Humans in modern societies living in industrialized countries are constantly exposed to an environment of elevated electromagnetic fields (EMF), both natural and man made. The levels and frequencies of exposure to EMF’s have greatly increased since the 1950’s, coming from electric power, radio, television, cell phones and transmitting towers.
This paper reviews the history of studies on the effects of EMF’s on developing organisms since the 1980’s. Developing organisms were studied since they are believed to be the most chemically sensitive. EMF’s of 50 and 60 Hz were used at 10 V/m in air on developing chicken eggs. One study showed that these EMF’s alter the brains of chicks hatched from eggs exposed at this level.
Studies in the 1960’s and 1970’s showed that exposure to electric lines and EMF’s could alter human and primate reaction times and EEG patterns in cats and monkeys.
A recent report shows anecdotal evidence that EMF exposure can make chemically sensitized patients worse. 50 Hz is the standard frequency used in Britain and 60 Hz is the standard frequency used in the U.S. Chemically sensitive people can be made more chemically sensitive by exposure to the frequency of the country in which they were born and raised, no matter where they are living as adults.
Calcium ion release was chosen as a simple method for studying EMF effects on cells. Calcium ion release is a measure of neurotransmitter activity. Dose response curves show responses at two levels of exposure with a flat response to doses between these two dose peaks. These two levels are known as “intensity windows”.
Epigenetics is an emerging field of study of the turning on and the turning off of genes to influence health. Perhaps, changing gene switches is the way that EMF’s leave their imprints on us.
CONCLUSION: There is sufficient evidence for the EMF influence on health issues for further testing to be done. EMF’s could have importance to our health and the question of whether early exposure to EMF’s can leave an imprint on the organism that alters the further development of the organism, with negative health consequences.
NOTE: Read about insufficient sleep among electronics workers.
To read the author’s abstract of the article click on the link to the author’s title of the article above.
PMID: 17178582.
Summary #238.
