Biological effects of electromagnetic waves with emphasis on radio and microwave: An environmental carcinogen

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Saeed Yari ◽  
Ayda Fallah Asadi ◽  
Alireza Mosavi Jarrahi ◽  
Mohammad Nourmohammadi

Human is exposed to a variety of electromagnetic fields from natural and artificial sources. These fields cause the electric field in the body to affect the movement of ions, heat, neuromuscular stimulation, and various effects. The biological effects of these waves depend strongly on the waveform, frequency and angle between the applied fields and the Earth's magnetic field, as well as their continuity or pulsation. Electromagnetic fields caused by conventional devices are at a standard level and appear to be harmless to humans. But the results of research on specific people, such as military personnel or those who live and work near radar stations, high-pressure posts and high-powered telecommunications and radio transmitters, show that they have harmful effects and live nearby they are not risk free.

Our atmosphere is full of electromagnetic fields emitted from wireless communication transmitters. At the same time the bio-systems (including humans, animals & birds and vegetation as well) are complex electrical systems. Naturally therefore, they are likely to have interaction and to be affected in some way or the other. Research into this field started with the knowledge about pleasing presence of negative charges and unpleasant presence of positive charges around us, concentrating effects of static or pulsating fields. Also came the explanation (and experimental verification) of Hindu mythological effects of geomagnetic fields coupled with solar activity. The effects of power line radiation and radiation from video game TV sets, microwave oven and other domestic instruments like electric blankets also figured in the research. At last the fastest emerging mobile telephony overpowered all others. Though the results of researches into possible harmful effects of mobile phone radiation and those of radiation from base station towers remain inconclusive partly because of influencing pressure from manufacturing and service providing companies, some of the researchers conclusively assert the harmfulness of the radiation at some level of field intensity present near the tower or the handset relating it to the specific absorption ratio (SAR) value. Recent increased observation of infertility among young couples is also attributed by some researchers to the effect of radiation from mobile kept in pantaloons pockets which becomes near their genitals affecting sperm or ovum. This review explains all these researches into bio-effects of electromagnetic fields and concludes that there is certainly some possible harmfulness of radiation above some level of intensity of fields.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3510
Author(s):  
Mykola Kostin ◽  
Anatolii Nikitenko ◽  
Tetiana Mishchenko ◽  
Lyudmila Shumikhina

In railway traction, the definition of “electromagnetic field” is functionally connected to the concept of the reactive power consumed by the electric rolling stock, and characterized by the running and standing electromagnetic waves in the space of the inter-substation zones from the site of the AC traction system. Such a definition is established and theoretically justified by the theory of electromagnetic fields. This article uses the methodology of this theory, in particular, a method for power balance estimation in electromagnetic fields based on Maxwell’s equations, as well as methods for the analysis of running and standing electromagnetic waves based on the theory of reflection, propagation and transmission of plane harmonic waves. The research considers the regularities of standing electromagnetic waves in the space of inter-substation zones of electric traction systems, which occur due to the incomplete reflection of incident waves from the contact wire and metal parts of the roof surface and the frontal part of the body of the electric rolling stock. The flow of electricity to the roof surface and the frontal part of the body of an electric locomotive is considered. The possibility of using existing methods to reduce wave reflections and thereby to effectively compensate for reactive power in the space of inter-substation zones is discussed.


Author(s):  
Elena I. Sarapultseva ◽  
Darya V. Uskalova ◽  
Ksenya V. Ustenko

Despite the fact that there are still conflicting opinions about the damage caused by modern wireless communication technologies, most scientists report on the negative biological effects of low-intensity radio frequency electromagnetic radiation at different levels of the organization of live nature. There is no doubt that there is a need not only for a sanitary and hygienic assessment of man-made electromagnetic effects on humans, but also for an environmental assessment for biota. The purpose of the study was to assess the potential environmental risk of electromagnetic impact in the centimeter range on natural ecosystems. The initial data were the authors' own results in the field of radiobiology of non-ionizing radiation, as well as published of other researchers. The article analyzes the biological effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields detected in organisms of different systematic groups and levels of organization. The data on the non-thermal biological effects of electromagnetic fields indicate a high sensitivity of different species to this factor. The analyzed research results emphasize the need to take into account the features of non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation on biota, since these radiations can have a negative impact on different hierarchical levels in natural ecosystems.


Author(s):  
VN Nikitina ◽  
GG Lyashko ◽  
NI Kalinina ◽  
EN Dubrovskaya ◽  
VP Plekhanov

Summary. Introduction: Location of weather surveillance radars near settlements, in residential areas and on airport premises makes it important to ensure safe levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) when operating these radio transmitters. EMF maximum permissible levels for weather radars developed in the 1980s are outdated. Our objective was to analyze modern weather surveillance radars to develop proposals for improvement of radar-generated radiofrequency field monitoring. Materials and methods: We studied trends in meteorological radiolocation and technical characteristics of modern weather radars for atmospheric sensing and weather alerts, analyzed regulations for EMF measurements and hygienic assessment, and measured radiofrequency fields produced by weather radar antennas in open areas and at workplaces of operators. Results: We established that modern types of weather radars used in upper-air sensing systems and storm warning networks differ significantly in terms of technical characteristics and operating modes from previous generations. Developed in the 1980s, current hygienic standards for human exposures to radiofrequency fields from weather radar antennas are obsolete. Conclusions: It is essential to develop an up-to-date regulatory and method document specifying estimation and instrumental monitoring of EMF levels generated by weather radars and measuring instruments for monitoring of pulse-modulated electromagnetic radiation.


Author(s):  
Luigi Montano ◽  
Francesco Donato ◽  
Pietro Massimiliano Bianco ◽  
Gennaro Lettieri ◽  
Antonino Guglielmino ◽  
...  

AbstractThe epidemic of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has impacted worldwide with its infectious spread and mortality rate. Thousands of articles have been published to tackle this crisis and many of these have indicated that high air pollution levels may be a contributing factor to high outbreak rates of COVID-19. Atmospheric pollutants, indeed, producing oxidative stress, inflammation, immuno-unbalance, and systemic coagulation, may be a possible significant co-factor of further damage, rendering the body prone to infections by a variety of pathogens, including viruses. Spermatozoa are extremely responsive to prooxidative effects produced by environmental pollutants and may serve as a powerful alert that signals the extent that environmental pressure, in a specific area, is doing damage to humans. In order to improve our current knowledge on this topic, this review article summarizes the relevant current observations emphasizing the weight that environmental pollution has on the sensitivity of a given population to several diseases and how semen quality, may be a potential indicator of sensitivity for virus insults (including SARS-CoV-2) in high polluted areas, and help to predict the risk for harmful effects of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. In addition, this review focused on the potential routes of virus transmission that may represent a population health risk and also identified the areas of critical importance that require urgent research to assess and manage the COVID-19 outbreak.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Company-Morales ◽  
A Fontalba-Navas ◽  
M F Rubio-Jimenez ◽  
V Gil-Aguilar ◽  
J P Arrebola

Abstract Introduction Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) are substances that are characterized by the cumulative effect at low doses inside the body. Exposure to PTS in pregnant and breastfeeding women, through food consumption, shows various harmful effects on the health of the mother, the fetus and the baby. The objective of this article is to analyze how pregnant and breastfeeding women perceive the presence of chemical substances in food and reflect on the accumulation, transmission and elimination of these substances. Methodology Descriptive and interpretive study under the qualitative research paradigm following a phenomenological and ethnographic perspective. As instruments to obtain the primary data we rely on 111 semi-structured interviews with pregnant and breastfeeding women, 4 focused ethnographies, 8 focus groups (63 women), 71 feeding diaries, 71 free listings. To encode the content of the speeches of pregnant and nursing women we rely on the N-Vivo 12 software. Results Pregnant and breastfeeding women are concerned about food quality controls. Women trust on local and seasonal foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables from non-extensive crops and close to their home. Foods that produce distrust in women are processed, packaged foods, red meat and large fish. The latter foods promote in women a perception of risk of contamination by chemical substances, manifesting a defenseless situation to maintain a diet without contaminants. Conclusions Pregnant and breastfeeding women in Spain have no information on the risk and danger of synthetic chemicals or PTS, with the exception of certain toxic substances such as mercury present in large fish. Women maintain a duality in their own care and that of the fetus or child. This circumstance implies that the women interviewed believe that PTS and synthetic chemicals may have different harmful effects on the mother and the degree of growth of the fetus and, subsequently, of the baby. Key messages Future mothers are worried about the type of product they eat, knowing that food influences healthy growth and development of the fetus. Pregnant and breastfeeding women often distrust “processed” or “industrial” foods, which they tend to associate with low quality and large amounts of additives and chemical substances.


2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 1885-1890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert MR Barclay ◽  
Cori L Lausen ◽  
Lydia Hollis

With the development of small implantable data loggers and externally attached temperature-sensitive radio transmitters, increasing attention is being paid to determining the thermoregulatory strategies of free-ranging birds and mammals. One of the constraints of such studies is that without a direct measure of metabolic rate, it is difficult to determine the significance of lowered body temperatures. We surveyed the literature and found that many different definitions have been used to discriminate torpor from normothermy. Many studies use arbitrary temperature thresholds without regard for the normothermic body temperature of the individuals or species involved. This variation makes comparison among studies difficult and means that ecologically and energetically significant small reductions in body temperature may be overlooked. We suggest that normothermic body temperature for each individual animal should be determined and that torpor be defined as occurring when the body temperature drops below that level. When individuals' active temperatures are not available, a species-specific value should be used. Of greater value, however, are the depth and duration of torpor bouts. We suggest several advantages of this definition over those used in the past.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. eaau6252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Guo ◽  
Weixuan Zhang ◽  
Hanchun Wu ◽  
Junfeng Han ◽  
Yongliang Zhang ◽  
...  

The edges of layered materials have unique properties that substantially differ from the body regions. In this work, we perform a systematic Raman study of the edges of various layered materials (MoS2, WS2, WSe2, PtS2, and black phosphorus). The Raman spectra of the edges feature newly observed forbidden Raman modes, which are originally undetectable from the body region. By selecting the edge type and the polarization directions of the incident and scattered light, all forbidden Raman modes are distinctly detected. Optical simulations show that the edges of layered materials drastically distort the electromagnetic fields of both the incident and scattered light, so that the light interacts with the edges in a distinct way, which differs from its interactions with the body regions.


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