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 shoud be used as a 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 et al., 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, see 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) There Wi-Fi and heart related findings come up also in animal studies (Türker et al., 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))
- Also Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) problems caused by Wi-Fi to electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system has been reported by Chung et al. (2013).
- Researcher Mikko Ahonen (myself) and my colleagues in 2012 testified in a case where a mobile phone base station broke down several times a pace-maker of an elderly woman. Based on this testimony, the mobile phone base station was removed from her roof. (Good to know: Electronics is tested till 3 V/m, while ICNIRP-guidance level allows humans to be irradiated till 41 V/m.)
- Professor in physiology, Osmo Hänninen has investigated several cases where a pace-maker has been installed to people who were suffering from RF exposure with heart problems. This pace-maker does not seem to help in these cases, since after the pace-maker installation RF exposure causes blood-pressure to get extremely high. Simply put: when the human being cannot any more regulate environmental RF-stress with heart, this regulation activity is shifted to blood-pressure changes.
- 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, 1994).
[Update 5th May 2012: Several references added, Update: 25th November, several Wi-Fi references + case descriptions added.]
References:
Becker, R. & Selden, G. (1985). The Body Electric. Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life (with Gary Selden). Morrow, New York. PDF: http://www.scribd.com/doc/28678068
Beischer, D. E., Grissett, J. D., & Mitchell, R. E. (1973). Exposure of Man to Magnetic Fields Alternating at Extremely Low Frequency. Report: AD0770140, Naval aerospace medical research lab Pensacola. Florida. 36 pages.
Bortkiewicz, A., Zmyslony, M., Palczynski, C., Gadzicka, E. and Szmigielski, S. (1995). Dysregulation of autonomic control of cardiac function in workers at AM broadcasting stations (0.738-1.503 MHz). Electro- and Magnetobiology 14(3), 177-191. URL: http://www.chronicexposure.org/occupational.html
Bortkiewicz, A., Gadzicka. E. & Zmyslony, M. (1996). Heart rate variability in workers exposed to medium-frequency electromagnetic fields. (1996). Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 59(3), 91-97.
Cleary, S.F. (Editor). 1970. Biological Effects and Health Implications of Microwave Radiation, Symposium Proceedings, Richmond Virginia, September 17-19, 1969. Sponsored by Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University with the support of Bureau of Radiological Health, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Environmental Health Service. 275 pp. PDF: http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Biological_Effects_and_Health_Implications_of_Microwave_Radiation.pdf
Drogitschina, E. A. & Sadtschikowa, M. N. (1964). Klinische Syndrome bei der Wirkung von unterschiedlichen Radiofrequenzbereichen. O biologitscheskom wosdejstwii biologitscheskich polej radiotschastot 2, S. 105
Drogichina, E.A., Konchalovskaya, N.M., Glotova, K.V., Sadchikova, M.N., and Snegova, G.V.
1966. Autonomic and cardiovascular disorders during chronic exposure to super-high
frequency electromagnetic fields, ATD Report 66-124. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress.
Esmekaya, M. A., Ozer, C., & Seyhan, N. (2011). 900 MHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency radiation induces oxidative stress on heart, lung, testis and liver tissues. General Physiology and Biophysics, 30(1), 84–89. doi:10.4149/gpb_2011_01_84
Fofanov, P.N. (1969). Hemodynamic changes in individuals working under microwave irradiation.
JPRS 48481.
Glotova, K.P., and Sadchikova, M.N. 1970. Development and clinical course of cardiovascular changes after chronic exposure to microwave irradiation. JPRS 51238, p. 1.
Havas, M., Marrongelle, B., Pollner, E. Kelley, C.R.G. Rees, L. Tully. (2010). Provocation study using heart rate variability shows microwave radiation from DECT phone affects autonomic nervous system. European Journal of Oncology. Library, vol. 5, 2010. URL: http://www.icems.eu/papers.htm?f=/c/a/2009/12/15/MNHJ1B49KH.DTL
Khurana, V. G., Hardell, L., Everaert, J., Bortkiewicz, A., Carlberg, M., & Ahonen, M. (2010). Epidemiological evidence for a health risk from mobile phone base stations. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 16(3), 263–267. URL: http://tinyurl.com/TowerEpidemiology
Monayenkova, A.M., and Sadchikova, M.N. 1966. Hemodynamic indices during the action of super-high frequency electromagnetic fields, ATD Report 66-123. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress.
Rezk, A., Abdulqawi. K., Mustafa, R. El-Azm, T. & Al- Inany, H. (2008). Fetal and neonatal responses following maternal exposure to mobile phones, Saudi Med. J. ; 29:218–223. PDF: htttp://www.smj.org.sa/PDFFiles/Feb08/08Fetal20070123.pdf
Sadchikova, M.N., Nikonova, K.V., Denisova, Ye. A., Snegova, G.V., L'vovskaya, E.N., and Soldatova, V.A. (1976). Arterial pressure as related to exposure to low-intensity microwaves and high temperature. JPRS L/7298, p. 1.
Seymour, W. (2009). A National Broadband Policy for Our FutureEMR Policy Institute Comment. FCC 09-31 . URL:
http://www.emrpolicy.org/news/headlines/emrpi_comment_gn_09_51_fcc_09_31.pdf
Search with word "heart".
Sinatra, S. (2011). Tachycardia, cardiovascular risks and microwaves. URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL7VciHDDI0
Szmigielski, S., Bortkiewicz, A., Gadzicka, E., Zmyslony, M., & Kubacki, R. (1998). Alteration of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate to workers exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Blood Pressure Monitoring, 3(6), 323-30.
Türker Y., Naziroglu, M., Gumral, N., Celik, O., Saygin, M., Comlekci, S., Flores-Arce, M. et al. ( 2011). Selenium and L-carnitine reduce oxidative stress in the heart of rat induced by 2.45-GHz radiation from wireless devices. Biol Trace Elem Res. 143(3): 1640-1650.
Zhurakovskaya, N.A. 1976. Effect of low-intensity high-frequency electromagnetic energy on the
cardiovascular system. JPRS L/5615, p. 13.
Any comments about heart problems and RF/ELF exposure? Any missing references?
Great article, thanks!
Are there any studies about WiFi and its 10 Hz pulse ?
Wireless and Health
http://www.facebook.com/Mobilfunk.und.Gesundheit
Best regards from Germany
Posted by: Mobilfunk.und.Gesundheit | May 04, 2012 at 09:55 PM
Hallo! The research paper above of Havas et al.(2010) looks at US DECT with 2450 MHz carrier wave (like Wi-Fi), but with 100 Hz pulse (unlike Wi-Fi).
MD, cardiologist Stephen Sinatra talks about Wi-Fi in the video above.
But, as far as I know, there are no research (papers) focusing on Wi-Fi with 10 Hz Beacon signal and effect on heart.
Would it be time to finance it, Dear COST 281 and SCENHIR members in EUrope??
Posted by: PhD Mikko Ahonen | May 05, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Thanks for your blog it really looks great as far as the heart disease is concerned
Posted by: John Franco | March 14, 2013 at 11:51 AM