Radiofrequency Fields (RF) and Their Biological Effects
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Latin American Experts Committee on High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Human Health Scientific Review Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation in the Radiofrequency Spectrum and its Effects on Human Health With a Review on the Standards and Policies of Radiofrequency Radiation Protection in Latin America Organized by: The Edumed Institute for Education in Medicine and Health Independent Research Group on the Impacts of Mobile Technologies on Health April 2010 Table of Contents Preface.......................................................................................................................5 Executive Summary.................................................................................................10 Biological and Health Effects...............................................................................10 Experimental Studies......................................................................................10 Epidemiological Studies..................................................................................12 Indirect Effects.................................................................................................13 Social Issues and Public Communication...........................................................13 Chapter I - Radiofrequency Fields (RF) and their Biological Effects.......................17 Introduction .........................................................................................................17 Natural and Artificial Sources..........................................................................18 Rationale for this Review.................................................................................19 Limitation of Scope..........................................................................................20 Biological Effects of Non-Ionizing Radiation........................................................20 In Vitro Studies ...............................................................................................22 Oncogenesis Studies at Molecular and Cellular Level...............................24 Conclusions of In Vitro Studies...................................................................27 Research in Latin America..........................................................................27 Conclusions.....................................................................................................28 Experimental Animal Studies...............................................................................28 The Blood-Brain Barrier...................................................................................30 Cancer Induction and Promotion.....................................................................31 Long Term Survival.........................................................................................33 Latin American Research................................................................................33 Conclusions.....................................................................................................34 Human Health Studies.........................................................................................34 Experimental Studies in Humans....................................................................34 Nervous System and Behavior...................................................................35 Cognition, Memory and Attention................................................................36 Electrophysiology and Sleep.......................................................................37 Vision, hearing and vestibular systems......................................................39 Endocrine System.......................................................................................41 Cardiovascular System...............................................................................41 Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome..............................................42 Comments on Human Experimentation Results.........................................44 Human Experimental Studies in Latin America..........................................45 Epidemiological Studies..................................................................................45 Methodological issues in RF epidemiology.................................................46 Information Sources for the Review............................................................48 Cancer Incidence and Mortality..................................................................48 Community Exposure Studies.....................................................................48 Studies with Users of Cell Phones..............................................................50 A review of the INTERPHONE studies.......................................................52 Systematic reviews based on meta-analysis..............................................54 Epidemiological Data on Exposure of Children..........................................55 Occupational Studies..................................................................................56 Total mortality .............................................................................................57 Analysis of time trends................................................................................59 Conclusions from Cancer Epidemiological Studies....................................60 Other Symptoms and Diseases......................................................................61 The Nocebo Effect......................................................................................64 Epidemiological Studies in Latin America.......................................................65 Main Conclusions and Statement of the Latin American Committee about Epidemiological Studies..................................................................................65 Methodological Issues of Epidemiological Studies ........................................67 Indirect Effects: Interference With Medical Devices............................................76 Review of Research in Latin America.............................................................85 Conclusions and Recommendations ..............................................................86 Chapter 2 - Social Issues and Public Communication............................................89 Introduction..........................................................................................................89 Risk Perception, Risk Acceptance and Risk/Benefit Issues................................91 Social Resistance Against Technology...............................................................93 Understanding the Benefits of Mobile Wireless Communication: the Social Impact .................................................................................................................94 The Issue of Public Understanding of Science.............................................101 Disclosure of Scientific Uncertainty...................................................................102 The Precautionary Principle and Cautionary Policies.......................................102 Communication with the Public.........................................................................105 Special Segments of the Public.........................................................................107 The Role of Governments and International Agencies.....................................107 Ethical and Professional Responsibility of the Mass Media..............................108 Conclusions of Social Issues.............................................................................110 Chapter 3 - Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Standards and Policies................112 Introduction........................................................................................................112 International Guidelines.....................................................................................113 International Commission for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)..113 Basic Restrictions .....................................................................................113 Reference levels for field measurement ..................................................114 Simultaneous exposure to multiple frequency fields ...............................115 Basic restrictions for telecommunication services....................................115 Reference levels for telecommunication services....................................116 IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz ................................117 Basic restrictions for telecommunication services....................................118 Reference levels for telecommunication services....................................119 ITU-T Recommendation K.52 “Guidance on complying with limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields”. ............................................................119 Compliance of mobile handsets ...............................................................120 Compliance of radio stations.....................................................................120 USA FCC guidelines.....................................................................................120 General considerations.............................................................................120 Regulation and Standards in Latin America......................................................121 ARGENTINA .................................................................................................125