Beyond Radiation

Misconduct in Science 1: How Power Industry Controls Research

The latest story in the Microwave News (MWN) is worth reading:

 

      The Real Junk Science of EMFs

Stop Electric Field Cancer Research, Say Industry Scientists

It describes how one industry-minded researcher and three industry representatives make a poor literature review and then suggest that there is no reason to do research on electric fields any more. [1],[2].

All this happens in once prestigious Bioelectromagnetics journal, where editorial policy has  been lately quite biased [1],[2] and sloppy.

Why is the power industry acting like this right now? My guess is that it has something to do with the (future) health problems related to transients and harmonic overwaves (aka dirty electricity)  [1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] and installation of Not So Smart Meters [1],[2]. By installing hundreds of millions of these meters world wide as part of this Definitely Not Smart Grid [1] will have a massive impact on health … and environment :-(  

My own definition of Climategate:

”An Illusion Created by the Industry and some Misled Environmental Organisations to Make Consumers to Believe that:
a) By Buying CFL Energy Saving Lamps, Smart Meters and Electric Cars They Would Save the World and Environment.
b) While Simultaneosly These Poorly Constructed Devices Possibly Ruin the Health of Their Users and Create (Electro)Pollution in Massive Scale. - M.A.

Please, don't get me wrong: I have nothing against well-designed energy-saving devices and networks. However, the mass-marketed, existing ones are not well-designed. Additionally The Really Smart Grid would have been based on fibre and wired connections without transients or pulses. I told this to Finnish government ministers (especially Mauri Pekkarinen, but they don't listen since they prefer to spread Wonderful Wireless Technologies and to promote partially government-owned Mobile&Power industry :-\  I also contacted industry representatives, but they were not willing to change their plans. Currently, I am using another channel to promote more sustainable alternatives.

Remember what Robert O. Becker once said?

“I have no doubt in my mind, that at the present time, the greatest polluting element in the Earth’s environment is the proliferation of electromagnetic fields. I consider that to be far greater on a global scale than warming and the increase in chemical elements in the environment.”

- MD, Professor Robert O. Becker

Becker's prediction is more precise than I ever could have imagined :-(

Glad to hear/read your comments about this!

P.S. I highly recommend MWN. The chief editor, PhD Louis Slesin is one the best experts in the world in the EMF & Health area. It has been pleasure to meet and discuss with him :-) Please, don’t miss the WHO Files in right frame of the MWN !!

Literature Review – Transmitters and Health

What are the health risks of transmitters? How is this issue addressed by the WHO (World Health Organisation)?

I looked at chronic, 24/7 exposure. So, I reviewed research papers focusing on:

-    Mobile phone base stations (cell towers) + TETRA

-    AM / FM Radio + Analog /digital TV masts + Radar

This review is available at:

http://www.uta.fi/~mikko.ahonen/riski-extra.htm

I listed research papers with both positive and negative findings. I also included occupational exposure data and nature related data.

(Photo: Ferihegy airport, Budapest, Hungary, July 2009. An observation: two children very close to antennas.)

Increased leukemia and lymphoma rates come up regularly in FM / AM Radio + Television transmitter research papers (8 out of 10 papers). Mobile phone base stations are a newer phenomenon and the symptoms and illnesses seem to be more versatile ranging from sleep problems to neurological illnesses and breast cancer ( 10 out of 13 papers indicated increased risk ). It is difficult to compare these papers with each other, because not every paper has radiation power density measurements included.

After all these findings, the WHO officially announces:

“Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.“ .

Definitely, WHO International EMF Project folks are playing with the word ‘evidence’.

Mass-Customization MCPC2009 + EMF & Health Business in Drucker framework

The 5th World Conference on Mass Customization & Personalization (MCPC2009) will be arranged between 4th-8th October 2009 in Helsinki, Finland. This conference gathers together a nice mixture of people (architects, business executives, designers, artists, researchers, etc). What I like in this year's MCPC, is the ability to co-create and customise the actual conference with a toolkit! During the years, I have tried to stay tuned what is happening in this fascinating mass-customization scene [1].

If you are curious about this mass-customisation and personalisation area, I recommend the blog of professor Frank Piller. Frank always has interesting things going on and he is good in telling business stories :-)

My presentation and paper in this year's MCPC2009 Conference is called:

"Sources of Innovative Opportunity and Mass-Customization
 – An Analysis of EMF & Health Business Area"

Abstract (updated): "Systematic innovation means monitoring changes in existing business structures and early entrepreneurs often take risks in entering a new business area. Therefore, the Seven Sources of Innovative Opportunity, an innovation monitoring framework from Peter Drucker is presented. Within this paper we investigate how this framework is related to mass-customization and personalization. First we test this framework in real context by evaluating three health product companies and their innovation activities. These companies operate in a new business area called the EMF (Electro-Magnetic Fields) and Health. Recently, several scientists, governments and the European Parliament have emphasized precautionary principle and indicated health risks in mobile phones, base stations and other technologies. At the same time authorities and standard setting bodies (like ICNIRP, IEEE and WHO) have not officially recognized such risks. This tension provides a starting point for the evaluation. At the end of this paper we discuss how crowdsourcing and mass-customization toolkits could be utilized more effectively by entrepreneurs. Open innovation paradigm and the challenges in knowledge brokering in R&D are also introduced."

Update 4th October  2009:  My paper in PDF format can be found here. The presentation in the MCPC2009 will take place on Tuesday, 6th of October 2009, starting at 13:45.

Update 19th October 2009: An interesting concept was mentioned in the MCPC2009: Continuous Innovation. This happened in Joseph Pine 's presentation:"Future of mass customization". I need to focus on this in the future.

Comments about the paper or about the conference are welcome!

Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern + How Susceptible Are Genes to Mobile Phone Radiation?

A new report was released today by the International EMF Collaborative entitled:

"Cellphones and Brain Tumors:

15 Reasons for Concern

Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone"

Conclusions:

• There is a risk of brain tumors from cellphone use

• Telecom funded studies underestimate the risk of brain tumors

• Children have larger risks than adults for brain tumors.

Since I was one of the signatories, I would like to see the message of the report relayd first and foremost to families with children:

Please, Check the Personal Actions at Page 31.  Inform Families and Friends Close to You. 

Signatories have drafted the following actions to be implemented globally:

Little Breakthrough, Perhaps? In Finland and Hopefully in USA

Today, 24th August 2009, the major newspaper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat, published a small article about mobile phones and health risks of children ("Lasten kännykän käyttö on terveysriski"). This article was written by professor Osmo Hänninen, doctor Seppo Kinnunen and myself. The newspaper did not publish the link to references, so here they are with the article in Finnish.

Update 12th September 2009: Now an English version available: "Mobile phone use of children is a health risk".

Even the Ilta-Sanomat  ("The Sun of Finland") made a news item "Asiantuntijat varoittavat kännykän käytön vaaroista= Experts warn about the risks of mobile phone use" of our little article. Maybe (finally) Finnish parents will stop buying mobile phones to their little children. In this Crazy Mobile Land service providers are actively marketing mobile phones to children in every newspaper, even in the Donald Duck (Aku Ankka) magazine :-( School start is a special campaign time with Habbo Hotel figures integrated to cell phone commercials (1). Really irresponsible behaviour... 

My American friends have been working hard to organise a meeting in Washington: "Expert Conference on Cell Phones and Health: Science and Public Policy Questions" ,  which will be held between September 13-15 in 2009 at the Credit Union House. 

Update 15th September 2009:

The actual Hearing:

"Health Effects of Cell Phone Use"

started on Monday 14th September 2009 at 2:00PM US Eastern time and was broadcasted live on C-SPAN 3 and it can be viewed at:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=288879-1 , please, click the Flash video icon.

(Link updated).

Special thanks to senator Arlen Specter. I hope that it will be a success and US representatives will (finally) start funding independent health studies of mobile phones.

I am just tired of corruption and misconduct in this area, that is why I wish more independent research.  _{To my Finnish readers: Allekirjoitapa seuraava adressi: "Matkapuhelinteollisuuden edustajat pois terveystutkimushankkeista", että saadaan tutkimuksen näkökulma esille.}  

France just made a nice move, when it is preparing to make scientific boards really scientific without industry representatives.  I hope that other nations will follow.

STUK censored blogs: ICNIRP wall starts to break

The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK, SäteilyTUrvaKeskus) got worried.

In January 2009 STUK tried a new, more open strategy, so their representatives started blogging and getting feedback.

On  23rd June 2009 all four official blogs (one in English, three in Finnish) were shut down  and removed from the STUK website as “not being in line with the STUK policy” :-(

The content of those censored blogs is revealing and especially comments are worth reading.

Take a look what was censored:

- 2 blog threads in English from Professor Dariusz Leszczynski: “Thermal or Non-Thermal: That is the Question” + “From China with Love”. Dariusz himself writes very wise and neutral blog posts and I am glad that a) he continues blogging in this new Wordpress address, b) he has saved the original comments.

_{- 1 blog thread in Finnish from the Director of STUK, Jukka Laaksonen: “}Ionisoimaton säteily ei ole riskitöntä _{”,  a screen capture. Translation:  ”Non-Ionising Radiation Is Not Risk-Free Radiation”. That director did not respond to any comments he received. What a blogger.).}

No wonder the STUK sponsors: service providers and mobile manufacturers, got upset and perhaps increased pressure towards STUK to shut down those blogs in the STUK website.

The discussion (Comments) in those blog threads contain sensitive topics: Biological effects, the twisted funding of scientific research, thermal hot-spots, risks of TETRA [1],[2], people getting ill/staying ill at 1/10.000 part of thermal-only based ICNIRP guidance levels etc. It seems to me that those "radiation protection" authorities in Western countries just can not handle their job any more to protect population; this censorship shows it very clearly.

- See also my previous story about the closed club called ICNIRP with a nice video ;-)

- Check how difficult it was here in Finland to get the chidren's mobile phone use related recommendation from the STUK.

- Check how the ICNIRP Game is being played (search for "ICNIRP game") and why science is not science any more [1],[2],[3],[4],[5].

Glad to hear your opinions, folks :-)

ITK 2009 Hämeenlinna and Environmental BioIndicators Moscow -conferences

In 2 conferences I will talk about healthier, more sustainable practices in using educational technologies:

1. Mobiilioppiminen – miten mahdolliset terveysriskit vaikuttavat
opetuksen käytäntöihin

[Mobile learning - What kind of impact do health risks have on educational practices]

 

Together with professor in physiology, Osmo Hänninen and with researcher Antti Syvänen.

On Thursday, 23th April 2009 at the ITK-Conference, Interaktiivinen Tekniikka Koulutuksessa, Hämeenlinna, Aulanko, Finland.

Esitysrunko + Lataa koko ITK-esitys, päivitetty versio 17.5.2009 klo 8:45.

2.  Schools, Wireless Technologies and Health Risks - How to Minimise Radiation Exposure

In the 17th International Conference on Environmental BioIndicators

 

On 17th-22nd May 2009 in Moscow, Russia

Abstract (draft)

In this presentation I will also discuss about mobile phone base stations and their proper siting.

It will be great to meet (again) professors Oleg and Yuri Grigoriev in Moscow from the RNCNIRP (Russian National Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) :-)  Please, check the latest recommendations of RNCNIRP in English: [1],[2].

What is your opinion: Are health risks of children properly addressed in today's schools? Do you happen to know good educational practices to reduce microwave exposure?

EU Parliament: No base stations close to schools and no mobile phone marketing to children + News from France

Press release: Avoiding potential risks of electromagnetic fields, European Parliament, Public health - 02-04-2009 - 12:34

"Antennas, mobile phone masts and other electromagnetic emitting devices should be set within a specific distance from schools and health institutions, according to a report adopted by the European Parliament. The Commission should make more reliable information available about the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields to citizens who feel that they are not well informed. The report was adopted with 559 votes in favour, 22 against and 8 abstentions."

A video by the European Parliament:

MP Frédérique Ries has done excellent job :-)

Update 3th August 2009: France will legislatively ban mobile phones in schools. Additionally, some French cities have dropped the guidance level (radiation level) of base stations to 0.6 V/m (1000 uW/m2). Remember, ICNIRP guidance level is above 58 V/m (>2.000.000 uW/m2). _{Even in Finland this has created discussion in the heavily exposed city of Turku}.

Previous, historical steps:

ICNIRP - History and Industry Connections - a Video

Those ICNIRP (International Comission of Non-Ionising Radiation 'Protection') guidance levels [1],[2] for electromagnetic radiation exposure are ridicuouly (and dangerously) high in our environment.

Please, watch the marvellous 'A Radiant Day'  video. It describes the historical origins of ICNIRP guidance levels. Video contains also interesting interviews: Igor Belyaev, Eva Markova, Gerd Oberfeld, John Osepchuck, Michael Repacholi,  etc. 

 

Description of the Norwegian TV NRK1 video

Update 7th March 2009: Dr Neil Cherry once wrote:

"The standard based on the ICNIRP Guidelines is focused on avoiding tissue heating, not based on biological and epidemiological evidence. The maintenance of the standard is obtained by ignoring or rejecting any and all evidence that contradicts it."

I am amazed how accurate his following critique of ICNIRP is now, almost ten years after the first publication!

UPDATE: Critic of the ICNIRP and the International EMF-Project at the WHO - collected:

http://www.chronicexposure.org/limitsICNIRP.html

 

Finland limits mobile phone use of children + Genotoxic effects

I am relieved!

Säteilyturvakeskus, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority Finland (STUK) announced 7th of January 2009 a recommendation [1]:

 - "Children's mobile phone use should be limited" (Lasten matkapuhelimen käyttöä on hyvä rajoittaa)

 

After several (years of) warnings from Osmo Hänninen (professor in physiology), STUK finally listens. Maybe Osmo's book (in Finnish) and our little TV tour in the summer 2008 helped? Or maybe professor Dariusz Leszczynski finally managed to explain to those Warm-Only-Fellows in the STUK what biological effects mean? Or...the Finnish citizens do't believe in the STUK thermal explanation model any more[1]? 

Update 26th June 2009: Professor Osmo Hänninen and I met the Minister of Health, Paula Risikko, in October 2008 in Helsinki and discussed about the risk of children, among other topics. I highly respect Mrs Risikko because after our meeting she visited the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and most likely she was able to influence STUK representatives to give the recommendation in January 2009.

Additionally, I submitted through Mrs. Terttu Savolainen an Official Inquiry (In Finnish) to the highest doctor in the Ministry of Health, Dr Mikko Paunio. This Inquiry (dated 23th September 2008) was related to DNA-damage of mobile phones and I asked whether the Ministry of Health will advice the Ministry of Transport and Communication to stop the shut down of landlines in counties in Finland. My Inquiry was so sensitive, that so far (June 2009) I have not received any answer. I have twice asked Mr Paunio about it, without response from him or from STUK.  

 Update 10th January 2008:

- Please, check a large selection of biological effects related papers.

- What about children in the countryside (of Finland and Sweden) where the operators have been allowed to shut down the POTS networks? How does the STUK Finland recommendation protect these children (any more)? Please, see my story about the Nordic Health Disaster.

Good to know: Our cells in our body use minimal currents (=electricity) for communication and regeneration. All this is dependant on Earth's magnetic field and Schumann resonances.  Mobile phones, base stations, electrical devices and power grid induce much stronger currents to our body. Additionally, some of these devices work at the same frequencies as our brain waves. Microwave radiation is more effective (damaging) than ELF (powerline) radiation. The following (rough) picture by Neil Cherry describes these microwave effects versus official ICNIRP radiation guidance levels. No wonder people (and especially children) get sick :-(

Russian researchers have known these biological effects for decades [1, 2 ,3 ], therefore the official warning of Russia is worth reading (included in my previous posting). The current, acute heat-shock focused ICNIRP radiation guidance levels [1, 2, 3] in most western European countries do not protect population from continuous, chronic exposure. 

I welcome you to read the following paper from Neil Cherry:

Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic -  PDF 1 Mb

This paper nicely explains those biological mechanisms and it was presented in the European Parliament in 2000 and extended in 2002.

European Parliament announced a warning in September 2008 in it's Mid-Term Review. Please, check chapters 21-23. European Environmental Agency (EEA) has cleverly indicated these risks in 2001 in their book 'Late lessons from early warnings' . BioInitiative Report contains thousands of EMF&Health Risks -related references. What a pity that European Commission is so heavily influenced by industry that fast actions have not followed (yet) :-(

To understand all this, I recommend the book 'Cross Currents'. Dr Robert O. Becker showed in his pioneering work of how regeneration and healing takes place in our body. And how this is all dependent of electromagnetic forces. Becker was twice nominated for the Nobel prize in medicine.

Did I manage to describe a radical innovation? Is this a paradigm shift ala Kuhn? Any comments about the STUK-Finland announcement?