scholarly journals THE RISKS OF MOBILE TELEPHONY AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

2005 ◽  
Vol 04 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-29
Author(s):  
A.A. de SALLES ◽  
C.R. FERNÁNDEZ

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of mobile phone technology in the last decades, with widespread benefits in many professional and private activities. In parallel with this, the concern regarding the possibility of adverse health effects due to the absorption of electromagnetic fields by humans also increased. For several years, many research groups in different countries were developing research projects on these subjects in the areas of medicine, biophysics, engineering, etc. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) has coordinate efforts including many countries to access the existing scientific evidence of harmful health effects of non ionizing radiation (NIR) emitted from different communication equipment, such as the mobile phones and their base stations, with special emphasis to the non-thermal effects. In principle, the base stations radiate more energy. However, their antennas are usually located on the top of elevated towers (or masts) and the radiated energy is mainly concentrated in the horizontal direction. Therefore people are usually far from these antennas, and also in directions reasonably apart from those of maximum radiation. Because the conventional monopole (or whip) antennas being used now in mobile phones typically show a circular radiation pattern in the horizontal plane, they may radiate substantial levels of energy in almost all directions, very close to the body and during considerable time. It is observed that when they are operated very close to the user’s head (e.g., 2,5 cm or less) , most of energy is absorbed in the head tissues (such as the bone, the brain, eye, etc), and less energy is radiated to the nearest base station. This situation is undesirable since quality of communication is worse, and the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the user’s head and the battery drain are increased.

Author(s):  
Adel A. Ali ◽  
Ahmed M. Al-Naamany

Direct health effects could result following exposure to RF by thermal (heating effects). Recent Studies have shown that there are public fears on effects that can be caused mainly by holding mobile phones close to the body, or as a result of possible non-thermal effects from both phones and base stations.  This paper offers an overview on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation caused by mobile phones. Exposures of individuals to RF radiation from these sources will depend upon their proximity and may be above those from mobile phone base stations, although still well below guidelines. From a review of the scientific literature, it is concluded that there were no established health effects from exposure to the RF fields from mobile phones. However, there are gaps in knowledge requiring further research, but current knowledge suggests that RF exposure to levels below the guidelines were not a risk to health.  


1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. Ziff

Since all dental restorative materials are foreign substances, their potential for producing adverse health effects is determined by their relative toxicity and bioavailability, as well as by host susceptibility. Adverse health effects to dental restoratives may be local in the oral cavity or systemic, depending on the ability of released components to enter the body and, if so, on their rate of absorption. The medical scientific community is now in general agreement that patients with dental amalgam fillings are chronically exposed to mercury, that the average daily absorption of mercury from dental amalgam is from 3 to 17 micrograms per day, and that the amalgam mercury absorption averages 1.25-6.5 times the average mercury absorption from dietary sources (World Health Organization, 1991). The health significance of this chronic mercury exposure is now being investigated by several medical research groups.


Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation is a wave of the electromagnetic field. The radiation from mobile phones, cordless phones, mobile antennas, and many other devices pose health threats, especially when they are close to the body for extended period. In humans and animals, bioelectrical signals regulate many processes. Therefore, EMF radiations can interfere with the natural way of how our body works; it affects our body at cell level. Moreover, the impact of EMF radiation on our eco-system is serious due to growing number of broadcasting antennas, mobile communications base stations etc. World Health Organization (WHO) says the EMF radiations produced by mobile phone is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possible carcinogen to humans. The aim of this research paper is to survey on mobile phone usage and EMF radiation awareness. Our results from analyzing the survey data shows that 86.2% people keep their mobile phones near their ears while receiving calls, 77.7% people keep mobile phones in their bedroom before going to bed. Based on the results and considering the major impact of EMF radiations, we propose innovative house design called Radiation Reduced Dwelling (RRD) by which the EMF radiation exposure can be minimized at home. Moreover, we propose an Environment Friendly Link (EFL) by which mobile base stations case be avoided in forests and hilly areas.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Vlatka Matkovic ◽  
Maida Mulić ◽  
Selma Azabagić ◽  
Marija Jevtić

Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two policy scenarios were implemented and air pollution reduction achieved. Real-world health and recorded PM pollution data for 2018 were used for assessing the health impacts and possible gains. Calculations were performed with WHO AirQ+ software against two scenarios with cut-off levels at country-legal values and WHO air quality recommendations. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is responsible for 16.20% and 22.77% of all-cause mortality among adults in Tuzla and Lukavac, respectively. Our data show that life expectancy could increase by 2.1 and 2.4 years for those cities. In the pollution hotspots, in reality, there is a wide gap in what is observed and the implementation of the legally binding air quality limit values and, thus, adverse health effects. Considerable health gains and life expectancy are possible if legal or health scenarios in polluted cities were achieved. This estimate might be useful in providing additional health burden evidence as a key component for a clean air policy and action plans.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Roje

Safety aspects of the GSM base station radiation concerning human health have been analyzed. The numerical modeling of the human body was performed by utilizing the antenna theory and BEM numerical procedure. The simplified model of the body represented by thick cylindrical scatterer placed vertically on the perfect conducting ground was used. Measurements of the radiated fields have been done at a few sites, and the results were incorporated in the numerical calculations as an incident field.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 2327-2340 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Charrier ◽  
N. K. Richards-Henderson ◽  
K. J. Bein ◽  
A. S. McFall ◽  
A. S. Wexler ◽  
...  

Abstract. Recent epidemiological evidence supports the hypothesis that health effects from inhalation of ambient particulate matter (PM) are governed by more than just the mass of PM inhaled. Both specific chemical components and sources have been identified as important contributors to mortality and hospital admissions, even when these end points are unrelated to PM mass. Sources may cause adverse health effects via their ability to produce reactive oxygen species in the body, possibly due to the transition metal content of the PM. Our goal is to quantify the oxidative potential of ambient particle sources collected during two seasons in Fresno, CA, using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. We collected PM from different sources or source combinations into different ChemVol (CV) samplers in real time using a novel source-oriented sampling technique based on single-particle mass spectrometry. We segregated the particles from each source-oriented mixture into two size fractions – ultrafine Dp ≤ 0.17 μm) and submicron fine (0.17 μm ≤ Dp ≤ 1.0 μm) – and measured metals and the rate of DTT loss in each PM extract. We find that the mass-normalized oxidative potential of different sources varies by up to a factor of 8 and that submicron fine PM typically has a larger mass-normalized oxidative potential than ultrafine PM from the same source. Vehicular emissions, regional source mix, commute hours, daytime mixed layer, and nighttime inversion sources exhibit the highest mass-normalized oxidative potential. When we apportion DTT activity for total PM sampled to specific chemical compounds, soluble copper accounts for roughly 50% of total air-volume-normalized oxidative potential, soluble manganese accounts for 20%, and other unknown species, likely including quinones and other organics, account for 30%. During nighttime, soluble copper and manganese largely explain the oxidative potential of PM, while daytime has a larger contribution from unknown (likely organic) species.


2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (4) ◽  
pp. H467-H476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Farmer ◽  
Timothy D. Nelin ◽  
Michael J. Falvo ◽  
Loren E. Wold

Concentrations of outdoor air pollution are on the rise, particularly due to rapid urbanization worldwide. Alternatively, poor ventilation, cigarette smoke, and other toxic chemicals contribute to rising concentrations of indoor air pollution. The World Health Organization recently reported that deaths attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollutant exposure are more than double what was originally documented. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal data have demonstrated a clear connection between rising concentrations of air pollution (both indoor and outdoor) and a host of adverse health effects. During the past five years, animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies have explored the adverse health effects associated with exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollutants throughout the various stages of life. This review provides a summary of the detrimental effects of air pollution through examination of current animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies and exposure during three different periods: maternal (in utero), early life, and adulthood. Additionally, we recommend future lines of research while suggesting conceivable strategies to curb exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Jin-Hwa Moon

In today’s world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child’s brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers’ concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3–3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC’s) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.


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