(continuare)
Independent Research Funded by Industry
Dr. Carlo
Dr. George Carlo is Chairman of the Carlo Institute. He is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, and is a specialist in assessing and managing risks to public health. His work has included studies addressing risks from the environment and consumer products, as well as the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Dr. Carlo serves on the faculty of The George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Carlo has served in diverse scientific advisory capacities, including membership on the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment Agent Orange Advisory Panel, the chairmanship of Wireless Technology Research, LLC, and director of the Breast Implant Public Health Project, LLC.44 This would be the person behind one of the most important cell phone studies of the last century and the precursor to the storm.
The industry has been involved in attempting to influence the research and has been required to pay for independent research. The companies involved have attempted to control the data flow to the public as information has become available. As far back as 1996 the issues began to surface with the following report. Motorola Inc. planned two years ago how to collaborate with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association and Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. to downplay potentially damaging scientific findings on possible health risks from portable telephones, according to a Dec. 1994 internal Motorola memo.45 The company the industry sought to collaborate with was the firm which eventually used over $27,000,000 industry dollars to research the risks of cell phones. In the body of that research several issues emerged creating additional studies.
The industry has continued to place a premium on information and continues to monitor what is developing in public debate with an eye to framing the debate. The U.S. wireless industry, responding to the global proliferation of media coverage of mobile phone health concerns and to Internet-savvy activists, is leading an effort to create a worldwide information-sharing network to counter negative publicity. The Wireless Industry Global Information Network, or WIN, held its first meeting Dec. 10 [1998] in London.46 This organization was set up interestingly enough in advance of the initial report of findings. The public relations plans began to unfold through a coordinated industry effort.
The story began to break. The head of the industry sponsored research issued his report of findings. Dr. Carlo took a conservative approach in his findings but his concerns were clear - precaution might be required. There may be a correlation between cell phone use and cancer, according to the director of the program. The data, while important only suggest that more research is necessary, said George Carlo, chairman of the industry-funded Wireless Technology Research group. Were now in a gray area that weve never been in before with this. When were in a gray area, the best thing to do is let the public know about the findings so that they can make their own judgment, he said. WTR was formed by industry in 1993 and funded with $25 million to conduct independent studies. The studies put animal cells through 46 tests for cancer-inducing genetic damage. The research was conducted at Stanford University and Integrated Laboratory Systems in Research Triangle Park.47 The close of the six-year, $27 million Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. program has re-energized a public debate about whether mobile telephones cause cancer or pose other health problems to the nations 70 million wireless subscribers. Indeed, WTR Chairman George Carlo claims new studies suggest a possible mobile phone-cancer link. While saying the results do not rise to the level of a public-health problem, Carlo insists the findings demand serious attention of the federal government and wireless industry.48
The cellular phone industry probably didnt pay researchers US$27 million dollars hoping theyd produce bad news about the health effects of cell phones. Nonetheless, an industry-funded study has done just that. While the findings are far from conclusive, they are the first from an organization like the industry-supported Wireless Technology Research. You would come to the [possible] conclusion that RF [radio frequencies] causes genetic damage, [Chairman George] Carlo said. that is a huge surprise.
The findings represent a need for coordinated public health action while there is more investigation into the hazards, he added. When you have 200 million people who are being exposed to cell phones, you cant wait around for the slow scientific process to work.49 Dr. Carlos initial reports were framed in the standard conservative approach at finding the facts which science demonstrates. His research indicated serious concerns based on the evidence but was not conclusive. He felt that industry should pay attention and pursue the research. In an astonishing attack on the industry for which he once acted as a spokesman, he accused firms of not taking safety seriously. The companies are now spending millions trying to discredit me because, basically, they didnt like what I told them, he revealed to The Express last night. I feel angry and let down. After presenting its results to the phone companies in February, he claims they failed to take the appropriate steps to protect consumers. Dr. Carlo, a leading public health scientist based in Washington, said: They have shown total disregard for mobile phone users.50
The project director did get the information to the right people in the hope that the public could be protected by the application of precaution for the consumer. Dr. George Carlo, in his capacity as director of Wireless Technology Research wrote a letter to the CEO of AT&T which has serious legal implications for mobile phone manufacturers who have claimed that there is no evidence for adverse health effects from mobile phone use. With the letter widely circulated in the industry, making that claim now could possibly expose them to litigation in much the same way as what happened to the tobacco industry, where it was shown that industry assurances of no evidence of hazards from smoking was a complete fabrication.51
Quoting from Dr. George Carlos letter to Mr. C. Michael Armstrong, Chairman of AT&T Corporation the potential risks were presented:
* The rate of death from brain cancer among handheld phone users was higher than the rate of brain cancer death among those who used non-handheld phones that were away from their head;
* The risk of acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor of the auditory nerve that is well in the range of the radiation coming from a phones antenna, was fifty percent higher in people who reported using cell phones for six years or more, moreover, that relationship between the amount of cell phone use and this tumor appeared to follow a dose-response curve;
* The risk of rare neuro epithelial tumors on the outside of the brain was more than doubled, a statistically significant risk increase, in cell phone users as compared to people who did not use cell phones;
* There appeared to be some correlation between brain tumors occurring on the right side of the head and the use of the phone on the right side of the head;
* Laboratory studies looking at the ability of radiation from a phones antenna to cause functional genetic damage were definitely positive, and were following a dose-response relationship.
I also indicated that while our overall study of brain cancer occurrence did not show a correlation with cell phone use, the vast majority of the tumors that were studied, were well out of range of the radiation that one would expect from a cell phones antenna. Because of that distance, the finding of no effect was questionable.
Today I sit here extremely frustrated and concerned that appropriate steps have not been taken by the wireless industry to protect consumers during this time of uncertainty about safety.
I am concerned that the wireless industry is missing a valuable opportunity by dealing with these public health concerns through politics, creating illusions that more research over the next several years helps consumers today, and false claims that regulatory compliance means safety. The better choice by the wireless industry would be to implement measured steps aimed at true consumer protection.
The most important measures of consumer protection are missing: complete and honest factual information to allow informed judgment by consumers about assumption of risk; the direct tracking and monitoring of what happens to consumers who use wireless phones; and, the monitoring of changes in the technology that could impact health.52
On the program ABC 20/20 Dr. Carlo continued expressing his concern and dismay in the way he was handled by the industry. You can not guarantee that cell phones are safe. Thats absolutely true, but that has always been true.
[Brian] Ross: ...The cell phone transmits a microwave signal from an antenna to a base station or tower, often miles away. The farther from the tower, or if the phone is inside a building or a car, the more power this phone is told by the tower to send out to make or keep the connection. Depending on how close the cell phone antenna is, as much as 60 percent of the microwave radiation is absorbed by and actually penetrates the area around the head, some reaching an inch to an and a half into the brain.53
On the same day Dr. Carlo was quoted by ABC News as saying, The industry had come out and said that there were thousands of studies that proved that wireless phones are safe, and the fact was that there were no studies that were directly relevant, says Dr. George Carlo. Weve moved into an area where we now have some direct evidence of possible harm from cellular phones. The $200-billion-a-year cell phone industry maintains the devices are safe.54
The FDA as a result of this research and others finally announced a study of their own. Federal safety regulators are investigating whether microwave radiation from cell phones causes cancer or other diseases. The investigation was triggered by two industry-sponsored studies that the Food and Drug Administration said require additional research. The question of cell phone safety recently led Metrocall of Alexandria, Va., the nations third-largest pager company and a major seller of AT&T cellular phones to warn its sales staff that parents buying for a child or young adult should consider a pager instead of a cell phone due to potential health risks. 55
Liability and Possible Claims
In the initial days of the controversy regarding cell phones the industry developed a huge public relations effort in the face of lawsuits and adverse press reports impacting the industry. Paul Staiano, President of Motorola General Systems stated, Forty years of research and more than ten thousand studies have proved that cellular phones are safe.56 This quote, from the industry, was an incredible exaggeration of the research as it related to cell phone risks. Since then, however, the industry has largely put forth studies that looked at the effects of radio waves outside the cellular frequency, or at exposure levels that are different from those experienced by cellular phone users.
The industry hasnt told the public the full story about how there has been very little research on biological effects at low level exposures, similar to those of handheld phones, says Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News, a New York newsletter and a frequent critic of the industrys handling of the safety issue.57 Very limited information has been available to the public about the risks of cell phones or various electromagnetic fields outside of some obscure research and academic circles. The fact is that increasing evidence has been mounting and the true risks of these energy fields are becoming well known.
The possibility of another tobacco-type of health scandal was perhaps in the offing when a closed Congressional hearing was held to develop regulations and recommend further studies of electromagnetic field (EMF) health effects. They suggested moderation in phone use until more is known while an FDA paper, dated Feb. 4, 1992, suggested: those who spend long periods of time on their hand-held cellular phones could consider holding lengthy conversations on conventional phones and reserving the hand-held cellular models for shorter conversations...58 Many studies have been sponsored by industry, academic institutions, government laboratories and by military research organizations into the effects of low levels of electromagnetic radiation. The constant problem in the debate of risks is the limited knowledge about the fact that very specific fields interacting with our bodies can in fact have significant effects on our health. These effects vary throughout populations with some effected to a greater degree than others. This is related to our physical and biochemical differences. The research which is being conducted by the industry is ignoring much of what has already appeared in the literature regarding risk factors.
The FDA concluded in a February 8, 2000 report that; There is currently insufficient scientific basis for concluding that wireless communication technologies are safe or that they pose a risk to millions of users. A significant research effort, including well-planned animal experiments, is needed to provide the basis to assess the risk to human health of wireless communications devices.59 The FDA has begun a three to five year study to look at some of these effects. This comes at the conclusion of the industry sponsored Carlo study which, together with other recent studies, show increasing risk to human health related to cell phone emissions.
Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, P.L. 101-104, 110 Stat. 56(1996). Section 704 of the act amends the Communications Act by providing federal preemption of state and local regulation of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of RF environmental effects.60 In other words states and local communities may not adopt more stringent protections if the federal regulatory authorities fail to protect the public. This limitation on the rights of states or local governments essentially leaves any risk assessment and solution to the federal level regulatory authorities.
The FDA approach and the reluctance of the United States government to move on this issue is directly related to lobby efforts, public relations gimmicks and the manipulation of the facts behind what is a major concern to many. At present the evidence is causing some to follow the precautionary principle in dealing with the potential adverse health consequences of cell phones and other sources of radio frequency radiation. Other governments were taking a different approach. The [Australian] Senate late yesterday agreed to a Senate inquiry into electromagnetic emissions (EME), particularly from mobile phones. Senator Allison said the inquiry is necessary because of the Federal Governments ongoing failure to ensure that public health issues are properly considered in standard setting for mobile phone emissions. The Minister for Communications and the industry refuse to acknowledge what most Australians know intuitively; that it is not just the heat from mobile phones that is a potential health risk.61
Studies to determine if there is a cancer-cell phone radio frequency (RF) EMF link are ongoing and others are planned. A study funded by McCaw Cellular Communications will determine the amount of RF EMF given off by cellular phones and its pattern of absorption in the human head and brain.62 This study was eventually completed leading to an additional study totaling about $27,000,000. The Carlo study, as an industry sponsored research effort, indicated serious concerns for the industry.
The risks associated with cell phones are being considered too risky even by the biggest risk takers in the insurance industry. Concern about the safety of mobile phones has prompted a leading Lloyds underwriter to refuse to insure phone manufacturers against the risk of damage to users health...fears that mobile phones will be linked to illnesses such as cancer and Alzheimers have prompted John Fenn, of underwriting group Stirling, to refuse to cover manufacturers against the risk of being sued if mobiles turn out to cause long-term damage.63 Risk management and the kinds of legal concerns arising out of the tobacco lawsuit has turned insurers of product liability claims on their heads. Insurance underwriters investigate risk through the review of information available to them. The level of evidence they need to move in the direction of safety is less perhaps than is needed for a scientist to say aha, this is a scientific fact. But who is right and when is the publics risk placed ahead of insurance risks? Should it become clear that the digital pulsed modulation signal does have adverse effects - which may act as triggers to adverse health conditions, - then manufacturers could face massive legal claims for failing to provide any or adequate health warnings to mobile phone users. Lloyds of London has I understand refused to issue product liability cover for manufacturers and sellers on mobiles...64 Employers may also be liable according to legal opinions. Employers are usually required to provide a safe system of work. A number of employers expect their employees to carry out their duties and responsibilities using mobile phones for hours at a time. It could well turn out to be a non-safe system of work for which substantial damages may be awarded as a result of adverse health conditions. A number of cases have already been settled out of Court but again subject to confidentiality clauses.65
Companies recognizing potential third party litigation have also been attempting to reduce their risk. Reasonable technological advances which could decrease risk are being put forward by employers who require cell phone use in the course of employee work. The risk of future litigation increases if the precaution is not taken to provide a safe workplace. Europes third-largest manufacturer of electrical appliances, Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA, has decided to supply its employees with dual-band cell phones capable of operating with a microphone and headphones for safety reasons. The decision follows a major press campaign in Italy on the dangers of electromagnetic waves. [CEO Francesco] Caio is very sensitive to the problems of health and the environment and some of our employees had begun to express doubts and worries.66 The other concern is that perhaps other risks are created in the solutions. As is described in the research the removal of the cell phone from the head is helpful to reducing exposure to the head but it can still expose the body to the effects of its radiation. Safety issues are an increasing concern but information has become fragmented and often quickly obsolete. The issues of safety precautions are discussed in more detail later.
Base-stations or cell phone towers may also pose risks. The installation of base stations for mobile telephone systems has been delayed or has met opposition from the public because of concerns that the RF emissions from these base stations might cause cancer in children. In the United States, for example, 85% of the total number of base stations needed have yet to be constructed.67 The significant increase in these systems and their interactions with other energy fields in our homes, cars and work places may in fact be significantly increasing health risks.
International organizations are also looking at the risks because of increasing public concern, scientific evidence and industry concerns. In May 1996, in response to growing public health concerns in many member states over possible health effects from exposure to an ever-increasing number and diversity of EMF sources, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international project to assess health and environmental effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields, which became known as the International EMF Project.68 Other studies are already producing the evidence of biological effects. Finally there was recently a study funded by the Bavarian State Government in Germany following reported adverse health effects in dairy cattle only after a Telecoms Mast had been erected. It was discovered after a period of time that the cause of the significant drop in the yield of that herd of cattle and Extraordinary Behavior Disorders in some of the cows related to the microwave transmissions from that mast. When the cattle were moved away from its vicinity after a period the milk yield and the behavior of that herd was restored to normal.69
The research continues and the health effects mount. With over 1.3 billion people projected to be using these devices in the year 2005 the risks must be understood and addressed. Perhaps we will see the litigation of the 21st century overtake the incredible tobacco settlements as the record holder for damage by industry when its heads in the sand.
Choosing on the Side of Safety
On October 31st, 1996, the US National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council (NAS/NRC) issued a review of the EMF literature: Possible Health Effects of Exposure to Residential Electric and Magnetic Fields. The conclusions of this report are that there is no conclusive and consistent evidence showing that exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields produces cancer, adverse neurobehavioral effects, or reproductive and developmental defects.
Of significant importance are the words, conclusive and consistent. Like the more familiar phrase in law, beyond reasonable doubt, conclusive and consistent implies a certain standard of evidence that warrants more serious action. Using that type of reasoning, the NRC Committee concluded that research results do not show that EMF exposure at a residential environmental level causes adverse health effects.70
The FDA advises persons concerned about exposure to cell phone radiation to take some simple steps to avoid exposure. Those persons who spend long periods of time on their hand-held mobile phones could consider holding lengthy conversations on conventional phones and reserving the hand-held models for shorter conversations. People who must conduct extended conversations in their cars every day could switch to a type of mobile phone that places more distance between their bodies and the source of RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance.71 How cell phones might effect our health is compelling people to take heed of the warnings and find ways to reduce exposure without giving up the device. Some have resorted to earpieces and belt level phones. This may in fact prove to be even worse than head exposure because of the way in which the phone then operates. More power is required and exposure to softer tissue allows more energy to transfer into the body.
A European report reads as follows: The precautionary principle is recognized by European Governments in the Maastricht Treaty and forms the basis of both EU and UK regulation in this area. Under a strict application, it would not be possible to balance the risks of harm with the benefits of technological advances, since even a small degree of uncertainty or a suspicion of possible harm, no matter how ill-judged, would be enough to prohibit the introduction of a new technology. This interpretation is not, however, sustainable; it would preclude the application of almost any significant development as almost all innovations may have hidden or unknown risks. In practice, therefore, applying the precautionary principle means measures must be taken to minimize known risks and alertness to the emergence of unknown risks must be maintained. 72
The report continues in discussing the use of cell phone use in vehicles. Cars and other vehicles screen the microwave emissions from the mobile phone when in use and so act as a Faraday cage. GSM phones compensate for this by increasing the power output resulting in greater microwave absorption in the user. 73
Hands-free kits
Hands-free kits are also discussed, revealing the hidden risks. Currently, the cellular industry are encouraging the use of hands-free kits, but cite their only advantage as being to offer greater freedom of use to the user, nothing else. The fact is they know the real reason users are buying them is because they think these kits protect them from radiation exposure. Recent tests have shown that whilst exposure to the head is reduced by around 70 percent, all that is happening is the radiation is being transferred to another part of the body which is potentially more vulnerable because it does not have the thickness of the skull to protect itself eg the waist or chest areas.74 Commenting on the news in the British consumer magazine Which?, theoretical physicist Dr. Zvi Weinberg said its probable that earpieces serve as antennae that direct more electromagnetic radiation into the ears. However, he said, phone models may differ in the degree to which their internal wires conduct electricity, and said he planned to calculate the various mechanisms involved during the next two weeks.75 It turns out that hands-free cell phones may not save you from the Grim Reaper after all. Alarming claims surfaced last week in a research publication in the U.K. that not only are many hands-free devices useless in protecting wireless phone users from radiation that might cause tumors, these products may actually raise the amount of radiation being directed into the head by three times. The report, by Antonia Chitty, appeared in Which? magazine, a 700,000-subscriber consumer report which does not accept advertising. The test results of the study, according to Which?, showed that the earplugs in the hands-free kit acted as aerials and channeled more radiation into the ear model than standard cell phones did. The earphones channel three times the dose of radiation into the ear that a regular cellular phone does.76
The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this month (August 2000) published a report which "confirms that hands-free kits reduce exposure for mobile phone users."90 In response to the DTI report Helen Parker, editor of Which? magazine, stated: "We think there are problems with current SAR testing for hands free kits and we are carrying out more research into this area. We stand by our original test results into hands-free sets published earlier this year. Consumers need to be aware that hands-free kits are no guarantee of lowering radiation emissions from mobile phones, and, in some cases, they actually increase it."91 Controvery reigns.
Using a mobile phone clipped to your waist results in a hotspot of radiation being pumped into the liver and kidneys. There is concern that they may intensify radiation exposure to the ear canal. Using a hands-free kit and making a call with a mobile phone clipped to your belt also means the phone will generally be working at a higher power level. Thats because it is generally harder to transmit from waist-height than head height. But theres a lot of body tissue in that area which has good conductivity and absorbs radiation more quickly than the head. People think hands-free kits are safer, so tend to spend more time on the phone. The phone works harder to pick up a signal if it is down by the waist, where more radiation is absorbed than by the head.77
Non-thermal verses thermal effects
Non-thermal verses thermal effects are also being considered by the Europeans in trying to establish increased margins of safety. The NRPB and industrys position that mobiles are safe, is based on the facts that all handsets comply with current recommended limits, which are based on thermal considerations only. As you had already probably already been made aware, the literature is full of published papers showing damage and biological effects at power levels which were set deliberately well below thermal thresholds and therefore by definition could not have been caused by thermal damage. Even if we assume the thermal only argument to be correct, there are circumstances which the group should be aware of, where exposure exceeds even the thermal limits.
Mobile users who wear metal rimmed glasses are intensifying the exposure to their eyes by 20 per cent and into the head by 6.3 per cent.
Using a mobile in a vehicle can accelerate radiation levels by up to 10-fold due to resonance effect.78 These risks associated with remote telephone use can not be ignored. The maintenance of the official position that we are waiting for the scientific proof can not continue without corresponding increases in safety considerations rather than the current direction of increasing exposures and a lack of protection.
Intelligence documents show that Western governments have know about Soviet experiments using mobile phone-type radiation to cause brain damage for more than 20 years. The uncensored documents reveal that Soviet military scientists had successfully used microwaves of the type used by mobile phones to weaken the blood brain barrier. According to Dr. Louis Slesin...US Army scientists had succeeded in duplicating the Soviet experiments by 1977 - eight years before mobile phones became generally available in Britain.79 This work was done as a result of microwave bombardments of the United States Embassy in Moscow as well as reports about research by the Soviets. There was also the fact that at this particular time the safety standards for exposure to radio frequency radiation in the Soviet Union was significantly more stringent than United States standards by almost 1000 times. Russian and other East European countries exposure standards for radio frequency and microwave radiation are much stricter that in the U.S or Western Europe. An attempt was made to resolve these differences at the 2nd International Conference on Problems of Electromagnetic Safety of the Human Being, held in Moscow in late 1999. Despite extensive discussions during this conference, the attempt to harmonize RF/MW standards was unsuccessful with little chance of compromise in the near future. Western standard setting organizations have emphasized protection from RF/MW thermal effects...while Russias more restrictive standard also reflects a concern over non thermal effects and subjective symptoms.80
Biological studies of enzymes and human cells exposed in vitro to radiofrequency/microwave fields have shown a number of effects which cannot be explained simply by the heating effects of radiation on which our current standards are based. These include changes in cell membrane permeability to potassium, sodium and calcium; changes in the composition or behavior of blood-forming and immunological cells; alteration of calcium ion exchange in nerve tissue; changes in the firing patterns of neurons; and changes in levels of cancer related enzymes. A study in Belgium determined that very close range exposure to microwaves from a cellular phone base station increased the effect of a chemical mutagen on human blood cells, leading to increased chromosomal aberrations.81 High-frequency radiation such as that emitted by ultra-violet and x-rays can break molecular bonds and damage DNA. These are called ionizing radiation. Microwave radiation such as that emitted by cell phones doesnt ionize, but can heat objects in its path.82 The heat generated causes the body to begin to expend energy to cool the area and otherwise return to its state of equilibrium before it was irradiated by the device.
Europeans have again moved forward in this area ahead of the United States, where the greatest increase in usage is now taking place. There is now some preliminary scientific evidence that exposures to radiofrequency (RF) radiation may cause subtle effects on biological functions, including those of the brain. This does not necessarily mean that health is affected but it is not possible to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects. The Expert Group has recommended that a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phone technologies be adopted until more detailed and scientifically robust information becomes available.83 The standards for exposure are being developed along the lines of the precautionary approach which include the following sections:
Standards. 1.27 We recommend that, as a precautionary approach, the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure be adopted for use in the UK rather than the NRPB guidelines.
1.29 It would be sensible, in line with the precautionary approach, to set in place a long-term follow-up of workers who are occupationally exposed to RF radiation at relatively high levels. We recommend that a register of occupationally exposed workers be established and that cancer risks and mortality be examined to determine whether there are any harmful effects.
Advice To Industry. 1.53 If there are currently unrecognized adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones, children may be more vulnerable because of their developing nervous system, the greater absorption of energy in the tissues of the head, and a longer lifetime of exposure. In line with our precautionary approach, at this time, we believe that the widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged. We also recommend that the mobile phone industry should refrain from promoting the use of mobile phones by children.84
The FDA is investigating whether mobile phones can cause cancer, based on two unpublished studies which show a link between cell phone use and cancer. One study, by the American Health Foundation, in New York, found that mobile phone users had double the risk of developing a certain type of brain tumor than people who did not use them. The second study...found that DNA in human blood cells broke down when exposed to large doses of mobile-phone radiation, possibly laying the genetic groundwork for cancer. We are not sure what this means, said Dr. George Carlo, an epidemiologist who headed the research project from 1993 until last year. This could be a colossal coincidence or the tip of the iceberg.85
The World Health Organization has identified research needs associated with exposure to RF radiation and makes some interesting observations, again with a great deal of care in implicating risks beyond those already acknowledged by industry:
Most studies have examined the results of short-term, whole body exposure to RF fields at levels far higher than those normally associated with wireless communications. With the advent of such devices as walkie-talkies and mobile phones, it has become apparent that few studies address the consequences of localized exposures to RF fields to the head.
Cancer: Current scientific evidence indicates that exposure to RF fields, such as those emitted by mobile phones and their base stations, is unlikely to induce or promote cancers.
Other health risks: Scientists have reported other effects of using mobile phones including changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns.
Electromagnetic interference: When mobile phones are used close to some medical devices (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids) there is a possibility of causing interference. There is also the potential of interference between mobile phones and aircraft electronics.86
It is interesting to note that interference with electronic circuits is acknowledged but discussion of the effects on the more sensitive instrument - the human body - is fought vigorously by many.
Reducing the Risk
As the EMF/EMR health effects issue becomes more widely known, especially in relation to mobile phone use, there is a corresponding increasing number of so called EMF protective devices being advertised in health and alternative magazines as cure-alls which apparently claim to provide complete protection from exposure to all forms of man made electromagnetic fields (EMF). There is a wide range of devices being offered that make all kinds of unsubstantiated claims.87
Earthpulse researched the devices being offered and other solutions to the problems related to cell and home portable phone use. It is not realistic to assume that use can be or should be eliminated as these devices have revolutionized communication and will continue to contribute to change. However, reducing power and radio frequency emissions can also be achieved. Significant effort should be made to determine which emissions are harmful and which can be used to perhaps promote health. There may be carriers and better ways to move the mountains of communications and information now creating much of our trade and commerce. Some suggestions are as follows:
1. Reducing use is universally regarded as the best step. Use by children should be eliminated. Indoor use increases exposure significantly because the signal strength require to create a connection from inside a car or building is much greater. Home portable phones should be replaced with the old style hard wired phones and cell phone use significantly reduced.
2. If still using a cell phone or portable home phone keep the phone away from the body when in standby mode. When in use hold the phone as far away from the head as possible. Even three or four inches can significantly reduce the exposure because the energy density drops very rapidly with distance from the body. Keep the antenna away from the head and pointing away from the body.88 Radiation from all sources obeys the inverse square law. That is, the further you are from the source the less intense your exposure to the radiation. In fact, it drops off with the square of your distance from the source. If you are twice as far from a fire you feel one-quarter of the radiant heat, but if you move four times as far away you only feel one-sixteenth of the heat.89
3. Most of the devices on the market do not have any science behind them. None of the devices claiming to eliminate all emissions had any science behind them. We were able to find two systems which are supported by science and United States Patents. One of these devices is being marketed under Cell/Wave Guard. We found that up to 61% of radio frequency emissions could be prevented from entering the body. While this represents a significant reduction it is not known if it is enough to guard against all potential effects. However, it is the best technology easily available today.
Cell/Wave Guard are available from Earthpulse Press Incorporated in cooperation with the Earthpulse Research Institute,
Earthpulse Press Incorporated
P. O. Box 201393
Anchorage, Alaska, USA, 99520
Phone: 1-907-249-9111 or 1-888-690-1277
Fax: 1-907-696-1277
www.earthpulse.com
Footnotes
1. Chiang et al. Health Effects Of Environmental Electromagnetic Fields. Journal of Bioelectricity. 8(1), 127-131 (1989). EPI2064
2. Dutta et al. Radiofrequency Radiation-Induced Calcium Ion Efflux Enhancement From Human and Other Neuroblastoma Cells in Culture. Bioelectromagnetics, 10: 197-202 (1989). EPI1864
3. AAP General News. FED: Pregnant Women Warned To Be Wary Of Using Mobile Phones. May 1, 1999. EPI1880
4. Dutta et al. Radiofrequency Radiation-Induced Calcium Ion Efflux Enhancement From Human and Other Neuroblastoma Cells in Culture. Bioelectromagnetics, 10: 197-202 (1989). EPI1864
5. Veyret et al. Antibody Responses of Mice Exposed to Low-Power Microwaves Under Combined, Pulse-and-Amplitude Modulation. Bioelectromagnetics, 12:47-56 (1991). EPI1855
6. Fist, Stewart. Cell Phones And Cancer. The Australian Newspaper, May 5, 1997. EPI1884
7. Klitzing, L. von. Low-Frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields influence EEG of man. Physica medica, April 28, 1995. EPI1863
8. ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs. RF Radiation and Electromagnetic Field Safety. 1996. EPI1980
9. Sobel et al. Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Alzheimers Disease. Neurology, Dec. 1996. EPI1800
10. Lai, Henry. Neurological Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Relating to Wireless Communication Technology. Bioelectromagnetics Research Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Paper presented at the IBC-UK Conference: Mobile Phones - Is there a Health Risk? Sept. 16-17, 1997 in Brussels, Belgium. EPI1815
11. Phillips et al. DNA damage in Molt-4 T-lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro. Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics, Jan. 9, 1998. EPI1854
12. Harris, Sarah. Now Mobiles Give You Kidney Damage. Daily Mail, Dec. 13, 1999. EPI1812
13. Ridley, Kirstin. British Scientists Demand Cell Phone Warnings. Reuters, Jan. 1, 1998. EPI1788
14. Frey, Allan H. Headaches from Cellular Telephones: Are They Real and What Are the Implications? Environmental Health Perspectives, March 1998. EPI1803
15. Adey, Dr. W. Ross. Cell And Molecular Biology Associated With Radiation Fields Of Mobile Telephones. Dept. of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside. EPI1857
16. Frey, Allan H. Headaches From Cell Phones: Are They Real? E-mail published on microwavenews.com. EPI1856
17. Frey, Allan H. Headaches from Cellular Telephones: Are They Real and What Are the Implications? Environmental Health Perspectives, March 1998. EPI1803
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