Is AM Radio Harmful?

[Guest guest]

Is AM Radio Harmful?

By Leahy

02:00 AM Aug. 16, 2004 PT

Korean scientists have found that regions near AM radio-broadcasting towers had

70 percent more leukemia deaths than those without.

The study, to be published in an upcoming issue of the International Archives of

Occupational and Environmental Health, also found that cancer deaths were 29

percent higher near such transmitters.

The Koreans looked at the death rates in 10 regions with AM radio-transmitting

towers broadcasting at more than 100 kilowatts and compared them with control

areas without transmitters. The substantially higher cancer mortality in those

who lived within two kilometers of the towers led researchers to conclude that

more investigation was needed.

However, they also said their study did not prove a direct link between cancer

and the transmitters.

" There have been many studies like these, and they aren't very convincing, " said

McBride, an epidemiologist at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Many

other factors could have contributed to those cancer rates, said McBride, who

has headed a number of similar studies and found no direct link.

Equally important is that studies in the lab don't show how radio waves can

produce cancers, she said.

Debate continues over the health effects of radio waves from transmitters, both

large and small, and other forms of electromagnetic fields, including power

lines and microwaves.

Sam Milham, a Seattle-based epidemiologist and a pioneer in

electromagnetic-field research, is convinced there are health effects. " Lots of

research papers from around the world show increased cancers near transmitters,

although TV and FM transmitters are more often implicated. "

Moreover, many lab studies show low-frequency EMF disrupt living cells, Milham

asserts. Critics like McBride say such results are often difficult to reproduce

at other labs. Milham says that's because of differences in the Earth's magnetic

field and stray EMF.

In an attempt to settle some of this, California's Department of Health Services

reviewed all the current studies of EMF risks from power lines, wiring and

appliances in 2002. It found no conclusive evidence of harm. However, links to

childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer and Lou Gehrig's disease could not be

ruled out.

" I'm convinced that politics and corporate interests are behind denials (that

say) there are no health effects, " said Milham.

Meanwhile, the FDA and the World Health Organization are urging more studies,

especially of radio waves from cell phones.