Functional plant science and biotechnology

This chapter reviews the biological effects and the consequences for health that result from exposure to extremely low-frequency (ELF) fields and radiofrequency (RF) radiation - time-varying electromagnetic fields (EMFs) up to 300 GHz. The well-established effects of exposure to ELF frequencies result from the interaction of induced electric fields and currents with electrically excitable nerve and muscle tissue, whereas exposure to sufficiently intense RF radiation results in whole-body and/or localized tissue heating. The chapter reviews these effects and the effects of exposure to much lower EMF levels such as those encountered in the environment. The final section summarizes existing health-risk assessments and the current International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation guidelines on exposure

Systematic review of wireless phone use and brain cancer and other head tumors

Repacholi MH, Lerchl A, Roosli M, et al. Systematic review of wireless phone use and brain cancer and other head tumors. Bioelectromagnetics. 2012;33(3):187-206.We conducted a systematic review of scientific studies to evaluate whether the use of wireless phones is linked to an increased incidence of the brain cancer glioma or other tumors of the head (meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and parotid gland), originating in the areas of the head that most absorb radiofrequency (RF) energy from wireless phones. Epidemiology and in vivo studies were evaluated according to an agreed protocol; quality criteria were used to evaluate the studies for narrative synthesis but not for meta-analyses or pooling of results. The epidemiology study results were heterogeneous, with sparse data on long-term use (=10 years). Meta-analyses of the epidemiology studies showed no statistically significant increase in risk (defined as P<0.05) for adult brain cancer or other head tumors from wireless phone use. Analyses of the in vivo oncogenicity, tumor promotion, and genotoxicity studies also showed no statistically significant relationship between exposure to RF fields and genotoxic damage to brain cells, or the incidence of brain cancers or other tumors of the head. Assessment of the review results using the Hill criteria did not support a causal relationship between wireless phone use and the incidence of adult cancers in the areas of the head that most absorb RF energy from the use of wireless phones. There are insufficient data to make any determinations about longer-term use (=10 years). Bioelectromagnetics 33:187206, 2012. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc