Beyond Radiation

Alzheimer, EMFs, Mechanisms and Prevention

In our presentation in the Kuopio Alzheimer Symposium we talked about prevention.

Professor Colin Pritchard of Bournemouth University has recently pointed out: "Brain diseases affecting more people and starting earlier than ever before". He also listed heavily increased non-ionising radiation / EMFs as one possible explanation for this increase of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Prevention in mind, I will next look at risk groups . Thereafter, I will list some suggested mechanisms which operate in the radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) range.

A. RISK GROUPS

In certain occupations, there is an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease , this has been shown by epidemiological studies and meta-analysis. (Garcia et al. 2008).

Occupational risk groups include (among others) welders, locomotive drivers, seamtresses , Power&IT&Telecom -employees.

People who live close to power lines have an increased AD risk (Huss et al., 2009), though there is a small number of epidemiological studies focusing on AD. Memory problems close to cell towers (Khurana et al., 2010 ; Chronic Exposure, 2013) come up in epidemiological studies. However, there is not a single AD-study directly related to cell towers / mobile phone base stations . Similarly, there seems to be only 1 cohort study focused on long-term mobile phone use, with strange results, since it is based on the dubious Danish cohort study. 

 

B. MECHANISMS

Several mechanisms of actions are discussed in the literature:

1. Amyloid beta (Aβ) increases in brain cells because of Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)- leakage.

Electromagnetic fields (EMF), especially pulsed microwave radiation affect BBB, but this effect is not linear and the greatest power densities do not make the BBB leak  (Frey, 1975 ; Frey, 1998; Nittby et al., 2008).

Most research is done on rats and this research can not directly extrapolated to humans.

In the following, edited video professor Leif Salford goes through BBB-studies and research challenges. 

 

 

2. Increased peripheral or brain production of Aβ as a result of magnetic field exposure cause voltage-gated calcium ion channels to be open longer than normal.

This results in abnormally high intracellular levels of calcium ions, which in turn results in the production of Aβ and that is quickly secreted into the blood and is then transported through the BBB perhaps best chaperoned by the 4 isoform of apolipoprotein E (apoE).  (Davanipour and Sobel, 2009; BioIniatiative, 2013)

3. Positron emission tomographic (PET) studies of cerebral glucose metabolism have shown high diagnostic specificity in distinguishing among the degenerative dementias and differentiating between AD and normal aging (Smith et al., 1992).

 

Volkow et al. (2011) have showed through a PET study that 50-minute mobile phone call increases glucose metabolism in the brain. This finding is similar to Huber et al. (2002), while Kwon et al. (2012) showed decrease in glucose metabolism.

4. A substantial body of literature has suggested that the memory and learning deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease and aging are attributable to degeneration of the cholinergic magnocellular neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) (Muir, 1997).   EMF exposures decrease acetylcholine levels in brain in animal studies (Modak et al., 1981, Kunwiljar & Behari, 1993). Human studies are missing, as far I know.

5. EMFs affect pineal gland and decrease its melatonin production (which may increase the risk of AD) (Srinivasan et al., 2006). Blood tests provide valuable risk-indicators (Noonan et al., 2002).

 

Summa summarum, the EMF exposure seem to have a link to Alzheimer's Disease. This exposure extends from mobile workplace to living environments. However, the mechanism(s) are not clear and need to be researched further.

After-thought: While attending the Kuopio Alzheimer Symposium, I noticed a very small focus on preventation. These events are heavily sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and the main focus in the symposium was on drug pilots & related presentations.

By focusing on prevention (minimizing EMF exposure of children, educating about safer ways of using mobile devices) would make enormous cost savings and avoid individual tragedy in later life.

As far as I know, only the Russian National Committee of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP) has clearly indicated Alzheimer and Dementia risk of children. Other nations should perhaps follow their example?

Every comment on Alzheimer's disease and related topics is welcome.

 

The Film of The Year: Resonance - Beings of Frequency

 

http://vimeo.com/54189727

 

Highly recommend!

Some essential background information:

- Schleger & Füllekrug (2002, 2007) 50 years of Schumann Resonance

- Cosic et al. (2006) Human Electrophysiological Signal Responses to ELF Schumann Resonance and Artificial Electromagnetic Fields

- Persinger (Ed.) (1974) ELF and VLF Electromagnetic Field Effects. Plenum Press: New York.  Including R. Wever: ELF-Effects on human circadian rhythms.

 

Curious to hear your comments about the film.

 

mLearn 2012 - Tackling Health Risk of Mobile Learning?

The biggest mobile learning research conference took place in Helsinki, Finland:

"mLearn 2012 - the  11th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning"

Surprise: I and Tarmo Koppel (Tallinn Technical University) had the only presentation and paper about health risks of children. 

This paper of ours is called "Mobile learning and health-risk management of pulsed microwave technologies"

We measured several Wi-Fi access points, compared our resulth with health studies and provided recommendations at the end of the paper.

If I look at the heavy sponsoring programs of service providers (teleoperators), I have a feeling that with hype papers and related presentations it would be much easier to get research funding ;-)

Well, hopefully the time comes when IAmLearn (International Association of Mobile Learning) will finally addresses health risks.

Every comment about our research paper is welcome.

 

Quo Vadis, Bioelectromagnetics Society?

Bioelectromagnetics Society's (BEMS's) 34th Annual Conference in 2012 took place in Brisbane, Australia.

There is something wrong with the BEMS.  Please, let me explain:

- Members were surprised to get an e-mail from office@bems.com where there was marketing of Air Force standards by an ex-mobile industry worker!

- The BEMS Newsletter was edited (and reviewed) by an industry representative for many years [Comment in the BEMS newletter, see page 4]

- Industry is arranging the Best Paper Award nomination. Often a no-risk paper wins and reviewing is ... strange at least .

- The BEMS future chairman even says "It is true that industry frequently employ me because they propably like what I am going to say":

 

Starting at 3:30.

[In addition to the trailer, I also recommend the film "Is your cell phone going to kill you".]

- A lot of emphasis in the Brisbane conference is put on "risk communication". When you look at this area closer, you can translate risk communication as "systematic and heavily-funded down-playing of risks".

- Several Brisbane (keynote) speakers have worked as consultants for mobile&power industry [1 , 2  , 3 , 4 , 5 ].

[Yes, I can/will work as a consultant as well but at least I protect the rights of injured workers and cancer victims! The mobile&power industry is important globally/economically, but we need more fair play. ]

- Update: Bioelectromagnetics Grand Old Men Carl Blackman and Marko Markov have several times pointed out  how scientific studies should be conducted and how important is proper dosimetry. The BEMS journal publication and evaluation policy has not unfortunately followed these pieces of advice.

- Update: Microwave News pointed out heavy industry sponsoring.

Anecdote: "If you can't win, change the rules". This is happening with Bioelectromagnetics Society under heavy industry influence.

Please, tell me: As a BEMS member candidate, why should I pay a full membership fee? How can I be sure that my membership would support independent research?

Heart Problems and Pulsed Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation

First I thought it was a co-incidence. But, the more I meet young people with heart problems, the more convinced I am that there is a connection.

In fact, research shows the connection between heart problems and EMF exposure:

- Already in 1970's it was recommended in the USA and in former Soviet Union that “cardiovascular abnormalities be used as screening criteria to exclude people from occupations involving radio-frequency exposures”.  (Cleary, 1970, 94).

- When testing an ELF antenna system in Wisconsin, USA, there were effects upon human volunteers of exposure to very low strength (1 gauss) 45 hz magnetic fields. The primary findings were an increase in serum triglycerides observed in two experimental runs (Beischer, 1973). The significance of the elevated triglycerides is in the fact that this material is one of the steps involved in fat metabolism and such elevations beyond the normal range are generally believed to indicate an increased risk of arteriosclerotic disease. The Project Sanguine ( a military project) was immediately terminated when these findings were published. (Becker and Selden, 1985)

- Exposure of pregnant women to mobile phone significantly increase fetal and neonatal HR (heart rate), and significantly decreased COP (cardiac output) (Rezk et al., 2008) . So, when a mother uses a mobile phone, it may have a (deleterious) effect on heart of fetus / child.

- Havas et al. (2010) showed that some of test persons reacted to pulsed RF radiation by a US DECT (2450 MHz, 100 Hz pulse). This exposure caused HRV (Heart Rate Variability) in some research subjects.

- Heart problems come up in epidemiological studies of mobile phone base stations, an overview by Khurana et al. (2011). 

- The renowned US cardiologist, MD Stephen Sinatra has noticed tachycardia & pulsed radiofrequency connection in younger and younger children. Also in connection to the Wi-Fi technology (Sinatra, 2011)

- Several occupational studies report heart problems and the pulsed RF connection. Bortkiewicz et al. (1995), Bortkiewicz et al. (1996), Drogitschina & Sadtschikowa (1964), Glotova & Sadchikova, (1970), Szmigielski et al. (1998), Zhurakovskaya (1976) . Combined effects with microwaves and high (workplace) temperature etc. has been also reported Sadchikova et al. (1976).

- In a study of 60 men exposed to 30-GHz EMFs during their working day (normally 10-170 μW/cm2, but up to 500 μW/cm2) six or seven times per month, bradycardia and a decrease in the pumping efficiency of the heart were found (Fofanov, 1969). Similar results were reported in 34 persons, aged 30-49 who had been exposed for 5-15 years (Monayenkova & Sadchikova, 1966). Various cardiovascular disorders were also seen in a study of 73 men and 27 women that had been occupationally exposed to microwave EMFs (Drogichina et al., 1966).

- Both ELF and RF cause malfunction to pace-makers; an indicator/risk factor to a real heart as well. (Mitchell & Hurt (1976); Annila (2010))

- Real-life heart cases are also documented by attorney Whitney North Seymour, Jr.  in the FCC and US government wireless broadband program (Seymour, 2009)

- Talking about mechanism: The following in vivo paper describes oxidative stress (Esmekaya et al. 2001) and an older paper discusses about triglyceride concentration and coronary heart disease (Garber & Avins, 1004).

[Update 5th May 2012: Several references added]


References:

 

Environmental Polluter of The Year 2011 Award

The winners for these questionable prizes are:

Worst Service: Angry Birds

Worst Gadget: Microwave Health Monitor

Worst Technology: Weather Modification with RF Transmitters

 Please, keep on reading to find out why these items were chosen as the worst ones of 2011.

I will also present more sustainable and healthier alternatives.