral epithelium: a systematic review with meta-analysis

The use of mobile phones is based on radiofrequency (RF) waves, and the devices act as transmitters and receivers of non-ionizing energy. The micronucleus test was developed to identify increases in the occurrence of mutations in cells exposed to various agents. This systematic review with meta-analysis adhered to the following protocol: defining the objective, outlining the search method (PICO model), conducting the search, identifying literature, selecting articles, and extracting data. The study aimed to answer the following research question: Does non-ionizing radiation emitted by mobile phones have genotoxic and/or cytotoxic effects on the oral epithelium? The search for evidence published 2009-2019 was conducted in the MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, Google Scholar, PROSPERO, and Cochrane Library databases. The following inclusion criteria were defined: investigations of effects on the oral mucosa related to RF; investigations of cytotoxic and/or genotoxic effects; investigations involving humans; and investigations using cells exfoliated from the oral epithelium. Investigations related to the parotid gland were excluded. The search strategy found 464 articles; after application of the eligibility criteria, 358 abstracts were analyzed and 351 abstracts excluded. After 7 full texts were reviewed, 1 study was excluded. The 6 included studies were classified as level 5 quality of evidence (observational studies). The meta-analysis included 2 studies that compared the frequency of micronuclei on the side exposed to RF electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) to that on the unexposed side. The studies evaluated presented a low degree of evidence, but the meta- analysis indicated that no genotoxic effects are associated with mobile phone use. However, observations of other nuclear abnormalities in some studies suggest the occurrence of cytotoxic effects caused by exposure to the RF-EMFs emitted by mobile phones. More studies are necessary to prove or refute this association.

Mobile Phone Distance from Head and Temperature Changes of Radio Frequency Waves on Brain Tissue

Background:

Analyzing the possible negative effects of using cell phones on the users’ health is an important and vital affair due to rapid growth and extensive use of these devices on human communications and interactions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increasing the distance of cell phones to brain tissue on the temperature of the central and gray matters of brain due to the heat generated by radio frequency waves.

Methods:

This study was an experimental study. A cow's brain tissue was analyzed in a compartment with three thicknesses of 2, 12, and 22 mm, in the distances of 4 mm and 4 cm from a cell phone for 15 min. Lutron thermometer was used to measure the tissue temperature, and the data analysis were done by Lutron and MATLAB software packages.

Results:

The tissue temperature was increased while confronting with a cell phone in distances of 4 mm and 4 cm in all the three thicknesses of 2, 12, and 22 mm. The tissue temperature was higher after removing the confrontation at 4 mm distance as compared to the distance of 4 cm.

Conclusions:

During confrontation and after that with the cell phone, reducing the distance of brain tissue and the cell phone increased the tissue temperature intensely. In fact, by increasing the cell phone distance from brain tissue, the thermal effect of radiofrequency waves was reduced.

Evaluating Temperature Changes of Brain Tissue Due to Induced Heating of Cell Phone Waves

Background:

Worries have recently been increased in the absorption of radiofrequency waves and their destructing effects on human health by increasing use of cell phones (mobile phones). This study performed to determine the thermal changes due to mobile phone radio frequency waves in gray and white brain tissue.

Methods:

This study is an empirical study, where the thermal changes of electromagnetic waves resulted from cell phones (900 MHZ, specific absorption rate for head 1.18 w/kg) on the 15 brain tissue of a cow were analyzed in a compartment with three different thickness of 2 mm, 12 mm, and 22 mm, for 15 min. The Lutron thermometer (model: MT-917) with 0.01°C precision was used for measuring the tissue temperature. For each thickness was measured three times. Data analysis is done by Lutron and MATLAB software packages.

Results:

In confronting of the tissue with the cell phone, the temperature was increased by 0.53°C in the 2 mm thickness that is the gray matter of the brain, increased by 0.99°C in the 12 mm thickness, and also increased by 0.92°C in the 22 mm thickness. Brain temperature showed higher rates than the base temperature after 15 min of confrontation with cell phone waves in all the three thicknesses.

Conclusions:

Cell phone radiated radio frequency waves were effective on increasing brain tissue temperature, and this temperature increase has cumulative effect on the tissue, being higher, for some time after the confrontation than the time with no confrontation.

The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation due to Mobile Phone Use on Thyroid Function in Medical Students Studying in a Medical College in South India

BACKGROUND

Enormous increase in mobile phone use throughout the world raises widespread concerns about its possible detrimental effect on human health. Radiofrequency waves are emitted by cell phones. They are non-ionising and the effect on the thyroid gland is part of their non thermal effects. The thyroid gland may be particularly vulnerable to this effect because of its normal anatomical position.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was done to explore the association between radiation exposure and thyroid dysfunction among mobile phone users. It had an exploratory design and unit survey method to collect information from all medical students in a medical college in South India. Inclusion criteria included active use of mobile phone prior to and during the study period. Criteria for exclusion was presence of pre-existsting thyroid disease,thyroid nodule,thyroid goitre/nodule and altered thyroid function.

RESULTS

The sample size was 83 undergraduate students. 71% of respondents had no family history of thyroid illness. Among the remainder,20.5% had a first degree relative with thyroid dysfunction,8.4% had a second degree relative affected. Clinical examination revealed that 79.5% of the respondents were normal,13.6% had thyroid swelling,3.6% had symptoms of thyroid dysfunction and 3.6% had both thyroid swelling and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. 53% of the respondents spent 0.5 hrs on an average talking on the phone daily,28.9% spent 1.5 hrs daily and 10.8% of respondents spent over 3.5 hours. We found there was a significant correlation between total radiation exposure and an increase in TSH among both groups -in those with and without family history of thyroid illness.

CONCLUSION

In our study there was a significant correlation between total radiation exposure and increasing TSH values among both all respondents.