Health Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation

Abstract

The health effects of ionizing electromagnetic radiaion are well known. The present study describes the reported health effects for the different kinds and sources of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Describes the significant association of various diseases to extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic radiation from high voltage powerlines or transformers, ELF electromagnetic radiation from residence electric power lines and electrodomestic appliances, occupational exposure to electromagnetic radiation, mainly ELF, radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation from television transmitter towers, RF radiation from cellular telephones and transmission towers for cellular telephone, and discusses evidence supporting the cause-effect hypothesis. The critical analysis of published evidence performed by three independent scientists (the California study) confirmed high or intermediate probability of cause-effect relation of electromagnetic radiation to the following diseases: leukemia in adults and children, brain cancer in adults and children, female and male mammary cancer, miscarriages, suicide, Alzheimer disease, lateral amiotrophic slecrosis (Lou Gehring disease) and cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction. The same study reported a very low probability of electromagnetic radiation association with congenital malformations, low weight at birth, and as universal carcinogen inducing all cancers. The mechanisms explaining the non-ionizing radiation biological effects are (a) thermal effects and (b) non-thermal effects. Melatonin, ferritin, ornithin decarboxylase and related polyamines, alterations in the cell membrane, heat shock protein induction (HSP), endocrine changes, mast cells and histamine release, mutagenicity and imprinting were proposed to be involved in the generation of non-thermal effects. Further research is needed to investigate potential risks of new electro- magnetic fields such as cellular phones and their transmission towers, for their potential delayed effects such as cancer or imprinting induded during prenatal or early postnatal age. The resulting information should be used for regulations update, following the precautionary principle for population health protection.