The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) organizes the International Workshop "Impact of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields on oxidative stress” from 16th–18th February 2022 in Cottbus, Germany. it will also be possible to participate in the workshop online.
For more details, please see the website of the Workshop.
The annual meeting of the BIOEM Society, BioEM 2022, will be held in Nagoya, Japan from June 19-24, 2022. BioEM 2022 will offer a hybrid format, allowing both on-site and online participation.
For more details, please see the BioEM 2022 homepage.
The joint annual meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA) will be held in Nagoya, Japan, from June 19th to 24th 2022. The call for abstracts for platform presentations and poster sessions has started now (see instructions for authors). The BioEM 2022 homepage provides further information and dates on the meeting.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Task Group on Radiofrequency Fields and Health Risks that will contribute to the development of a WHO monograph on Radiofrequency fields. The Call for experts provides information about the Task group in question, the expert profiles being sought, and the application and selection processes.
The deadline for application submission has been extended to 15 December 2021.
You can find further information on the WHO Homepage.
The journal Environmental Health has published an article by femu and co-authors entitled: "Human detection thresholds of DC, AC, and hybrid electric fields: a double-blind study". The study was motivated by the newly introduced construction of both high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead power lines mounted on the same mast. The study is based on the previous publication of the femu (Jankowiak et al. 2021).
The aim of the study was to determine the human detection thresholds for static (DC), alternating (AC), and hybrid electric fields (co-exposure to AC and DC EF; various DC EF strengths, constant AC EF strength). A total of 203 participants were exposed to DC, AC, and hybrid EFs in a highly specialized whole-body exposure laboratory using a double-blind experimental setting. The results indicated that detection thresholds of hybrid EF were lower compared to those of single EF exposure to DC or AC. Additional ion current exposure enhanced EF perception. High relative humidity facilitated DC EF perception, whereas low relative humidity reinforced the perception of AC EFs. With this systematic investigation of human perception of DC, AC, and hybrid EFs, detection thresholds were provided, which can help to improve the construction processes of energy transmission systems and the prevention of unwanted sensory perception.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in Pubmed and on the Environmental Health homepage.
femu is looking for a postdoc in the field of biology, epidemiology, or medicine with immediate effect. Please have a look at our job advertisement (German only). We are looking forward to your application.
femu is looking for a postdoc in the field of electrical engineering, physics, or similar with immediate effect. Please have a look at our job advertisement (German only). We are looking forward to your application.
The European Commission published a call for electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health research within the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON). Research actions should provide forward-looking information on potential hazards and risks of existing and emerging EMF exposures. By applying innovative monitoring techniques, experimental evidence and modelling, several activities should be included, for example: monitoring of exposures of the general population and specific groups at risk such as children and workers, establishment of potentially new exposure patterns (e.g., 5G), and investigating evidence of local and systemic biological effects and health impacts.
Deadline for submission is 21st September 2021.
You can find further information on the European Commission homepage.
The journal Bioelectromagnetics has published an article by femu and co-authors entitled: "Identification of Environmental and Experimental Factors Influencing Human Perception of DC and AC Electric Fields”. As part of the energy transition in Germany, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines producing DC electric fields (EF) are in planning. Since the human perception of DC EF was rarely investigated in the past, the aim of the study was to investigate human perception of direct current (DC) EF, alternating current (AC) EF, and the co-exposure of DC EF and AC EF (hybrid EF). A highly sophisticated exposure lab was built to expose participants to various EF strengths and to control environmental and experimental factors influencing the human perception. Perception thresholds were lower under hybrid EF exposure than under DC EF or AC EF exposure alone. Relative humidity could be identified as an environmental factor influencing the perception of AC EF and DC EF in different ways. Cutaneous sensations evoked under DC EF and AC EF exposure were individually different and attributed to various parts of the body. Several environmental and experimental factors influencing the human perception of EF could be identified and provide an essential basis for a large-scale study.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in PubMed and on the Bioelectromagnetics homepage.
The Journal Bioelectromagnetics has published a feasibility study conducted by the Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI) of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg‐University in Mainz, Germany and femu entitled: "Occupational Exposure to Extremely Low‐Frequency Magnetic Fields and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Feasibility Study for a Pooled Analysis of Original Data”. Previous meta‐analyses have suggested an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with occupational exposure to extremely low‐frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MF). However, since studies were methodologically heterogeneous, the feasibility of a pooling study to harmonize and re‐analyze available original data was investigated in this study. A relative risk of ≥1.14 for ALS and occupational exposure to ELF‐MF could be detected with a power of more than 80% in a pooled study. The pooling of original data was therefore recommended and could contribute to a better understanding of ELF‐MF in the etiology of ALS.
The article can be found on the Bioelectromagnetics homepage.
The journal Expert Review of Medical Devices has published an article by femu entitled: "Interference of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices by Static Electric and Magnetic Fields”. The aim of this study was to determine thresholds for electromagnetic interference (EMI) of cardiac implants by static electric and magnetic fields. A literature search revealed four interference mechanisms caused by static magnetic fields and none for static electric fields. Due to the scarce information on motion-induced EMI by static magnetic fields, numerical simulations were performed to obtain a threshold. The results showed that motion-induced EMI should not occur below the activation of the magnetic safety switch (MSS) at 0.8 mT. The authors concluded that MSS activation is the most relevant mechanism for static magnetic fields.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in PubMed and on the Expert Review of Medical Devices homepage.
For its term of office 2020-2024 and beyond, the ICNIRP Commission has defined the new Work Plan, which encompasses most frequencies of the non-ionizing frequency spectrum. Tasks ahead include, among others, revisiting the low frequencies and static magnetic fields guidelines and analyzing the environmental issues related to electromagnetic fields.
You can find the Work Plan on the ICNIRP homepage.
After rescheduling the 1st conference from 2020 to 2021, the new date for the second attempt of the 1st European EMF Forum Conference has now been set. The conference will take place from November 15 to 16, 2021 at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) in Dortmund, Germany, with a pre-conference gathering for early arrivals on Sunday evening (November 14, 2021).
You can find further information on the official homepage.
The official BioEM2021 homepage has announced that this years meeting will take place in Ghent, Belgium from September 26 to October 1, 2021. Further information will be posted on this website soon.
The journal Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing has published an article by femu and co-authors entitled: "Computational models for contact current dosimetry at frequencies below 1 MHz”. The aim of this study was to develop an extendable and adaptable validated numerical body model for computational contact current dosimetry for frequencies of 0 Hz – 1 MHz. Contact currents were conducted through the numerical body model Duke by seven contact electrodes on longitudinal and transversal paths. The resulting induced electric field and current enable the evaluation of the body impedance and the heart current factors for each frequency and current path to assess individual accident scenarios.
The open access article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in PubMed and on the Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing homepage.
The 1st European EMF Forum Conference "7 years of experience with the EMF directive" hosted by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), which should take place in Dortmund, Germany, from 23 to 24 November 2020, has been postponed to the end of October/beginning of November 2021 due to the current pandemic situation. Exact dates will be announced on the BAuA homepage as soon as available.
Due to the continuous pandemic situation, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has decided to cancel the 9th International NIR (non-ionizing radiation) Workshop.
For further information, visit the ICNIRP homepage.
The upcoming annual joint meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA), BioEM 2021 will not be held in Honolulu, Hawaii due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been announced by the organizing committee on the official homepage. The meeting will be held online instead starting on June 13, 2021. The deadline for submitting abstracts will still be February 12, 2021.
The website of the 2021 joint meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA) in Honolulu, Hawaii, from June 13 to 18, 2021 is live now.
Visit the official BioEM2021 website for first information on the meeting.
The Journal PLOS ONE has published a systematic review conducted by femu entitled: "Biological and health-related effects of weak static magnetic fields (≤ 1 mT) in humans and vertebrates: A systematic review”. The aim of this review was to systematically analyze and evaluate possible effects of weak static magnetic fields on biological functioning and to provide an update on the current state of research. Eleven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. All included studies were animal studies as no human studies were among the eligible articles. Overall, the available evidence from the literature reviewed is not sufficient to draw a conclusion for biological and health-related effects of weak static magnetic fields. We encourage further and more systematic research in this area. Any new studies should particularly address effects on biological functioning in humans to evaluate whether static magnetic fields pose a risk to human health.
The article can be found via the EMF-Portal, via PubMed and on the PLOS ONE homepage.
The 9th International NIR (non-ionizing radiation) workshop organized by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) was originally scheduled to take place in Seoul, Korea, from May 6-8, 2020 (see EMF-Portal News from May 7, 2019). Due to the current Sars-CoV-2 virus epidemic it has been postponed to 14-15 January 2021.
Information about the new arrangements are announced on the ICNIRP homepage.
The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) is going to host the 1st European EMF Forum Conference "7 years of experience with the EMF directive" in Dortmund, Germany, from 23 to 24 November 2020. The aim is to exchange information on the practical application of the EMF Directive (2013/35/EU) in EU member states and discuss challenges in workshops or poster sessions. EMF-experts from ministries of labour and social affairs, governmental institutions like labour inspectorates or research institutions are invited to participate at the conference.
You can find more information on the BAuA homepage.
In light of recent events, the World Health Organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the European Commission and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (in German) reacted to circulating rumors about a connection between the new mobile phone generation 5G and COVID-19 and denied it.
The upcoming annual joint meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA), BioEM 2020, in Oxford, United Kingdom, 21-26 June 2020 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can find the official announcement on the BioEM 2020 homepage.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has released the long-awaited guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields for the protection of humans exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the range 100 kHz to 300 GHz. The guidelines cover many applications such as 5G technologies, WiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phones and base stations. This publication replaces the 100 kHz to 300 GHz part of the ICNIRP (1998) radiofrequency guidelines as well as the 100 kHz to 10 MHz part of the ICNIRP (2010) low-frequency guidelines.
The ICNIRP homepage provides further information. Morevover, Frequently Asked Questions related to the ICNIRP RF Guidelines 2020 are answered and the main differences between the new and previous guidelines are explained there.
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