Science

Get the latest news on the scientific developments. Microwave News is one of the most authoritative internationally respected sources of information about electromagnetic radiation health effects. policy and political developments. For details go to: http://www.microwavenews.com.

Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum

The newcomer to electromagnetic radiation is faced with a bewildering array of terms, acronyms and facts. This section tries to clarify and simplify the subject, then moves into more complex scientific information. For those who "just want the facts" it is important to recognize that you first need to be familiar with some basic terms and theories in physics, engineering and the life sciences.

This knowledge will orient you to the material and then this will all start to make more sense. Ask lots of questions of the industry representatives at the public meetings. Ask for visuals showing EMF or RF wave propagation at a particular site to see what the radiation pattern is and where it falls. If you are concerned about any particular EMF source - whether it is from antennas, cell phones, cordless phones, wireless laptops, iPhones, WiFi networks, radar, power lines or electrical appliances, keep in mind there are many variables to take into account when evaluating EMF exposure, including frequency, power level, duration of exposure, distance from the source and your health status.

Here are some links to sites which provide an orientation to the EMF spectrum and definition of basic terms.

Wikepedia: electromagnetic fields
Wikepedia: electromagnetic radiation
NASA: Measuring the electromagnetic spectrum
World Health Organization (WHO): What are ElectroMagnetic Fields?
World Health Organization (WHO): Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: Mobile Phones and their Base Stations
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL): Electromagnetic Spectrum
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory: Electromagnetic Radiation
Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility This is a website that wireless engineers use who test for bio-compatibility and to prevent signal interference, especially in hospitals. Some charts and definition of terms here.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Bureau Tower and Antenna Siting Issues
EMFs in Your Environment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Indoor Air and Radiation, December 2002
FAQs about Cell Phones and Your Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Is the "jury still out" as to whether there are human health and environmental effects of EMFs?

Are cellular phones safe?

Do antennas pose a health risk?

Are electrical power lines safe?

Citizens sometimes have a hard time getting straight answers to these and related questions.

"The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe."

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, July 2007

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To date, no adverse health effects from low level, long-term exposure to radiofrequency or power frequency fields have been confirmed, but scientists are actively continuing to research this area.

The EMF Working Group for Collaborative for Health and the Environment (CHE), calls for application of the precautionary principle and refer to authoritative sources in other countries:

"Scientists in the United Kingdom recommend that no child under the age of 8 years old use a cell phone. Research evidence shows that children are more vulnerable than adults to harm from other environmental exposures (such as chemicals), and the same may be true of radiofrequency radiation exposures.

"The Chairman of the Russian National Committee for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP), Yuri Grigoriev, advised that cellular communication is strongly contraindicated for children and teenagers.

"The Canadian Public Health Officer, David Butler-Jones, advised Canadians to limit their and their children's use of cell phones until science resolves uncertainties about long-term health effects."

EMF Consensus Statement, EMF Working Group, Collaborative for Health and the Environment, 2006

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The Benevento Resolution, signed by peer reviewed scientists and medical doctors, includes specific public health advice:

Inform the population of the potential risks of cell phone and cordless phone use. Advise consumers to limit wireless calls and use a land line for long conversations.
Limit cell phone and cordless phone use by young children and teenagers to the lowest possible level and urgently ban telecom companies from marketing to them.
Require manufacturers to supply hands-free kits (via speaker phones or ear phones), with each cell phone and cordless phone.

The Benevento Resolution, 2006.

Scientific Reviews and Position Papers

California State Health Department EMF Program FINAL REPORT

This Risk Evaluation of the 60 hertz magnetic field, taking nine years and cost the California rate payers over $7 million, was released on October 11, 2002. Why hasn’t the Public Utilities Commission held is public hearings on this report, paid for by the California ratepayers, since its release?

This document contains many studies and reviews that provide an evaluation of the animal, laboratory and human evidence as of that time, that shows how exposure to 50/60 Hz magnetic fields may or may not increase human health risks. The Risk Evaluation is based on the results of published research studies, with emphasis on new studies, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Working Group Report, and the results of the California EMF Program Studies.

This 560 page document from the California State Health Department can be printed off the website. To order hard copies, call City Copy and Printing in Oakland (510) 763-0193. Charge is $35.00 plus shipping and handling.

"The California EMF Program Report is the strongest evidence yet of the health risks the power companies have been trying to pretend didn't exist. The utilities have played a very sophisticated game and have managed to smother the health risks as a nonissue - and, to an extent, it's worked. You never see coverage of EMFs in most media, and after the California EMF Program closes down there will be no research on the issues going on in the United States. The risks can be controlled, but only if the utilities stop pretending that there are no risks and start addressing them."
Louis Slesin, publisher of Microwave News, interview with Joyce Slayton, SF Gate, 2002.

Click here for related news articles.

August 31, 2007 Bioinitiative Report titled "A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields" (ELF and RF) states "Serious Public Health Concerns Raised Over Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) from Powerlines and Cell Phones." Read the full report.

An international working group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professionals (The Bioinitiative Working Group) has released its report on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health. They document serious scientific concerns about current limits regulating how much EMF is allowable from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of EMF exposure in daily life. The report concludes the existing standards for public safety are inadequate to protect public health. www.bioinitiative.org

Extremely Low Frequency Radiation (includes ELF research bibliographies)
RF Research (includes radiofrequency radiation research bibliographies)

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Additional Studies and Reviews

The late Dr. Ross Adey, M.D. –

Presentation by Dr. Ross Adey, U.C. Biochemist, UC Riverside of his published research, delivered February 4, 2000 at the Biolelectromagnetics Society meeting in Washington D.C. http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Adey_BEMS_presentation.doc

Dr. Martin Blank –

Dr. Martin Blank's statement presented at CWTI's Citizens Telecommunications Lobby Day, Washington DC June, 1999. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Blanks_statement.doc.

The Late Neil Cherry Ph.D's EMF Literature Reviews – –

"I have been collecting and integrating biological and epidemiological evidence from all around the world and will show that electromagnetic radiation is a Ubiquitous Universal Genotoxic Carcinogen that is causing massive increases in cancer, cardiac, neurological and reproductive health effects in San Francisco and around the world. If we set public health standards on this evidence then we could significantly reduce sickness in families in San Francisco and lead the world."
the late Neil Cherry, Ph.D. environmental physicist, March 2002.

1. EMR Reduces melatonin in animals and people, July 2000. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Cherry_Melatonin_Report.doc.

2. Health effects of electromagnetic radiation. Evidence for the Australian Senate Committee, September 2000. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Cherry_literature_review_9.2000.doc.

Dr. Cherry's most recent papers be purchased directly through http://www.neilcherry.com.

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Magda Havas, Ph.D. –

1. "Analysis of health and environmental effects of proposed san Francisco Earthlink Wi-Fi network" submitted to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors May 31, 2007. Prepared at the request of the San Francisco Antenna-free Neighborhood Union (SNAFU).

2. "Biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy: A critical review of the reports by the US National Research Council and the US National Institute ofEnvironmental Health Sciences as they relate to the broad realm of EMF bioeffects", Environmental Review, Volume 8, 2000, pp173-253, National Research Press, Canada.

Dr. Gerard Hyland –

1. How Exposure to Mobile Phone Base-station Radiation can Adversely Affect Humans, November 2000. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Hylandreport11.2000.doc.

2. Potential Adverse Impacts of Mobile Telephony. February 2000. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Hyland200.doc.

3. Chart. Recent advances in Biophysics predict that adequately metabolising living organisms support coherent microwave activities, making them non-thermally sensitive to the frequency of ultra-weak external microwave radiation. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/CWTI.Hylandstudy200.doc.

4. How Exposure to GSM & TETRA Base-station Radiation Can Adversely Affect Humans, December 2002. http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/lai091302.htm.

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Dr. Henry Lai –

1. "Research needs: Invivo (non human) experiments." Paper and power point presentation provided at the National Academy of Science’s hearing entitled "Identification of research needs relating to potential biological or adverse health effects of wireless communications devices", August 7-9, 2007, Washington D.C.

2. Paper for the Scientific Workshop "EMF-Scientific and legal Issues, Theory and Evidence of EMF Biological and Health Effects" in Catania, Sicily, Italy, September 13-14, 2002, organized by the Italian National Institute for Prevention and Work Safety. http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/lai091302.htm.

3. Memory and Behavior. Paper presented at "The Biological Effects, Health Consequences and Standards for Pulsed Radiofrequency Field", an international seminar sponsored by the International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection and the World Health Organization, at the Ettoll Majorare, Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily, Italy, November 21-25, 1999. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/Lai_WHO_paper.doc.

4. Genetic Effects of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Fields. Paper presented at the "International Workshop on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation, Electromagnetic Fields and Chemical Toxic Agents" in Sinaia, Romania, October 2-6, 2001. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/Lai_Romania_Workshop.doc.

5. Neurological Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Relating to Wireless Communication Technology. Paper presented at the IBC-UK Conference: "Mobile Phones – Is there a Health Risk?" September 16-17, 1997 in Brussels, Belgium. Download in Word format, http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/Lai_Brussels_paper.doc.

Cell Phone Chronicles, Part 1 by John MacArthur, April 29, 2000. http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/chronicles.html

Is your cell phone really safe? http://infoventures.com/emf/top/spectrum.html

WHO EMF Research database http://www-nt.who.int/peh-emf/database.htm

MEDline http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medlineplus.html

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed

Interviews

British Cell Phone Safety Alert and An Interview with Robert O. Becker, M.D. by Linda Moulton Howe. http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/science/becker.html

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View our films online for free and/or order a DVD: "Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy and the Wireless Revolution" and, "Dr. Ted Litovitz's EMR Research Presentation to U.S. Congressional Staff".