Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic:The implications for the

[Guest guest]

This pertains to smart meters also as they transmit low radiofrequency

[RF] and microwave radiation [MW]

I originally thought to summarize the main points of this long study --

but this still makes more reading then I wanted. However, I like this

article as it explains so clearly exactly how the various health effects are

caused and supports everything it says - frequently with multi references &

studies.

I do have this on a Word document plus have put it on a pdf file too.

If anyone would like either, you can email me and ask for

whichever............

best wishes

Shan

Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic:

The implications for the epidemiology of cancer and cardiac, neurological

and reproductive effects

_http://www.feb.se/EMFguru/EMF/genotoxic/Genotoxic-EMR-paper.htm_

(http://www.feb.se/EMFguru/EMF/genotoxic/Genotoxic-EMR-paper.htm)

_http://www.whale.to/b/cherry6.html_ (http://www.whale.to/b/cherry6.html)

For presentations in May to NZ Parliament and June 2000 in Italy, Austria,

Ireland and at the European Parliament in Brussels

EMR Spectrum Principle:

It is observed that both biological effects and epidemiological effects

appear to be the same or very similar from ELF exposure and from RF/MW

exposures, including calcium ion efflux, melatonin reduction, DNA strand

breakage,

chromosome aberrations, leukaemia, brain cancer, breast cancer,

miscarriage and neurological effects.

A frequently used method for falsely dismissing evidence of effects is to

consider effects in small frequency and intensity bands. In fact,

biophysics shows that the dielectric constant decreases monotonically with

carrier

frequency across the EMR spectrum, Schwan (1985). Vignati and Giuliani

(1997) show that for a unit field exposure, the induced current increases

significantly as a function of frequency, Figure 1.

The EMR Spectrum Principle predicts that effects that are associated with

ELF exposure are very probably found with low intensity RF/MW exposure.

The Bioelectrical nature of biology:

The bioelectrical nature of brains, hearts and cells is poorly appreciated

but it is extremely well documented. Frey (1993, 1995) advocates a change

in mind-set from that which he describes as the toxicological approach of

treating EMR as an external disease agent, to one that considers EMR as an

intrinsic feature of cells and bodies.

Electromagnetic activity in cells:

Cells consist of a nucleus surrounded by the fluid cytoplasm that is

contain within the cell membrane. The cell membrane consist of a bimolecular

layer which is penetrated by many complex structures, Figure 5.

Calcium ions were induced to flow out of or into cells, depending of the

combination of exposure conditions. These combinations are known as

**windows** because nearby conditions have markedly different effects. Figure

7

shows RF induced Ca2+ efflux which is associated with enhanced programmed

cell death (Apoptosis).

The ELF induced and Ca2+ influx is associated with enhanced cell survival

of damaged cells, i.e. it enhances cancer.

Given the fundamental bioelectrical nature of cells and the ability of

imposed electrical signals to alter the voltage of the outsides of cells, the

opening or closing the ion channels, is an obvious biological mechanism for

altering the nature and future of every cell. Calcium ion efflux from

pinealocytes is a plausible mechanism for EMR induced melatonin reduction. In

this, and other ways, alteration of cellular calcium ions and melatonin

reduction both strongly suggest that EMR is likely to be genotoxic.

Cardiac Electrical Sensitivity:

Hearts are obviously bioelectrical organs. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is

a fundamental monitoring tool of cardiologists in diagnosing the state of

the heart muscle. The heart-beat occurs as a series of regular electrical

pulses Each electric pulse initiates a cascade of calcium ions to flood the

heart muscle and cause it to contract. Interference with this regular

electrical pulse leads to heart disease and heart attack of the Arrhythmic kind.

We would therefore expect electromagnetic radiation to cause arrhythmia and

heart attack.

Genotoxicity:

Substances that damage cellular genetic material, such as DNA and

chromosomes, are called **genotoxic**.

Genotoxic substances cause cancer, reproductive health effects and

neurological damage. Chromosome aberrations are visible through powerful

microscopes. Chromosomes are formed from folded segments of DNA. Damage to

chromosomes is therefore evidence of damage to DNA.

Many studies have shown that radiofrequency/microwave (RF/MW) radiation

and extremely low frequency (ELF) fields cause increased DNA strand breakage

and chromosome aberrations. This has been shown in cell lines, human blood,

animals and living human beings. This means that epidemiological studies

of people exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) are likely to show

increased cancer, miscarriage and reproductive adverse effects. In fact many

epidemiological studies have shown these effects, Goldsmith (1995, 1996, 1997,

1997a), Szmigielski (1991, 1996).

Two plausible biological mechanisms involving free radicals are involved

in this effect. The first involves increased free radical activity and

genetic damage as a response to exposure. The second involves increased free

radical activity and genetic damage because of an induced reduction of a free

radical scavenger, e.g. reduced melatonin, Reiter (1994). It is clear

however, that both mechanisms have the same effect of damaging the DNA and

chromosomes. Another established biological mechanism, EMR-induced alteration

of

cellular calcium ion homeostasis, Blackman (1990), is also involved in cell

regulation, cell survival and apoptosis, DNA synthesis and melatonin

regulation.

Direct measurements of Chromosome aberrations:

Direct evidence that EMR induces significant increases in chromosome

damage, with significant dose response relationships, is evidence of a causal

effect when replicated or extended by independent laboratories.

Chromosome damage from RF/MW exposure:

The first identified study that showed that pulsed RF radiation cause

significant chromosome aberrations was Heller and Teixeira-Pinto (1959).

When chromosomes are damaged one of the primary protective measures is for

the immune system natural killer cells to eliminate the damaged cells.

Alternatively the cells can enter programmed cell suicide, apoptosis.

Garaj-Vrhovac, Horvat and Koren (1991) measured the cell survival rates. They

found

that cell survival reduced and the cell death increased in a time dependent

and exposure dose response manner, Figure 11.

Even at 100 times below the public exposure guideline a 60 minute exposure

kills 28% of the cells and 30 minutes kills 8 % of the cells.

Garaj-Vrhovac et al.

Chromosome Aberrations Conclusions:

Many studies, from independent laboratories, have shown that ELF, RF/MW

and cell phone radiation, significantly increases chromosome aberrations in

exposed cells, including cells taken from human beings who have been exposed

to EMR in occupational situations. Even at very low intensity radar

exposures that were experienced at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, significant

increases in chromosome damage was measured from human blood samples. This

evidence shows conclusively that across the EMR spectrum, EMR is genotoxic.

Hence

it is carcinogenic and teratogenic.

Shows that both continuous and pulsed microwaves cause single and double

DNA strand breakage, but pulsed microwaves cause more than continuous waves.

Genotoxicity Conclusions:

There is more than sufficient evidence of chromosome aberrations, DNA

strand breakage altered oncogene activity and neoplastic transformation in cells

to conclude that EMR across the spectrum from ELF to RF/MW is genotoxic.

This is independently confirmed by the established biological mechanisms of

calcium ion efflux and melatonin reduction.

This is also totally independent of over a hundred occupational groups

showing elevated cancer from EMR exposure, scores showing significantly to

extremely significantly elevated cancer incidence and mortality, and dozens of

dose response relationships.

ELF Exposure and DNA strand breakage

Hence RF/MW radiation has been confirmed to enhance DNA damage under RF/MW

exposure from radar-like and cell phone exposures, including an exposure

level which is 0.22% of the ICNIRP guideline.

Multiple evidence from independent laboratories established that EMR from

ELF to RF/MW causes DNA single- and double-strand breaks at very low,

non-thermal exposure levels.

This extends and confirms the genotoxic evidence from chromosome

aberration studies.

EMR Altered Gene Activity

Hence proto oncogene activity is altered and enhanced in multiple

independent experiments from ELF and RF/MW exposure, including cell phone

radiation.

Immune system impairment by EMR

Impairment of the immune system is related to calcium ion efflux,

Walleczek (1992) and to reduced melatonin, Reiter and (1995).

EMR Reduces Melatonin in Animals and People

Fifteen studies is sufficient to establish that EMR reduces melatonin in

people from exposures across the EMR spectrum, and at extremely low mean

exposure levels.

Epidemiological dose-response relationships from RF/MW exposures:

Dose-response relationships are shown here because they are very strong

evidence of cause and effect and they give guidance as to the exposure levels

involved. It should be noted however, that many other studies show

significant increases in all of the cancer, cardiac, neurological and

reproductive

effects reported here. All occur at long-term mean exposure levels more

than 100 times below the ICNIRP guideline, and residential studies involve

mean exposures more than 1000 times lower than the public exposure guideline.

Global Leukaemia dose response for RF/MW exposure

Table 1: A summary of epidemiological studies involving adult leukaemia

mortality or incidence, ranked by probable RF/MW exposure category.

Study Reference Exposure Leukaemia Risk 95% Confidence

Many studies have identified elevated childhood leukaemia for children

living in the vicinity of high voltage powerlines, Hardell et al. (1995),

including a dose-response relationships, Wertheimer and Leeper (1979), Savitz

et

al. (1988), London et al. (1991) and Feychting et al. (1995).

Neurological effects:

Brains are very electromagnetically sensitive because our sight, thoughts,

memories, learning and emotions use complex electromagnetic signals.

Research in Germany in the post war period proved that human brains detect and

use extremely small natural low frequency (ELF) EMR signals, Wever (1974),

Konig (1974). Since RF/MW signals induce higher currents in human tissues

and low frequency signals it is inevitable that we will observe neurological

effects from chronic RF/MW exposures.

Recent studies have revealed some neurological dose response relationships

for sleep disturbance, Multiple Sclerosis and Suicide at extremely low

exposures to RF and ELF exposures. Beale et al. (1997) found significant dose

response for psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression,

living in proximity to high voltage powerlines. This strongly confirms the

sensitivity of human brains to EMR exposure.

These are all symptoms related to melatonin reduction.

Mild et al. (1998) show significant dose-response relationships for cell

phone usage and headaches, dizziness, memory loss, discomfort, fatigue, and

loss of concentration. Dose responses were shown for both calls/day and

minutes/day. Figures 33 and 34 show the minutes/day graphs for Norway and

Sweden, respectively. Norway is dominantly analogue and Sweden digital.

All exposed to a mean RF signal of less than 0.1m W/cm2 and they

experienced highly significant sleep disturbance and reduced melatonin. Since

sleep

disturbance, Mann and Roschkle (1995), and melatonin reduction, Burch et

al. (1997), has been observed with cell phone exposure. Hence these

observations also apply to cell phones and cell sites.

Multiple Sclerosis in Danish Electric Utility Workers

Non-linear response for neurological effects at extremely low exposure

levels are evident in the three studies presented here for sleep disturbance,

multiple sclerosis and suicide

Natural EMR Sensitivity of the Human brain:

Interactions include resonant absorption of signals with particular ELF

signal or modulation frequency ranges, and interference with the natural

signals so that they cannot reliably perform their functions.

These functions include regulations of hormones such as melatonin and

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Both of these have been shown to be reduced

by cell phone exposures. Reduced melatonin leads to increased DNA strand

breaks and chromosome aberrations. These in turn lead to cancer and

reproductive effects

Cardiac Effects of EMR

There is a powerful set of epidemiological evidence showing that EMR

across the spectrum increases the incidence and mortality from arrhythmia

related

heart disease and from heart attack. The following graph shows the

dose-response curve for Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) in electric

utility workers, Figure 41.

Miscarriage in microwave exposed Physiotherapists, United States

This shows a dose-response for RF induced infertility.

Conclusions:

Since calcium ion efflux and melatonin reduction are established biological

effects of EMR exposure from ELF to RF/MW, impaired immune systems should

be observed in EMR exposures. Multiple independent evidence is available

for RF exposures, down to extremely low chronic mean levels, and many dose

response relationships are established to prove that these biological effects

from EMR exposure is genotoxic.

Therefore there is extremely strong evidence that EMR across the spectrum

is genotoxic, even at very low exposure levels found in the vicinity of

cell sites, Figure 45

These genotoxic biological mechanisms strongly support the large number of

epidemiological studies that show significant increases of cancer,

neurological, cardiac and reproductive health effects from ELF and RF/MW

exposure

in military, occupation, and residents studies. Altogether they show a

causal relationship from EMR exposure and wide-spread adverse health effects.

All of these adverse health effects are shown to be significantly increased

in multiple epidemiological studies, including many with significant

dose-response relationships. This data puts the situation in a very clear

light.

Cell Phone Conclusions:

References: 125+

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