The tragedy in Jokela and Kauhajoki has made many people ask: What's wrong with Finland?
As a Finn, I can not totally ignore these terrible incidents :-(
So, where do increased depression, sleep problems and violence come from?
With Ed (Edward) Dutton I have had good thought exchange about the origins of Finnish violence. We both agreed that there are some "in-born" factors in every society.
BUT, I don't believe that "Bad Genes", "High expectations", "Computer games", "Historically Depressed Finns" are sufficient explanations.
Please, let me provide you an Alternative Explanation related to EMF (Electromagnetic Fields):
[Update, 30th March 2010: Broken links revised]
1. Mobile Phone aka Cell phone :
- The use of mobile phones may have an effect on dopamine-opiate system of the brain.
- Exposure to pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields most likely affects regional cerebral blood flow
- Update 21st February 2011: Exposure to low intensity EM energy potentiates the effects of low doses of morphine; this effect is comparable to that found in dopamine inhibitors. Additionally, Allan Frey demonstrates several experiments where EMFs interact with various drugs by altering the original (intended) effect of the drug.
- Especially the pulse-modulated radiation has an effect on concentration, cognition and memory.
Point: Mobile phones should not be pressed against head or body. And most of the time the mobile phone aka 'The Gradual Depressor' should be switched off. Children are in particular risk.
2. Base stations aka Cell towers:
- The 'Microwave syndrome' may explain also depression close to base stations.
- The pulsed and UMTS-modulated radiation may affect melatonin production and immunity system.
- A possible effect on youngsters' suicidal behaviour in a certain area was discussed in the UK.
- In nature heavy exposure to EMF creates aggressive and suicidal behaviour in animals and insects.
- To my understanding, the publications about EMF, basestations and health can not be neglected by decision makers. Update 21st February 2011: See also my Chronic Exposure research overview of base stations and their health effects.
Point: The output power is too strong in base stations. The mobile phone needs less than 1 uW/m2 to operate fully. Currently in many European households the radiation power density levels originating from base stations are in hundreds or thousands of uW/m2.
3. Power lines and electrical wiring:
- What has been shown in earlier research, heavy exposure to low-level EMF may cause depression.
- Especially melatonin production is in risk.
- Living too close to a power-line may cause adverse health effects
- Dirty electricity with transients causes unexpected consequences in homes and workplaces. Update 21st February 2011: Take a look at my voltage transients presentation.
- Update 4th October 2009: Chargers, transformers and other electrical appliances in bedroom may heavily affect sleep and well-being.
- Typical households have many 'spots' that could be improved with simple changes (see the pictures in the Austrian document).
Point: Houses should not be too close to powerlines. Additionally, the electrical wiring and grounding should be installed better in homes and offices.
What I am saying: Exposure to EMF does not fully explain violent behaviour or depression. But, it may play a surprising role in the incidents.
Please, provide a comment to a Finn ;-)
I live by a power line in North Central Texas. I think it has caused me severe depression,
and caused my dog to have a seizure and aggression.
I am very depressed. Friends and relatives tell me every day. What is wrong with you.
I contracted Electric Company but they say there is no evidence to prove this.
There was a area in my yard not 14 feet from the house that tested over 3 on the Trifield meter.
Posted by: donna biven | January 17, 2009 at 07:13 AM
Dear Donna,
I really sorry for what has happened to you.
Since you live very close to a powerline, those symptoms of yours and your dog can be linked to strong magnetic fields. If I understand correctly, that Trifield meter reading means 3 mG (milliGauss) = = 0,3 uT (microTesla) is quite high. It is shown in many studies to cause childhood leukemia. In adults symptoms like depression, tiredness, concentration problems are very likely.
It is extremely difficult and expensive to shield your house against magnetic fields. As far as I understand, only the mu-metal works ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal ) .
Often the only possible solution is to move to another house. It is not an easy decision.
In 1990 came out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report. This report was titled "Evaluation of the Potential Carcinogenity of Electromagnetic Fields". oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=437194 . All those symptoms you mentioned Donna, are there. Henry Lai points out to those psychological factors of EMF in the BioInitiative chapter, www.bioinitiative.org/report/docs/section_9.pdf . If policy makers would have been wise, read and listened, those safe zones to powerlines would be at least 200 meters, not 30 meters or so.
Little hope: Try having a melatonin pill in the evening. You might also consider antioxidants (like Pycnogenol). (I am not a doctor, just happen to have ... doctors as friends). Good to know: Some anti-depressive medicine do not work (or make the condition worse) when the patient is under heavy EMF-exposure. Please, consult your doctor with any change in your medication. Please, unplug also all electrical devices in your bedroom (all extra EMF exposure is too much in your case).
I wish I could have helped more.
Take care
Mikko
Posted by: PhD Mikko Ahonen | January 21, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Interesting. Thanks for your informative article. However after reading this I'm left wondering could computer monitors (TFTs) produce EMF radiation or do they have similar effects on the brain for long term users?
Posted by: georgy_nn78 | January 07, 2011 at 06:45 PM
Hi, nice site. I also found a slide presentation you made. Very good (I'm a fan of G. Hyland too).
I was surprised to read in your presentation that UMTS is not pulsed. Elsewhere I read it uses 1500 time slices per second. It seems to be true that the pilot signal is always at full power, but that's small compared to the data power. I would like to know and understand more.... If you can point me to other info (or where you got that graphic with the discontinuous sine waves... I don't think that can be how it really is).
-Bill
William J. Bruno, Ph.D. Biophysics
Posted by: Bill | February 18, 2011 at 09:23 PM
UMTS - pulsed or not? Good question, Bill. Some say that it is, some say that it is not.
In UMTS(3G) data is transferred by phase modulation that has some amplitude modulation that looks and sounds like high frequency noise. Measuring UMTS is complicated, I have noticed that when I have used several measuring devices.
I welcome you to look at:
- Professor Igor Belyaev's presentation about UMTS:
http://multimedia.biol.uoa.gr/2008/Seminaria_Diplwmatikes%20k.a/Synedrio_Thess/Global%20new/Belyaev.htm
(UMTS is using more frequencies and in wider spectrum than for example GSM. Bill, this presentation includes the 'discontinuous sine waves'-picture)
- The measuring report of UMTS by Ph.D, engineer Martin Virnich:
http://www.baubiologie-virnich.de/pdf/UMTS_Signalcharakteristik.pdf
(in German)
So, UMTS-FDD is unpulsed while UMTS-TDD is pulsed. According to Virnich: "Unter Last, wenn Verkehrskanäle zu den permanent aktiven Steuerkanälen hinzugeschaltet werden, verschwindet die Pulstruktur in der optischen Darstellung und weicht einem rauschähnlichen Signal." Quick translation: Under load, the pulsing disappears.).
- What Alasdair Phillips writes about pulsing: http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/science/pulse.asp
(Like pointed out here, in UMTS the pulse is never 'turned off' or go to zero. In that sense it is different from GSM or DECT)
What I find interesting is that one of the first UMTS provocation studies by TNO ibn 2003 in in Netherlands showed adverse effects both in sensitive and non-sensitive groups.
http://www.rivm.nl/milieuportaal/images/Zwamborn2003COFAMrapport.pdf
In that TNO experiment, the UMTS-setup was only(!) using control channels.
+++ Any other comments about UMTS(3G) and pulsing?
Posted by: PhD Mikko Ahonen | February 19, 2011 at 09:14 PM
To your question Georgy about computer monitors / TFTs: I find current flat monitors much better than earlier CRT (Cathode ray tube) monitors. Especially magnetic fields are much, much lower in TFTs and comply with TCO standards. http://www.tcodevelopment.com/ . In that sense effect on pineal gland and dopamine production might be smaller. However, some people have difficulties with the backlight and flickering of TFTs. http://www.eiwellspring.org/SubliminalFlickerPartI.htm . To my understanding, these problems are not often associated with depression.
Posted by: PhD Mikko Ahonen | February 19, 2011 at 09:28 PM
Please, take a look at those 2 new links to documents of Allan H. Frey. He really is the bioelectromagnetics pioneer who early demonstrated the link between EMFs and depression through modification of dopamine and opiate systems.
Posted by: PhD Mikko Ahonen | February 21, 2011 at 09:01 PM