Wireless phone use by young New Zealanders: Health and policy implications

<p>Over the last decade the use of cellphones has increased dramatically among the young adolescent population. In New Zealand, most children of this age also use a cordless phone. With the rapid proliferation in children‘s use of these devices, there has been increasing concern about whether children are more vulnerable than adults to possible adverse outcomes if such effects do result from wireless phone radiofrequency exposure. This is the first study of young New Zealanders‘ wireless phone habits, focusing particularly on the extent of use, and the relationship of that use with well-being. Two studies were undertaken: a census of schools with Year 7 and 8 classes in the Wellington Region of New Zealand to ascertain what rules were in place regarding cellphones at school, and a cross-sectional survey of students from the same region, using a representative sample of 373 students aged 10.3-13.7years. Both studies were conducted by the author independently from any research group. The primary research appears in Part II. Chapter 5 presents wireless phone user-habits. The large majority of young adolescents were already using cellphones and cordless phones regularly in 2009, although use was generally light or moderate. A small group (5%) was using both phone types extensively (≥ 30 minutes cordless daily plus ≥ 10 cellphone calls weekly); almost a quarter used a cordless phone ≥ 30 minutes daily, and 6% reported, on average, 1¼ hours or more use daily. This extent of use over 4 or more years has been associated in several major studies with an increased risk of glioma. Both the MoRPhEUS data and this study‘s data (Appendix 1 and Chapter 5) showed that use of the two phone types is positively correlated, increasing the comparative and actual radiofrequency exposure in heavy users. Cellphone use during school was compared with school expectations, discussed in chapter 6, showing there was a considerably greater level of illicit use than that of which principals were aware. This use was adjacent to the lower abdomen, and a brief review of relevant fertility literature suggested that cellphone use, or even carriage, in that position may impair sperm quality and duration of use like this appeared consistent with reduced fertility. A novel observation is explored in chapter 7. The mental process in recalling the extent of cellphone use was not linear. It parallels that found in many types of magnitude estimation, using a logarithmic mental number line. This carried implications for epidemiology methods that use recall data, particularly the need to record the geometric rather than arithmetic mean when a range of estimated use is provided. Not doing so put almost 5% of participants in an incorrect category when estimated use was split into tertiles. Recall estimation has a large variance. Chapter 8 presents a Bayesian method of reducing estimation bias in recall data. It should be applicable for use by studies that conform to the method‘s requirements. Chapter 9 presents the results of logistic regression analysis of the participants‘ reported well-being with respect to their wireless phone use. A dose-response relationship with frequent headaches confirmed findings elsewhere. Tinnitus and tiredness results suggested that responses were different depending upon phone type. This is the first study to explore and demonstrate different well-being responses according to cordless phone frequency or modulation. There was a strong association between being woken by the cellphone in the night and being tired at school. This research carries implications for young people‘s wireless phone use, including the advisability of limiting daily use to no more than 15 minutes daily. The relevance of researchers considering cellphone exposures, compared to that of cordless phones, is questioned. Further research on bio-sensitive frequencies, modulations and exposures is needed. An important recommendation is for the inclusion of education about wireless technology in schools and school communities and for child-health practitioners.</p>

Wireless phone use by young New Zealanders: Health and policy implications

<p>Over the last decade the use of cellphones has increased dramatically among the young adolescent population. In New Zealand, most children of this age also use a cordless phone. With the rapid proliferation in children‘s use of these devices, there has been increasing concern about whether children are more vulnerable than adults to possible adverse outcomes if such effects do result from wireless phone radiofrequency exposure. This is the first study of young New Zealanders‘ wireless phone habits, focusing particularly on the extent of use, and the relationship of that use with well-being. Two studies were undertaken: a census of schools with Year 7 and 8 classes in the Wellington Region of New Zealand to ascertain what rules were in place regarding cellphones at school, and a cross-sectional survey of students from the same region, using a representative sample of 373 students aged 10.3-13.7years. Both studies were conducted by the author independently from any research group. The primary research appears in Part II. Chapter 5 presents wireless phone user-habits. The large majority of young adolescents were already using cellphones and cordless phones regularly in 2009, although use was generally light or moderate. A small group (5%) was using both phone types extensively (≥ 30 minutes cordless daily plus ≥ 10 cellphone calls weekly); almost a quarter used a cordless phone ≥ 30 minutes daily, and 6% reported, on average, 1¼ hours or more use daily. This extent of use over 4 or more years has been associated in several major studies with an increased risk of glioma. Both the MoRPhEUS data and this study‘s data (Appendix 1 and Chapter 5) showed that use of the two phone types is positively correlated, increasing the comparative and actual radiofrequency exposure in heavy users. Cellphone use during school was compared with school expectations, discussed in chapter 6, showing there was a considerably greater level of illicit use than that of which principals were aware. This use was adjacent to the lower abdomen, and a brief review of relevant fertility literature suggested that cellphone use, or even carriage, in that position may impair sperm quality and duration of use like this appeared consistent with reduced fertility. A novel observation is explored in chapter 7. The mental process in recalling the extent of cellphone use was not linear. It parallels that found in many types of magnitude estimation, using a logarithmic mental number line. This carried implications for epidemiology methods that use recall data, particularly the need to record the geometric rather than arithmetic mean when a range of estimated use is provided. Not doing so put almost 5% of participants in an incorrect category when estimated use was split into tertiles. Recall estimation has a large variance. Chapter 8 presents a Bayesian method of reducing estimation bias in recall data. It should be applicable for use by studies that conform to the method‘s requirements. Chapter 9 presents the results of logistic regression analysis of the participants‘ reported well-being with respect to their wireless phone use. A dose-response relationship with frequent headaches confirmed findings elsewhere. Tinnitus and tiredness results suggested that responses were different depending upon phone type. This is the first study to explore and demonstrate different well-being responses according to cordless phone frequency or modulation. There was a strong association between being woken by the cellphone in the night and being tired at school. This research carries implications for young people‘s wireless phone use, including the advisability of limiting daily use to no more than 15 minutes daily. The relevance of researchers considering cellphone exposures, compared to that of cordless phones, is questioned. Further research on bio-sensitive frequencies, modulations and exposures is needed. An important recommendation is for the inclusion of education about wireless technology in schools and school communities and for child-health practitioners.</p>

Original Findings Confirmed in Replication Study: Provocation with 2.4 GHz Cordless Phone affects the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) as measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled replication of a study that we previously conducted in Colorado with 25 subjects designed to test the effect of radio frequency radiation (RFR) generated by the base station of a cordless phone on heart rate variability (HRV). In this study, we analyzed the response of 69 subjects between the ages of 26 and 80 in both Canada and the USA. Subjects were exposed to radiation for 3-min intervals generated by a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base station (3–8 microW/cm2). Prior to provocation we conducted an orthostatic test to assess the state of adrenal exhaustion, which interferes with a person’s ability to mount a response to a stressor. A few participants had a severe reaction to the RFR with an increase in heart rate and altered HRV indicative of an alarm response to stress. Based on the HRV analyses of the 69 subjects, 7% were classified as being “moderately to very sensitive”, 29% were “little to moderately sensitive”, 30% were “not to a little sensitive” and 6% were “unknown”. These results are not psychosomatic and are not due to electromagnetic interference. Twenty-five percent of the subjects’ self-proclaimed sensitivity corresponded to that based on the HRV analysis, while 32% overestimated their sensitivity and 42% did not know whether or not they were electrically sensitive. Of the 39 participants who claimed to experience some electrical hypersensitivity, 36% claimed they also reacted to a cordless phone and experienced heart symptoms and, of these, 64% were classified as having some degree of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) based on their HRV response. Novel findings include documentation of a delayed response to radiation. This protocol underestimates the reaction to electromagnetic radiation and may provide a false negative for those with a delayed reaction and/or with adrenal exhaustion. Orthostatic HRV testing combined with provocation testing may provide a useful diagnostic tool for some sufferers of EHS when they are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. It can be used to confirm EHS but not to reject EHS as a diagnosis since not everyone with EHS has an ANS reaction to electromagnetic radiation.

Influence of electromagnetic radiation emitted by daily-use electronic devices on the Eyemate® system

PurposeEyemate® is a system for the continual monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP), comprised of an intraocular sensor, and a hand-held reader device. The eyemate®-IO sensor is surgically implanted in the eye during cataract surgery. Once implanted, the sensor communicates telemetrically with the hand-held device to activate and record IOP measurements. The aim of this study was to assess the possible influence of electromagnetic radiation emitted by daily-use electronic devices on the eyemate® IOP measurements.MethodsThe eyemate®-IO sensor was placed in a plastic bag, immersed in a sterile sodium chloride solution at 0.9% and placed in a water bath at 37°C. The antenna, connected to a laptop for recording the data, was positioned at a fixed distance of 1 cm from the sensor. Approximately two hours of “quasi-continuous” measurements was recorded for the baseline and for cordless phone, smart-phone and laptop. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare any possible differences between the baseline and the tested devices.ResultsFor baseline measurements, the sensor maintained a steady-state. The same behavior was observed with the devices measurements during active and inactive states.ConclusionWe found no evidence of signal drifts or fluctuations associated with the tested devices, thus showing a lack of electromagnetic interference with data transmission. Patients who already have the eyemate®-IO sensor implanted, or those considering it, can be informed that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by their daily-use electronic devices does not interfere with IOP measurements made by the eyemate®-IO sensor.

Mobile Phone: Sejarah, Tuntutan Kebutuhan Komunikasi, Hingga Prestise.

Human desire to keep on communicating bulldoze constraints of time and space in turn trigger an attempt to create a tool to bridge the limitations of earlier. The codes are transmitted in the conventional form of simple visual and sound that still leaves human dissatisfaction remote communication (tele-communication), effectiveness and efficiency of the smoke, sound, sign of morse, certainly not yet enough. Jump skip the age, and found the telegraph to the appearance of the phone (cable) ago cordless phone which then called the cell phone (mobile phone) is then transformed into revolution. These evolution then became revolution of functions and capabilities that are owned by the cell phone. The sophisticated of mobile phone technology finaly push it not just as a phone but far beyond that, also its additional functions. Which should be recognized and taken into account is the impact of which was carrying was also becoming more sophisticated.Hasrat manusia untuk tetap dapat berkomunikasi melibas kendala batasan ruang dan waktu pada akhirnya memicu usaha untuk menciptakan alat untuk menjembatani keterbatasan tadi. Kode-kode yang dikirimkan secara konvensional berupa visual dan suara yg sederhana masih menyisakan ketidakpuasan komunikasi jarak jauh manusia, efektifitas dan efisiensi pada asap, bunyi, tanda morse, tentu belumlah cukup. Sedikit melompati masa, lalu ditemukan telegraf hingga kemunculan telepon (kabel) kemudian telepon tanpa kabel yang kemudian disebut ponsel (telepon selular). Evolusi ini kemudian berubah revolusi fungsi dan kemampuan yang dimiliki oleh ponsel. Kecanggihan teknologi mendorongnya menjadi selain fungsi bukan hanya sekadar telepon tapi juga fungsi tambahannya. Kesadaran dan yang perlu dipertimbangkan adalah dampak yang dibawanya pun juga semakin canggih.

Evaluation of Mobile Phone and Cordless Phone Use and Glioma Risk Using the Bradford Hill Viewpoints from 1965 on Association or Causation

Objective.Bradford Hill’s viewpoints from 1965 on association or causation were used on glioma risk and use of mobile or cordless phones.Methods.All nine viewpoints were evaluated based on epidemiology and laboratory studies.Results.Strength: meta-analysis of case-control studies gave odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31–2.76 with highest cumulative exposure. Consistency: the risk increased with latency, meta-analysis gave in the 10+ years’ latency group OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.20–2.19. Specificity: increased risk for glioma was in the temporal lobe. Using meningioma cases as comparison group still increased the risk. Temporality: highest risk was in the 20+ years’ latency group, OR = 2.01, 95% CI =1.41–2.88, for wireless phones. Biological gradient: cumulative use of wireless phones increased the risk. Plausibility: animal studies showed an increased incidence of glioma and malignant schwannoma in rats exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation. There is increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from RF radiation. Coherence: there is a change in the natural history of glioma and increasing incidence. Experiment: antioxidants reduced ROS production from RF radiation. Analogy: there is an increased risk in subjects exposed to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.Conclusion.RF radiation should be regarded as a human carcinogen causing glioma.