National Toxicology Program (NTP) has now released the final reports of their Cell Phone Radio Frequency Radiation Studies. These toxicology studies in rats and mice were conducted to help clarify potential health hazards, including cancer risk, from exposure to radio frequency radiation like that used in 2G and 3G cell phones. NTP concludes that there is clear evidence of tumors (malignant schwannomas) in the hearts of male rats and some evidence of further tumors in male rats. Japan and Korea have announced to verify the results in own animal studies.
You can find all relating documents and a fact sheet on the NTP homepage.
The Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine is seeking qualified applicants for research and teaching in the area of Healthy Living Spaces. The starting date is at the earliest possible date. The professorship will concentrate on research into the prevention and treatment of building-related health disorders in an interdisciplinary setting. The position with an attractive equipment is limited initially to a fixed 5-year term due to the funding period of the foundation (Villum foundation, Denmark).
You can find further information in the official advertisement.
Within the framework of a project funded by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), femu in cooperation with Seibersdorf Labor GmbH has conducted a systematic review entitled “Exposure and effects of electromagnetic fields of novel technologies in the intermediate frequency range - systematic review - Project 3616S82437”. The report consists of three parts: Part 1 describes the sources of electromagnetic fields in the intermediate frequency range as well as documented exposures and immissions, part 2 deals with the possible biological effects of intermediate frequency fields and part 3 examines possible electromagnetic interference of electronic implants. The review has now been published as a departmental research report in DORIS, the online database of BfS, and is available for free and public download (in German only; an English summary is to be added).
The draft of the ICNIRP Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz) is now open for public consultation. As part of the development of guidelines, ICNIRP has regularly presented draft guidelines to encourage critique and feedback from the public. The consultation process is open now and will terminate on 9 October 2018. After the consultation period, all comments will be reviewed by ICNIRP for finalization of the draft.
You can find the draft documents and comment form on the ICNIRP website.
The Journal EP Europace has published a systematic review performed by femu with the title: „Electromagnetic interference in cardiac electronic implants caused by novel electrical appliances emitting electromagnetic fields in the intermediate frequency range: a systematic review“. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate whether cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the IF range (1 kHz–1 MHz). The analysis showed that cardiac implants are susceptible to EMI in the intermediate frequency range, particularly through security systems and induction hobs. The likelihood for EMI is dependent on different exposure-related parameters (field strength, frequency and modulation) and on the implanted devices and leads (model, type of implant, implant sensitivity setting, lead configuration and implantation site). However, the factors influencing EMI have not yet been sufficiently characterized to derive exposure limit values. Future studies should therefore consider exposure-related parameters as well as implant- and lead-related parameters systematically. Additionally, worst-case scenarios should be considered in all study types where possible.
The study was supported by the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) e.V., Germany.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal and is available for free download on the EP Europace homepage.
ICNIRP has announced on its website that the new radiofrequency guidelines will be online for consultation within a few days. You can subscribe to the ICNIRP newsletter to get notified. Of course, EMF-Portal will also inform you as soon as the consultation process starts.
We are pleased to announce that, thanks to the financial support of our valuable users, we are able once again, to import articles from the radiofrequency range into the EMF-Portal. Fortunately, we could close the gap in our literature inventory and all newly published articles released up to April 30, 2018 have been included. In order that we are able to import further publications released in the future, please help us with your donation. Thank you very much!
Find out more about costs, funding and donations for the EMF-Portal.
The National Toxicology Programm (NTP), USA, has released two draft reports on studies on cell phone radiofrequency radiation in rats and mice. The main result is that high exposure to radiofrequency radiation resulted in tumors in tissues surrounding nerves in the hearts of male rats, but not female rats or any mice. The exposure levels used in the studies were equal to and higher than the highest level permitted for local tissue exposure in cell phone emissions today. Cell phones typically emit lower levels of radiation than the maximum level allowed. NTP will hold an external expert review of its complete findings from these rodent studies on March 26-28.
Here you can read the official statement and download the draft reports from the NTP homepage for free.
ICNIRP’s current guidelines for the high-frequency (100 kHz – 300 GHz) range have been under revision since 2014, and a public consultation version of the updated guidelines is expected within the first half of 2018. Given this timing, ICNIRP has been asked whether, in the interim period, the current guidelines can still be considered as protective. ICNIRP now replied that the anticipated exposure limit changes are very small and thus the current guidelines remain protective. However, if aspects should be discovered that are not sufficiently protective during the remainder of the revision process, ICNIRP will immediately publish interim amendments that would remain in force until the revised guidelines are published.
The original statement can be found on the ICNIRP website, where further updates on the high-frequency guidelines revision process will be published as well.
On our own behalf: Due to a lack of financial resources, we unfortunately have to suspend the import of any new radio frequency and mobile phone-related articles as of now (November 27, 2017). We apologize for this inconvenience and will keep you informed.
From November 8-10, 2017, the two international organizations responsible for developing the systems of radiation protection worldwide, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exchanged information and views on the scientific basis, ethical basis, and basic principles of protection. The objectives of this meeting in Munich, Germany, were to increase mutual understanding of the approaches to protection, to reach a common understanding of the state of the systems of protection and to explore possibilities for continued collaboration. Both organizations have reached an agreement in principle to strengthen communication and collaboration between them and with other organizations with similar interests.
You can download the official statement on the meeting from the ICNIRP homepage.
On our own behalf: The EMF-Portal is now offering an extended search. The new search complements the well-known literature search and is particularly fast and easy to use. It presents results from the literature database as well as the glossary and the info texts. The search is intuitive and delivers relevant hits to individual search terms, combinations, complete sentences or questions.
The Journal Environmental Research has published a systematic review performed by femu with the title: “Systematic review of biological effects of exposure to static electric fields. Part II: Invertebrates and plants “. The article completes the investigations (part 1 investigated effects on humans and vertebrates) on effects of static electric fields in view of the increasing importance of high-voltage direct-current transmission lines (HVDC) and missing limit values. Based on 33 identified studies, the authors found no evidence for adverse effects of static electric fields at HVDC field levels, but strong indications that invertebrates are able to perceive them. However, corona-action appears to cause adverse biological effects at very high field levels. The study was funded within the framework of the BMBF ResearchCampus Flexible Electrical Networks (FEN).
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal and is available for free download from ScienceDirect.
On our own behalf: With the help of a grant from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the EMF-Portal was analyzed and evaluated by independent experts. In order to decide how the EMF-Portal will be made available in the future, both the website and the use of the EMF-Portal were analyzed regarding the content and its quality, the presentation of the results and the usability for information gathering. The usability of the EMF-Portal was also tested for various target groups and recommendations for the improvement of the EMF-Portal were derived. The evaluation of the content was carried out by Seibersdorf Labor GmbH and the evaluation of user management by YOUSE GmbH.
The final report can be downloaded from the BfS homepage (in German; only abstract in English).
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has announced the International Workshop “Relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and magnetic field exposure – state of knowledge and research perspectives”. It will take place from 12 - 14 December 2017 in Munich, Germany as part of the BfS research initiative on radiation protection in power grid expansion (EMF-Portal reported). Several topics like epidemiological evidence of a possible relationship between low frequency magnetic fields and neurodegenerative diseases will be addressed on the workshop. The focus will be Alzheimer’s dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, medical aspects like diagnoses and therapy and on the investigation of action mechanisms with the help of animal and cell models. The aim of the workshop is to summarize the recent state of scientific knowledge and to identify research gaps. Submission of abstracts is possible until November 10. Visit the official homepage for further information and registration.
The 2018 joint meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA) will be held from June 25 to 29 2018 in Portorož, Slovenia. The official BioEM 2018 website provides first information and dates on the meeting.
To facilitate a broad discussion, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is now offering the possibility to participate in the recently launched research program radiation protection in power grid expansion (see EMF-Portal news from July 4). Until mid-September, interested persons can review the individual projects of the program and submit their comments online. These are evaluated in the BfS and considered during the further planning of the research program. The aim of the online consultation is to discuss all aspects of health and radiation protection from the beginning. Further information are available on the BfS homepage (in German).
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is intensifying its research on radiation protection in power grid expansion in view of the energy transition in Germany and the still existing scientific uncertainties regarding the possible risks of static and low-frequency fields. There are 33 studies planned in the fields of epidemiology and biology, exposure and dosimetry and risk communication. At the kick-off event on 11 July 2017 in Berlin, the BfS will provide information on its research initiative and the discussion shall improve the orientation of the research program and focus on key issues. Further information can be found on the BfS homepage (in German).
The 2017 joint meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA) BioEM2017 will start next week on Monday, June 5, in the West Lake Villa in Hangzhou, China. The online registration will close on Thursday. However, on-site registration is possible as well. The conference program is available on the BioEM2017 homepage. Several plenary lectures, e.g., on epigenetics and EMF or health effects of the future 5G technology as well as multiple workshops, e.g., on novel radio frequency exposure measurement devices can be attended.
The Swiss Research Foundation for Electricity and Mobile Communication (FSM; Zurich, Switzerland) invites interested persons to the 26th Science Brunch with the title “acceptance of power lines and energy transition” on June 29, 2017. The event series "Science Brunch" was developed to provide the interested public with a platform for the discussion of current issues related to electricity and mobile communications and it takes place twice a year. Visit the FSM homepage for further information and registration (information in German only).
The Journal Environmental Health has published a systematic review performed by femu with the title: “Biological effects of exposure to static electric fields in humans and vertebrates: a systematic review“. The study was carried out in view of the increasing importance of high-voltage direct-current transmission lines and missing limits for static electric fields in the environment. Based on 48 identified studies, the authors found no consistent indications for adverse effects of static electric fields, but good evidence that humans and animals are able to perceive them. The conditions that affect thresholds for detection should be further investigated. The study was funded within the framework of BMBF Forschungscampus Flexible Electric Networks (FEN) (in German).
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal and is available for free download on the Environmental Health homepage.
Together with the Clinic for Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Medicine (Medical Clinic I) of the Uniklinik Aachen, femu has published in the Journal Circulation of the American Heart Association the following article, "In Vivo Study of Electromagnetic Interference With Pacemakers Caused by Everyday Electric and Magnetic Fields". In this study, the interference of cardiac pacemakers in humans was investigated in 50 Hz fields with electrical field strengths between 0.5 kV/m to 30 kV/m and magnetic flux densities between 10 μT and 2550 μT. With this unique approach under worst-case conditions, the threshold of the first functional interference of the implant was identified and therefore, for the first time, the interference thresholds from a large group of cardiac pacemakers are available. These can now be related to international and national regulations for the protection against harmful effects of EMF, in which people with implants have generally not been considered up to now.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal as well as on the Circulation homepage.
The deadline for abstract submissions for the BioEM 2017 in Hangzhou, China, has been extended to February 28, 2017. Moreover, the planned plenary talks, workshops and tutorials have now been published. You can find the original announcement on the BioEM 2017 website.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has released its Statement on Diagnostic Devices Using Non-Ionizing Radiation: Existing Regulations and Potential Health Risks. The statement reviews the range of diagnostic non-ionizing radiation (NIR) devices currently used in clinical settings, documents the relevant regulations and policies covering patients and health care workers and analyzes exposure scenarios and potential health dangers. Follow the link to the ICNIRP homepage for a free download.
A short reminder: The deadline for submission of abstracts for the BioEM 2017 in Hangzhou, China, is February 15, 2017. The registration for the conference is also open. Visit the BioEM 2017 website for further information and registration.
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