Transcript Slide 1
Results of laboratory studies on RF fields Prof. Dr. Alexander Lerchl Jacobs University Bremen, Germany Head, Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation, German Radiation Protection Board (SSK) Actions of EMF on Organisms – Theoretical Targets Cancer Brain (e.g., Growth Hormone, LH, TSH, TRH, Melatonin) Thyroid Gland (Thyroxin) Whole Body (e.g., Temperature, Metabolism) Reproductive Organs (e.g, Testosterone, Estrogens) Actions of EMF – Theoretical Mechanisms WHO Research Agenda for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, 2010 Cancer and Electromagnetic Fields in Animals without EMF with EMF Time ? Studies in AKR/J Mice (900 MHz) N=160 / group; SAR = 0.4 W/kg (24/7) Blinded design Sommer et al., BMC Cancer 4 (2005): 77 Studies in AKR/J Mice (900 MHz) N=160 / group; SAR = 0.4 W/kg (24/7) Blinded design Sommer et al., BMC Cancer 4 (2005): 77 Studies in AKR/J Mice (900 MHz) P<0.01 N=160 / group; SAR = 0.4 W/kg (24/7) Blinded design Sommer et al., BMC Cancer 4 (2005): 77 Effects of EMF (900 MHz) on Metabolism in Hamsters (Pilot Study) Lerchl et al, BEMS 2008 Studies in AKR/J Mice (1966 MHz; UMTS) N=160 / group; SAR = 0.4 W/kg (24/7) Blinded design Sommer et al., Radiat Res 168 (2007): 72 - 80 Studies in AKR/J Mice (1966 MHz; UMTS) n.s. N=160 / group; SAR = 0.4 W/kg (24/7) Blinded design Sommer et al., Radiat Res 168 (2007): 72 - 80 Mice Multigeneration Study (1966 MHz; UMTS) N=32 pairs (2 females, 1 male) per group; 4 exposure groups (0, 0.08, 0.4, 1.3 W/kg); 4 generations; exposure 24/7; blinded design Mice Multigeneration Study (1966 MHz; UMTS) Sommer et al., Radiat Res 171 (2009) 89-95 Mice Multigeneration Study (1966 MHz; UMTS) Sommer et al., Radiat Res 171 (2009) 89-95 Mice Multigeneration Study (1966 MHz; UMTS) Sommer et al., Radiat Res 171 (2009) 89-95 Effects of Head-Only Exposure (900 MHz) on Development, Learning and Memory in Rats Effects of Head-Only Exposure (900 MHz) on Development, Learning and Memory in Rats Effects of Head-Only Exposure (900 MHz) on Development, Learning and Memory in Rats • • • • • N = 24 rats per group SAR (brain) = 0, 0.4, 2 and 10 W/kg (blinded) Exposure 2 h / day, 5 days / week Exposure started at an age of 14 days (!) Battery of behavioral tests: – 8-arm maze – Rotarod wheel – Open field – Water maze 3 times during experiment: - juvenile (completed) - adult - pre-senile Odds Ratios OR=1: Control Significantly higher Significantly lower A B C Condition (e.g., exposure) Odds ratio 95 % confidence interval (depends on group size!) Spontaneous Brain Tumors in Rodents Repacholi et al., 2012 Brain Tumor Promotion in Rodents Repacholi et al., 2012 Pituitary Tumors in Rodents Repacholi et al., 2012 Conclusions • Studies looking at the effects of electromagnetic fields in rodents so far did not indicate an increased risk for various cancers, even at levels well above the recommended exposure limits. • Chronic exposure of AKR/J or normal mice (in a multigeneration study) revealed no adverse effects on health or development at rather high SAR values. • Although animal studies are limited with respect to humans, they add weight on the general conclusion that cancerogenic effects of EMF are highly unlikely. Acknowledgements • Projects funded by the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), Germany • Dr. Melanie Klose, Dr. Angela Sommer, Dr. Kirsten Schwarzpaul, Karen Grote, Thomas Ströhlein (Jacobs University) • Nina Kloss (Jacobs University, 2nd year undergraduate, project on temperatures) • Volkert Hansen, Joachim Streckert, Andreas Bitz (Universities Wuppertal and Essen) Thank you for your attention!