Cognitive Performance Measures in Bioelectromagnetic Research - Critical Evaluation and Recommendations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The steady increase of mobile phone usage has led to a rising concern about possible adverse health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) exposure at intensities even below the existing safety limits. Accumulating evidence suggests that pulse-modulated RF EMF may alter brain physiology. Yet, whereas effects on the human electroencephalogram in waking and sleep have repeatedly been shown in recent years, results on cognitive performance are inconsistent.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This review compares 41 provocation studies regarding the effects of RF EMF exposure similar to mobile telephones on cognitive performance measures in humans. The studies were identified via systematic searches of the databases Pub Med and ISI Web of Science and were published in peer-reviewed journals between 1998 and the end of 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on a critical discussion within the scope of methodological standards it is concluded that state-of-the-art-methods in bio-electromagnetic research on RF EMF effects and cognition have neither been specified nor fully implemented over the last 10-11 years. The lack of a validated tool, which reliably assesses changes in cognitive performance caused by RF EMF exposure, may contribute to the current inconsistencies in outcomes. The high variety of findings may also be due to methodological issues such as differences in sample size and the composition of study groups, experimental design, exposure setup as well as the exposure conditions, and emphasizes the need for a standardized protocol in bioelectromagnetic research.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>At present, no underlying biological mechanism has been identified which mediates the effects on brain functioning as observed in electroencephalographic (EEG) studies. A future aim must be to identify this mechanism as well as a reliable exposure protocol in order to gain more insights into possible behavioral and related health consequences of high-frequency EMF exposure.</p

Conduct of a personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurement study: proposed study protocol

Background: The development of new wireless communication technologies that emit radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) is ongoing, but little is known about the RF-EMF exposure distribution in the general population. Previous attempts to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF have used different measurement protocols and analysis methods making comparisons between exposure situations across different study populations very difficult. As a result, observed differences in exposure levels between study populations may not reflect real exposure differences but may be in part, or wholly due to methodological differences. Methods: The aim of this paper is to develop a study protocol for future personal RF-EMF exposure studies based on experience drawn from previous research. Using the current knowledge base, we propose procedures for the measurement of personal exposure to RF-EMF, data collection, data management and analysis, and methods for the selection and instruction of study participants. Results: We have identified two basic types of personal RF-EMF measurement studies: population surveys and microenvironmental measurements. In the case of a population survey, the unit of observation is the individual and a randomly selected representative sample of the population is needed to obtain reliable results. For microenvironmental measurements, study participants are selected in order to represent typical behaviours in different microenvironments. These two study types require different methods and procedures. Conclusion: Applying our proposed common core procedures in future personal measurement studies will allow direct comparisons of personal RF-EMF exposures in different populations and study areas

Sleep-wake behaviour and the EEG in altered states of consciousness

Abstract presented at the 23rd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference, 20-22 Nov 2013, Wollongong, Australia

Children's health and RF EMF exposure

$\textbf{Aim}$ The report is reviewing and evaluating the current state of the scientific evidence of the effects of EMF exposure from cell phones and base stations on children’s health. Three main areas of children’s health were assessed: - Cancer (brain cancer and leukaemia) and health disturbances, - Effects on embryonic development, offspring, and blood-brain barrier investigated by animal research, - Effects on cognition and the central nervous system (CNS). Additionally, dosimetry issues were considered, i.e. whether children do absorb more power than adults when exposed to RF EMF. $\textbf{Procedure}$ The report is based on the scientific opinions of 7 international recognized experts and 4 advisory experts from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland as well as on a series of workshop discussion. An important criterion for the selection of the experts was that they have a strong record in EMF research, as documented by publications in internationally recognized and peer-reviewed academic journals. Advisory expert panelists supported the discussions of the expert opinions during the workshops. For their selection, it was not required that the scientific research of the advisory experts focuses specifically on the EMF field. Rather, the selection depended on their theoretical and methodological knowledge for the respective topic area to critically review the expert opinion reports. Subsequently, for all relevant endpoints evidence maps were constructed, i.e. graphical representations of the main arguments on which the conclusions are based as well as a description of the remaining uncertainties. The dialogue project was initiated in October 2007 and completed in August 2009. $\textbf{Results}$ Dosimetry For children under 8 years no conclusive evidence exists for the assumption that the SAR level in children’s head is higher than for adults. For whole body exposure, there is some evidence that the ICNIRP reference level cannot ensure that basic restrictions are not exceeded under any circumstances. This applies for children younger than 8 years at specific frequency bands, e.g. around 100 MHz and 1.8 GHz. However, even if further research would prove this it has to be taken into account that ICNIRP basic restrictions comprise large safety factors and real-world [...

Children\u27s health and RF EMF exposure

The present report documents a dialogue between scientists reviewing the currently available scientific evidence with respect to the effects of RF EMF exposure on children. The focus was directed towards a transparent and comprehensible characterization of the findings and conclusions for the evaluation of the relationship between mobile phone communication and children’s health. The now available report, based on the scientific opinions of the experts as well as on a series of workshops, aims to help the public and policy makers to better understand the current state of the scientific evidence as well as implications for the risk evaluation with respect to children