New Publication in Experimental Oncology Suggests Need for Greater Concern About Electromagnetic Radiation
Risks of carcinogenesis from electromagnetic radiation of mobile telephony devices.
Yakymenko I, Sidorik E. Risks of carcinogenesis from electromagnetic radiation of mobile telephony devices. Experimental Oncology. 2010 Jul;32(2):54-60.
Abstract
Intensive implementation of mobile telephony technology in everyday human life during last two decades has given a possibility for epidemiological estimation of long-term effects of chronic exposure of human organism to low-intensive microwave (MW) radiation. Latest epidemiological data reveal a significant increase in risk of development of some types of tumors in chronic (over 10 years) users of mobile phone. It was detected a significant increase in incidence of brain tumors (glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma), parotid gland tumor, seminoma in long-term users of mobile phone, especially in cases of ipsilateral use (case-control odds ratios from 1.3 up to 6.1). Two epidemiological studies have indicated a significant increase of cancer incidence in people living close to the mobile telephony base station as compared with the population from distant area. These data raise a question of adequacy of modern safety limits of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure for humans. For today the limits were based solely on the conception of thermal mechanism of biological effects of RF/MW radiation. Meantime the latest experimental data indicate the significant metabolic changes in living cell under the low-intensive (non-thermal) EMR exposure. Among reproducible biological effects of low-intensive MWs are reactive oxygen species overproduction, heat shock proteins expression, DNA damages, apoptosis. The lack of generally accepted mechanism of biological effects of low-intensive non-ionizing radiation doesn’t permit to disregard the obvious epidemiological and experimental data of its biological activity. Practical steps must be done for reasonable limitation of excessive EMR exposure, along with the implementation of new safety limits of mobile telephony devices radiation, and new technological decisions, which would take out the source of radiation from human brain.
Key Words: tumor, radiofrequency radiation, microwaves, mobile phone, risk assessment, non-thermal effects
Conclusion
Recent studies in the field of electromagnetic biology have given sufficient grounds for more strict experts estimation of possible association of cancer development and radiation of mobile telephony devices. First of all the results of epidemiological studies indicated significant increase of tumor development risk in long-term (over 10 years) users of mobile phone [4, 20.22, 24, 27, 30, 33]. It’s significant that first expressive epidemiological data were revealed in Sweden, country with one of the longest history of mobile telephony. It is significant too that essential increase of risks was detected for brain tumors and salivary gland tumour. It means that direct association of tumor development and the location of EMR exposure exists. Two studies from developed countries (Germany and Israel) indicated a significant increase of cancer cases in population living near mobile base stations [36, 37]. Just a one year operation of powerful (1500 W) base station in Israel has led to dramatic increase of cancer cases among people living in base station area. Such significant increase of cancer incidence in mobile phone base station area correlates with previous data on significant increase of leukemia rate in habitants of broadcasting tower areas in Honolulu [3] and Hawaii [16].
These data arouse the concern about adequacy of safety limits for mobile telephony, which are now solely based on the conception of thermal mechanism of biological activity of RF radiation. Bulk of recent publications demonstrated the significant metabolic changes in living cells under the low-intensive EMR. The strong conception of mechanism of non-thermal biological effects of RF (MW) radiation remains to be developed. Preliminary studies indicate that typical metabolic pathways at list partially are involved in mediating the effect of EMR on living systems. It includes NADH-oxidase activation [64, 66] and overproduction of free radicals in cell [58, 59, 64, 66], subsequent activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase cascade [66] or free radical damage of DNA [62]. Some pathways may lead to apoptosis of exposed cells [56, 57]. On other hand some high-specific mechanisms of low-intensive EMR interaction with cell structures were revealed, such as the existence of EMR sensitive region on the HSP70 gene promoter [43]. The very first step of non-ionizing EMR interaction with living cell must include its physical interaction with electrical charges (electrons, ions). A few biophysical models were proposed for explanation of transformation of this interaction to biological response [67, 69, 70].
There is great insufficiency in animal studies of the potential carcinogenic effect of low-intensive EMR. From epidemiological studies it is clear that possible terms for effective experiments may last up to 10 years. Animal models should be used to shorten the period of studies and give insights to the role of EMR in tumor development.
Most discussions of potential hazards of EMR of mobile telephony devices have ended with the recommendation of the further study and the necessity of precautionary principle implementation. Of course, we insistently support both of these recommendations. But we see that the bulk of published data for today allows researchers to recommend significantly more strict limitations for excessive and often needless using of mobile telephony devices, especially for children. Authorities must recommended to restrict the level of MWs radiation from mobile telephony devices through the implementation of more strict safety limits, new technological decisions (moving off the source of radiation from human brain), and constant awareness activity.
Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20693976
