R-I-I-N-G: The latest on the health and environmental impacts of mobile phones

mob-phone.jpgThe health and environmental impacts of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone handsets and base stations have been a topic of controversy for years now. Scientific studies produced conflicting results but conflicts of interests among researchers are common considering the financial and political clout of the telecom industry. A few of the latest developments are summarized here.

Impact on sleep
Short-term exposure to GSM wireless communications signals seems to have an immediate effect on sleeping patterns. Researchers in Sweden and the US observed that sleep disturbances frequently occurred in individuals who were exposed to 884 MHz frequency signals comparable to those emitted by mobile phone hand sets. Adverse effects on sleep quality as measure by EEG were observed. Sleep stages 3 and 4 were especially affected.
Data was based on self-reported symptoms in a study group of blinded 35 men and 36 women [1].

Impact on fetuses and neonates
Egyptian researchers observed that the use of mobile phones by pregnant women can increase heart rates and decrease cardiac outputs of the fetuses. The same was also observed in neonates [2].

Impact on birds
The population of the house sparrows Passer domesticus in Europe has been on the decline for years now and electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations might be partly responsible for this. Researchers in Belgium [3] and Spain [4] observed that spatial variation of these birds is significantly correlated to the strength of EMR in a certain area.

A more comprehensive review of the problem was initiated by a group of experts in 2007 who wrote the BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF) [5].

“The current guidelines for the US and European microwave exposure from mobile phones, for the brain are 1.6W/Kg and 2W/Kg, respectively.” Based on recent findings and the BioInitiative Report, “a new biologically based guideline is warranted.” [6].

References:

  1. Arnetz et al. 2007. The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on self-reported symptom and sleep (EEG)- An experimental provocation study. Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium
  2. Rezk et al. 2008. Fetal and neonatal responses following maternal exposure to mobile phones. Saudi Medical Journal 2008 Feb;29(2):218-23.
  3. Everaert & Bauwens, 2007. A possible effect of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations on the number of breeding house sparrows (Passer domesticus) Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine January 2007; 26(1): 63-72
  4. Balmori & Hallberg, 2007. The urban decline of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): A possible link with electromagnetic radiation Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine April 2007; 26(2): 141-151
  5. BioInitiative Report:A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF). www.bioinitiative.org
  6. Hardell & Sage, 2008. Biological effects from electromagnetic field exposure and public exposure standards. Biomed Pharmacother. 2008 Feb;62(2):104-109.

February 18, 2008. Uncategorized. 1 Comment.

One Comment

  1. SolidInfo replied:

    A very nice article.
    I am writing a series on the ‘7 Disadvantages of Mobile Phones’. Some of the topics are similar as the ones mentioned in this article. Please visit the url to the first article if you are interested:

    http://www.controlyourimpact.com/2008/03/disadvantages-of-mobile-phones/

    March 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am. Permalink.

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