scholarly journals 5G mobile networks and health—a state-of-the-science review of the research into low-level RF fields above 6 GHz

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Karipidis ◽  
Rohan Mate ◽  
David Urban ◽  
Rick Tinker ◽  
Andrew Wood
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Mobile Networks ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Membrane Function ◽  
Science Review ◽  
Low Level ◽  
State Of The Science

AbstractThe increased use of radiofrequency (RF) fields above 6 GHz, particularly for the 5 G mobile phone network, has given rise to public concern about any possible adverse effects to human health. Public exposure to RF fields from 5 G and other sources is below the human exposure limits specified by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This state-of-the science review examined the research into the biological and health effects of RF fields above 6 GHz at exposure levels below the ICNIRP occupational limits. The review included 107 experimental studies that investigated various bioeffects including genotoxicity, cell proliferation, gene expression, cell signalling, membrane function and other effects. Reported bioeffects were generally not independently replicated and the majority of the studies employed low quality methods of exposure assessment and control. Effects due to heating from high RF energy deposition cannot be excluded from many of the results. The review also included 31 epidemiological studies that investigated exposure to radar, which uses RF fields above 6 GHz similar to 5 G. The epidemiological studies showed little evidence of health effects including cancer at different sites, effects on reproduction and other diseases. This review showed no confirmed evidence that low-level RF fields above 6 GHz such as those used by the 5 G network are hazardous to human health. Future experimental studies should improve the experimental design with particular attention to dosimetry and temperature control. Future epidemiological studies should continue to monitor long-term health effects in the population related to wireless telecommunications.

scholarly journals MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Estrogens in consumer milk: is there a risk to human reproductive health?

2018 ◽  
Vol 179 (6) ◽  
pp. R275-R286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomaž Snoj ◽  
Gregor Majdič
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Cow’S Milk ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Cow's Milk ◽  
Intensive Farming

Possible effects of xenoestrogens on human health, in particular on male reproductive health, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Cow's milk was suggested in numerous publications as one of possible sources of xenoestrogens that could affect human health. Although milk has undoubtedly many beneficial health effects and could even have a role in reducing incidence of some cancers, concerns were raised about presumably high levels of estrogens in cow's milk. In intensive farming, concentrations of estrogens in milk are higher due to long milking periods that today extend long into the pregnancy, when concentrations of estrogens in the cow's body rise. Numerous studies examined potential effects of milk on reproductive health and endocrine-related cancers in both experimental studies with laboratory animals, and in human epidemiological studies. In the present review article, we compiled a review of recently published literature about the content of estrogens in cow's milk and potential health effects, in particular on reproductive system, in humans. Although results of published studies are not unequivocal, it seems that there is stronger evidence suggesting that amounts of estrogens in cow's milk are too low to cause health effects in humans.

Potential Ethical Concerns in Nanotechnology

2010 ◽  
pp. 261-271
Author(s):  
Chi Anyansi-Archibong ◽  
Silvanus J. Udoka
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Science Review ◽  
Atoms And Molecules ◽  
Size Scale ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
State Of The Science

Nanotechnology is science at the size of individual atoms and molecules. At that size scale, materials have different chemical and physical properties than those of the same materials in bulk. Research has shown that nanotechnology offers opportunities to create revolutionary advances in product development. It also has the potential to improve assessment, management, and prevention of environmental risks. There are however, unanswered questions about the impacts of nanomaterials and nanoproducts on human health and the environment. This chapter describes state-of the-science review, exposure assessment and mitigation, and potential macro ethical issues that must be considered to mitigate risk implications of emerging technologies such as nanotechnology.

Low-Level Health Effects of Radiation: Nuclear Engineering Obligations

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay F. Kunze ◽  
Gary M. Sandquist
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Nuclear Engineering ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
The Public ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Effects Of Radiation

It has been more than 30 years since the publication of data on health effects of low level began to appear in the scientific literature. Now, this extensive data bank clearly shows that the long-taught and utilized “Linear No-Threshold” (LNT) hypothesis is invalid and misleading at levels below 0.2 Sv (20 REM) per year. Below these levels, health and longevity are actually improved. Yet the imbedded and pervasive fear of low levels of radiation has resulted in planned and implemented nuclear plant shutdowns and eventual decommissioning, and has even affected the medical community regarding inappropriate concerns about dangers to patients receiving CT diagnostic imaging. These trends are now so serious and consequential to the future of nuclear energy and nuclear applications, that it is time for the nuclear engineering community to take an active role to dismiss the LNT hypothesis as incorrect and completely misleading with regard to low levels of radiation exposures to the public and to nuclear personnel. The ALARA concept and regulatory burden needs to be abandoned, and the realistic nuclear personnel exposure limits of the 1950 era should be re-adopted, and even increased.

scholarly journals State of the science review of the health effects of inorganic arsenic: Perspectives for future research

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Tchounwou ◽  
Clement G. Yedjou ◽  
Udensi K. Udensi ◽  
Maricica Pacurari ◽  
Jacqueline J. Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Science Review ◽  
State Of The Science

Developing a High Time-Resolution Online Instrument to Quantify Aerosol Oxidative Potential via Ascorbic Acid Oxidation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Battist Utinger
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Detection Limit ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Time Resolution ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Uv Absorption ◽  
High Time ◽  
High Time Resolution ◽  
Oxidative Potential

<p>Many large-scale epidemiological studies have shown a close correlation between adverse human health effects and ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure. A report by the World Health Organisation estimates that 1 out of 8 deaths globally are linked to air pollution. Even though various epidemiological studies underline this argument, the chemical components and physical properties of particulate matter that leads to the observed health effects remains highly uncertain.</p><p>            Aerosol oxidative potential defined as the capability of particles to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) with subsequent depletion of anti-oxidants, naturally present in the human lung, has been widely suggested as measure of their potential toxicity. Due to the fact that ROS (i.e. inorganic and organic peroxides and radicals) are highly reactive, they are therefore short-lived. Subsequently, classical offline analysis, where aerosol particles are typically collected on a filter for 24h, may lead to an underestimation of the oxidative potential.</p><p>            Therefore, we developed an online instrument that can continuously measure particle oxidative potential with a high time resolution (10 minutes). We further developed an online instrument described in Wragg et al. (2016) and implemented a physiologically relevant assay to assess aerosol oxidative potential, based on the chemistry of ascorbic acid (Campbell et al. (2019)). Ascorbic acid (AA) is a prevalent naturally occurring anti-oxidant present in the lung and can therefore be used as a proxy to measure the oxidative potential of aerosol. </p><p>            In this work, we further developed the AA online assay based on Campbell et al. (2019), implementing more physiologically relevant chemical conditions such as pH7 and we improved components of the instrument to increase its detection limit. With the current instrument AA oxidation can be quantified via two different spectroscopic methods: one based on fluorescence as described in Campbell et al. (2019) and a newly developed UV-absorption detection system using a liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) which is a very sensitive long pathway (100cm) absorption cell.</p><p>            For the fluorescence approach, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.22 µg/m<sup>3</sup> was determined for copper (Campbell et al. (2019)). In comparison, the current detection limit for the UV-absorption based setup is an order of magnitude lower (0.02 µg Cu/m<sup>3</sup>). This LOD is close to observations of copper concentrations at urban European locations, which are in the range of 0.001-0.009 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. Using both detection methods, we gain an improved understanding of the oxidation process, because the absorbance method measures AA depletion whereas in the fluorescence method the formation of the AA oxidation product dehydroascorbic is quantified. The online ascorbic acid assay as described will be applied in lab experiments (i.e. flow tubes or smog chamber) as well as for field measurements.</p><p>With the improvements of having a more physiological relevant assay and an improved detection method, this instrument is capable of providing a real-time and more realistic estimation of the oxidizing aerosol properties and their potential effect on human health compared to traditional offline methods.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Wragg, F. P. H. et al. (2016), Atmospheric Measurement<br>         Techniques, 9(10), pp. 4891–4900.</p><p> Campbell, S. J. et al. (2019), Analytical Chemistry, 91, 20, 13088-13095.</p>

Experimental Studies on Human Health Effects of Air Pollutants

1975 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack D. Hackney ◽  
William S. Linn ◽  
Ramon D. Buckley ◽  
E. Eugene Pedersen ◽  
Sarunas K. Karuza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Human Health Effects

scholarly journals Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Guseva Canu ◽  
Paul A Schulte ◽  
Michael Riediker ◽  
Liliya Fatkhutdinova ◽  
Enrico Bergamaschi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) raise questions among the scientific community and public health authorities about their potential risks to human health. Studying a prospective cohort of workers exposed to ENMs would be considered the gold standard for identifying potential health effects of nanotechnology and confirming the ‘no effect’ levels derived from cellular and animal models. However, because only small, cross-sectional studies have been conducted in the past 5 years, questions remain about the health risks of ENMs. This essay addresses the scientific, methodological, political and regulatory issues that make epidemiological research in nanotechnology-exposed communities particularly complex. Scientific challenges include the array of physicochemical parameters and ENM production conditions, the lack of universally accepted definitions of ENMs and nanotechnology workers, and the lack of information about modes of action, target organs and likely dose–response functions of ENMs. Standardisation of data collection and harmonisation of research protocols are needed to eliminate misclassification of exposures and health effects. Forming ENM worker cohorts from a combination of smaller cohorts and overcoming selection bias are also challenges. National or international registries for monitoring the exposures and health of ENM workers would be helpful for epidemiological studies, but the creation of such a registry and ENM worker cohorts will require political support and dedicated funding at the national and international levels. Public authorities and health agencies should consider carrying out an ENM awareness campaign to educate and engage all stakeholders and concerned communities in discussion of such a project.

scholarly journals Airborne Aerosols and Human Health: Leapfrogging from Mass Concentration to Oxidative Potential

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Molina ◽  
Richard Toro A. ◽  
Carlos Manzano ◽  
Silvia Canepari ◽  
Lorenzo Massimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Oxidative Potential ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
The Impact

The mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been systematically used in epidemiological studies as an indicator of exposure to air pollutants, connecting PM concentrations with a wide variety of human health effects. However, these effects can be hardly explained by using one single parameter, especially because PM is formed by a complex mixture of chemicals. Current research has shown that many of these adverse health effects can be derived from the oxidative stress caused by the deposition of PM in the lungs. The oxidative potential (OP) of the PM, related to the presence of transition metals and organic compounds that can induce the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), could be a parameter to evaluate these effects. Therefore, estimating the OP of atmospheric PM would allow us to evaluate and integrate the toxic potential of PM into a unique parameter, which is related to emission sources, size distribution and/or chemical composition. However, the association between PM and particle-induced toxicity is still largely unknown. In this commentary article, we analyze how this new paradigm could help to deal with some unanswered questions related to the impact of atmospheric PM over human health.

scholarly journals Risk assessment of effects of cadmium on human health (IUPAC Technical Report)

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar F. Nordberg ◽  
Alfred Bernard ◽  
Gary L. Diamond ◽  
John H. Duffus ◽  
Paul Illing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cadmium Exposure ◽  
Kidney Cortex ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Urine Cadmium

AbstractChemistry and Human Health, Division VII of the International Union on Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), provides guidance on risk assessment methodology and, as appropriate, assessment of risks to human health from chemicals of exceptional toxicity. The aim of this document is to describe dose-response relationships for the health effects of low-level exposure to cadmium, in particular, with an emphasis on causation. The term “cadmium” in this document includes all chemical species of cadmium, as well as those in cadmium compounds. Diet is the main source of cadmium exposure in the general population. Smokers and workers in cadmium industries have additional exposure. Adverse effects have been shown in populations with high industrial or environmental exposures. Epidemiological studies in general populations have also reported statistically significant associations with a number of adverse health effects at low exposures. Cadmium is recognized as a human carcinogen, a classification mainly based on occupational studies of lung cancer. Other cancers have been reported, but dose-response relationships cannot be defined. Cardiovascular disease has been associated with cadmium exposure in recent epidemiological studies, but more evidence is needed in order to establish causality. Adequate evidence of dose-response relationships is available for kidney effects. There is a relationship between cadmium exposure and kidney effects in terms of low molecular mass (LMM) proteinuria. Long-term cadmium exposures with urine cadmium of 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine cause such effects in a susceptible part of the population. Higher exposures result in increases in the size of these effects. This assessment is supported by toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (TKTD) modelling. Associations between urine cadmium lower than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine and LMM proteinuria are influenced by confounding by co-excretion of cadmium with protein. A number of epidemiological studies, including some on low exposures, have reported statistically significant associations between cadmium exposure and bone demineralization and fracture risk. Exposures leading to urine cadmium of 5 nmol mmol−1creatinine and more increase the risk of bone effects. Similar associations at much lower urine cadmium levels have been reported. However, complexities in the cause and effect relationship mean that a no-effect level cannot be defined. LMM proteinuria was selected as the critical effect for cadmium, thus identifying the kidney cortex as the critical organ, although bone effects may occur at exposure levels similar to those giving rise to kidney effects. To avoid these effects, population exposures should not exceed that resulting in cadmium values in urine of more than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine. As cadmium is carcinogenic, a ‘safe’ exposure level cannot be defined. We therefore recommend that cadmium exposures be kept as low as possible. Because the safety margin for toxic effects in kidney and bone is small, or non-existent, in many populations around the world, there is a need to reduce cadmium pollution globally.

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