Dariusz Leszinski, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland; dariusz.leszczynski@helsinki.fi
SUMMARY:
Physiological functions of the human body are regulated by electric currents. Therefore, it is not surprising that placing the human body within an electromagnetic field of sufficient strength can cause interference with normal physiological processes. These ICNIRP and IEEE safety guidelines claim to protect the entire human population from the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, research studies in humans and animals suggest that exposures at the level of permissible safety guidelines may affect health. There are certainly people among us who are more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than the rest of the general population. We, the scientists, have to find out who these potentially affected individuals are.
The vast majority of biological research examining the impact of EMFs has focused on the possibility of affecting genes, causing brain cancer or damaging embryonic development. At the same time, the debate continues whether EMZ causes effects that, although not life-threatening, can be harmful to the quality of life. The symptoms experienced by self-diagnosed EMF sensitives, who call themselves electromagnetically hypersensitive (EHS), fall into this category of symptoms detrimental to quality of life.
Epidemiological studies are often expected to provide an answer, whether EMF exposure can be dangerous for the human population. However, validating every potential health hazard using epidemiology alone is futile. This, because the low sensitivity of epidemiological methodology is insufficient for reliable detection of health impacts of weak biological effects caused by low energy EMF. Epidemiological studies carried out so far, without providing any irrefutable evidence, have shown that probably long-term exposure to mobile phone radiation (30 minutes/day for 10 years or a longer period) increases the risk of developing brain cancer - glioma.
Due to limitations in epidemiology, studies of EMF effects on human volunteers, in order to determine whether EMF exposure will cause biochemical changes in exposed tissues and organs, must be linked to any health hazard. Such information can be used to support, or refute, observations from epidemiological studies, as well as to improve the design of future epidemiological research.
Modern molecular biological screening techniques of transcription, proteomics and metabolomics can provide such much needed information. This approach is particularly suitable for studying the biological and health effects of EMF because it will reveal effects that are impossible to predict based on the knowledge available so far. Systematic screening of the transcriptome (gene expression), PRO-theome (protein expression), phospho-proteome (protein activity), metabolome (small molecular metabolites) will generate data NEC-necessary conditions for solid proof of health effects, including, among others, carcinogenicity and EHS (electro hypersensitivity).
In the meantime, while waiting for the final scientific evidence, a process that will take several decades, we must take some action to protect users of wireless communication devices. There is ongoing discussion whether the precautionary principle (PP/precautionary principle), as defined by the European Union in 2000, should be implemented in order to mitigate potential-suspected health risks from EMF exposure. In order to consider the use of PP, the first necessary step is to evaluate the scientific evidence. In relation to mobile phone radiation, the first step was taken in 2011, when a Working Group of 30 experts met at a meeting of the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and classified mobile phone radiation as a possible carcinogen (Group 2B). After the evaluation of scientific evidence is completed, there are several prerequisites that must be met before discussing the implementation of PP, in accordance with the EU PP document from 2000. Precondition: PP can be implemented when scientific information is insufficient, when it is unclear or uncertain
• IARC classification of mobile phone radiation as a possible carcinogen has clearly shown that information on the health effects of mobile phone radiation is "insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain" Precondition: PP can be realized when there are indications that health effects are possible and that they can be potentially dangerous
• IARC mobile phone radiation classification, based on evidence from epidemiological case-control studies, pointed out that users are passionate long-term mobile phone at increased risk of brain cancer - this is a potential danger for more than 7 billion mobile phone users. Prerequisite: PP can be implemented when the current situation is not in accordance with the selected level of protection
• IARC classification points out that to an increased risk of brain cancer based on epidemiological studies in which subjects use regular mobile phones that meet current safety standards; which means that current security standards are not enough to protect users. Implementing the Precautionary Principle (PP) is not the same as preventing the use of wireless technologies. This policy can help curb the current widespread and uncontrolled deployment of wireless networks anywhere and everywhere. Claims that the implementation of the precautionary principle will cause economic damage are not justified. The implementation of the precautionary principle will create new knowledge through research aimed at solving health risk issues and the development of communication technology with lower radiation emissions. This, in turn, will create new jobs and new economic opportunities in research and technology. In conclusion, the IARC review of scientific evidence and the classification of possible carcinogenicity from mobile phone radiation allow the implementation of precautionary measures in order to protect the population from the potentially dangerous effects of exposure to radiation emitted by wireless communication devices. At the same time, with the implementation of protective measures, in order to reduce the exposure of the human population, scientific research should continue to resolve the contradictions of scientific evidence. Modern methods of molecular biology, transcriptomics and proteomics must, finally, be useful for determining the extent and magnitude of the impact of EMF exposure on human tissues and organs.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION AND HEALTH: FUTURE OF THE RESEARCH AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
Dariusz Leszczynski, Adjunct Professor, Department of Biosciences, Division of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland; dariusz.leszczynski@helsinki.fi
ABSTRACT
Physiological functions of the human body are regulated by electric currents. Therefore, it is not surprising that placing a human body within an electromagnetic field, of sufficient strength, may cause interference with normal physiological processes. The present ICNIRP and IEEE safety guidelines claim to protect the whole of the human population from the effects of exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, research studies on humans and animals suggest that exposures at levels permitted by the safety guidelines can affect health. There certainly are among us people who are more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than the general population. We, the scientists, need to find out who these, potentially affected, individuals are.
The vast majority of the biological research examining the effects of EMF has focused on the possibility of affecting genes, causing brain cancer or impairment of embryonic development. At the same time, the debate continues whether EMF induces effects that, although not life-threatening, could be detrimental to the quality of life. The symptoms experienced by the self-diagnosed EMF sensitive persons, calling themselves electromagnetic-hyper-sensitive (EHS), fall into this category of symptoms detrimental to the quality of life.
Epidemiological studies are often expected to provide the answer, whether EMF exposure might be hazardous to the human population. However, validation of any potential health hazard using epidemiology alone is useless. This, because the low sensitivity of epidemiologic methodology is insufficient for reliable detection of health impact of the weak biological effects induced by low energy EMF. The to date executed epidemiological studies, although not providing any conclusive evidence, have shown that it is likely that long-term exposure to cell phone radiation (30 minutes/day for 10 years or longer period) increases the risk of developing brain cancer - glioma.
Because of the limitations of epidemiology, we need human volunteer studies of EMF effects to determine whether EMF exposures cause biochemical changes in exposed tissues and organs, linkable with any health hazard. Such information can be used to support, or dismiss, observations from the epidemiological studies as well as to improve the design of the future epidemiological research.
Modern molecular biology screening techniques of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics can provide such much needed information. This approach is particularly suited for studying biological and health effects of EMF because it will reveal effects impossible to predict based on the currently available knowledge. Systematic screening of the transcriptome (gene expression), proteome (protein expression), phospho-proteome (protein activity), metabolome (small molecular metabolites) will generate data necessary for conclusive proof of health effects, including, among others, carcinogenicity and EHS.
43Meanwhile, awaiting the conclusive scientific evidence, a process that will still take tens of years, we need to take an action to protect users of the wireless communication devices. There is an ongoing debate, whether the Precautionary Principle (PP), as defined by the European Union in 2000, should be implemented to mitigate the suspected health risks of exposure to EMF. In order to consider the use of the PP, the first necessary step is the evaluation of the scientific evidence. In respect to cell phone radiation, this first step was executed in 2011 when the Working Group of 30 experts met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and classified cell phone radiation as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B).
After completion of evaluation of the scientific evidence, there are several pre-conditions that need to be fulfilled before debating the implementation of the PP, in accordance with the EU PP document of 2000. All of these preconditions are fulfilled:
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when the scientific information is insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain:
• IARC classification of cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen has clearly shown that the information on health effects of cell phone radiation is insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain?
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when there are indications that the possible effects on human health may be potentially dangerous
• IARC classification of cell phone radiation, based on the evidence from epidemiological case-control studies, has pointed out that avid long-term cell phone users are at an increased brain cancer risk – this is a potential danger to over 7 billion of cell phone users
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when the current situation is inconsistent with the chosen level of protection
• IARC classification pointing out to an increased brain cancer risk is based on epidemiological studies where subjects used regular cell phones meeting current safety standards; this means that the current safety standards are insufficient to protect users.
Implementation of the Precautionary Principle does not equal prevention of the use of wireless technologies. This policy can help curb the current rampant and uncontrolled deployment of wireless networks anywhere and everywhere. The claims that the implementation of the Precautionary Principle will cause economic harm are not justified. Implementation of the Precautionary Principle will create new knowledge through research aimed at solving the issue of health risk and developing communication technologies with lower radiation emissions. It will, in turn, create new jobs and new economic opportunities in research and technology.
In conclusion, IARC review of the scientific evidence and obtained classification of possible carcinogenicity of cell phone radiation, permit implementation of the Precautionary Principle measures, in order to protect the population from the potentially hazardous effects of exposure to radiation emitted by the wireless communication devices. Concomitantly, with the implementation of the protective measures, aimed at reducing exposures of the human population, scientific research should continue to resolve the contradictions of the scientific evidence. Modern molecular biology methods of transcriptomics and proteomics must be finally used to determine the scope and the size of the impact of EMF exposures on human tissues and organs.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION AND HEALTH: FUTURE OF THE RESEARCH AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
Dariusz Leszczynski, Adjunct Professor, Department of Biosciences, Division of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland;
dariusz.leszczynski@helsinki.fi
ABSTRACT
Physiological functions of the human body are regulated by electric currents. Therefore, it is not surprising that placing a human body within an electromagnetic field, of sufficient strength, may cause interference with normal physiological processes. The present ICNIRP and IEEE safety guidelines claim to protect the whole of the human population from the effects of exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, research studies on humans and animals suggest that exposures at levels permitted by the safety guidelines can affect health. There certainly are among us people who are more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than the general population. We, the scientists, need to find out who these, potentially affected, individuals are.
The vast majority of the biological research examining the effects of EMF has focused on the possibility of affecting genes, causing brain cancer or impairment of embryonic development. At the same time, the debate continues whether EMF induces effects that, although not life-threatening, could be detrimental to the quality of life. The symptoms experienced by the self-diagnosed EMF sensitive persons, calling themselves electromagnetic-hyper-sensitive (EHS), fall into this category of symptoms detrimental to the quality of life.
Epidemiological studies are often expected to provide the answer, whether EMF exposure might be hazardous to the human population. However, validation of any potential health hazard using epidemiology alone is useless. This, because the low sensitivity of epidemiologic methodology is insufficient for reliable detection of health impact of the weak biological effects induced by low energy EMF. The to date executed epidemiological studies, although not providing any conclusive evidence, have shown that it is likely that long-term exposure to cell phone radiation (30 minutes/day for 10 years or longer period) increases the risk of developing brain cancer - glioma.
Because of the limitations of epidemiology, we need human volunteer studies of EMF effects to determine whether EMF exposures cause biochemical changes in exposed tissues and organs, linkable with any health hazard. Such information can be used to support, or dismiss, observations from the epidemiological studies as well as to improve the design of the future epidemiological research.
Modern molecular biology screening techniques of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics can provide such much needed information. This approach is particularly suited for studying biological and health effects of EMF because it will reveal effects impossible to predict based on the currently available knowledge. Systematic screening of the transcriptome (gene expression), proteome (protein expression), phospho-proteome (protein activity), metabolome (small molecular metabolites) will generate data necessary for conclusive proof of health effects, including, among others, carcinogenicity and EHS.
2B OR NOT 2B – PANDORA'S BOX “2B OR NOT 2B – PANDORA'S BOX”
43Meanwhile, awaiting the conclusive scientific evidence, a process that will still take tens of years, we need to take an action to protect users of the wireless communication devices. There is an ongoing debate, whether the Precautionary Principle (PP), as defined by the European Union in 2000, should be implemented to mitigate the suspected health risks of exposure to EMF. In order to consider the use of the PP, the first necessary step is the evaluation of the scientific evidence. In respect to cell phone radiation, this first step was executed in 2011 when the Working Group of 30 experts met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and classified cell phone radiation as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B).
After completion of evaluation of the scientific evidence, there are several pre-conditions that need to be fulfilled before debating the implementation of the PP, in accordance with the EU PP document of 2000. All of these preconditions are fulfilled:
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when the scientific information is insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain :
• IARC classification of cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen has clearly shown that the information on health effects of cell phone radiation is ―insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain‖
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when there are indications that the possible effects on human health may be potentially dangerous
• IARC classification of cell phone radiation, based on the evidence from epidemiological case-control studies, has pointed out that avid long-term cell phone users are at an increased brain cancer risk – this is a potential danger to over 7 billion of cell phone users
Pre-condition: PP can be implemented when the current situation is inconsistent with the chosen level of protection
• IARC classification pointing out to an increased brain cancer risk is based on epidemiological studies where subjects used regular cell phones meeting current safety standards; this means that the current safety standards are insufficient to protect users.
Implementation of the Precautionary Principle does not equal prevention of the use of wireless technologies. This policy can help curb the current rampant and uncontrolled deployment of wireless networks anywhere and everywhere. The claims that the implementation of the Precautionary Principle will cause economic harm are not justified. Implementation of the Precautionary Principle will create new knowledge through research aimed at solving the issue of health risk and developing communication technologies with lower radiation emissions. It will, in turn, create new jobs and new economic opportunities in research and technology.
In conclusion, IARC review of the scientific evidence and obtained classification of possible carcinogenicity of cell phone radiation, permit implementation of the Precautionary Principle measures, in order to protect the population from the potentially hazardous effects of exposure to radiation emitted by the wireless communication devices. Concomitantly, with the implementation of the protective measures, aimed at reducing exposures of the human population, scientific research should continue to resolve the contradictions of the scientific evidence. Modern molecular biology methods of transcriptomics and proteomics must be finally used to determine the scope and the size of the impact of EMF exposures on human tissues and organs.
