Transcript Biological and Health Effects of RF Radiation

Effects of RF Radiation on
Human Health and Disease
Stephen K. Frankel, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
&
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Introductory Remarks
• Credentials
• All studies have limitations.
• Prudence and public safety should take
priority when making public policy decisions
• An absence of data does not equal negative
data
Are there potential serious health risks
associated with locating wireless
transmission towers in residential areas?
• Long-term, low intensity exposures
• Biological plausibility
• Epidemiological evidence
Non-thermal biological effects of RF radiation
exist and occur at doses previously thought to be
safe. Thermal effects alone should not be
considered an acceptable readout of biological
effects in 2003.
Biological Plausibility
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DNA damage
Generation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
Calcium flux, membrane potential and ion channels
Alterations of cell proliferation and transformation
Heat shock proteins (markers of cell stress)
Alterations in immunity
Signal transduction effects
Reported Health Effects
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Adult and childhood leukemia
Brain cancer
Infertility
Altered immune function
Neurological and developmental
impairment
Epidemiological Data Suggesting a
Correlation between low dose RF
Radiation and Leukemia
• Italian Study: Increased incidence of childhood
leukemia (2.2 X) (2002)
• Australian Study: Increased incidence of
childhood leukemia (1.58) and mortality (2.32)
• Hawaiian Honolulu Study: Increased incidence of
leukemia (1.58 men, 1.45 women)
• British Study (Sutton-Coldfield): Increased risk of
leukemia with increasing proximity to source
RF and Cancer:
Occupational Data
• Savitz et. al.: Leukemia and brain cancer in
electrical utility workers
• Grayson et al.: Air Force personnel and
brain cancer risk.
• Kheifets et. al.: Increased incidence of brain
cancer in persons occupationally exposed to
electric and magnetic fields
CSU Lookout Mountain Study
Background
• 1998 CDPHE study identified increased rates
of brain cancer on Lookout Mountain
• 1999 CDPHE study reported a statistically
significant increase in brain and CNS cancer.
• 2001 CSU awarded $713,000 NIH grant to
study, “Human Reponses to Residential RF
Exposure” in the Lookout Mountain
residential community
CSU Lookout Mountain Study
Design
• 300 persons, including children.
• Careful exposure measurements
• Blood and urine collected for melatonin and
other biomarkers of disease and carcinogenesis
• Informed consent and institutional oversight
for protection of human subjects
CSU Lookout Mountain Study
Current Status
• Study is still in the data collection phase
• Results will be released in the form of a
peer-reviewed manuscript in late 2005 or
2006
“While the CDPHE study cannot be interpreted
to mean that exposures to radiofrequency
emanating from the antennas on Lookout
Mountain necessarily caused the brain cancers in
each of these persons, the data are sufficiently
strong to merit further investigation and to use
care and prudence in making decisions that
might result in any increase in radiofrequency
radiation exposure to the community.”
John S. Reif, DVM, MSc
Professor of Epidemiology
Chairman, Department of Environmental Health
Colorado State University
Infertility
• RF radiation induces irreversible infertility
in mice-- Magras and Xenos, 1997
• Danish military personnel study shows that
personnel exposed to RFR emitting radar
systems have significantly lower sperm
counts--Hjollund et. al., 1997
Altered Immune Function
• Altered immune function plays a critical
role in immune (tumor) surveillance,
autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases.
• Boscolo, et. al. 2001. San Silvestri study
showed abnormal reductions in lymphocyte
populations in women with residential RF
exposure to TV Broadcast Antennas
Neurological and Developmental
Impairment
• School children living in the area of the
Skrunda radio location station had less
developed memory and attention, slowed
reaction time, and decreased neuromuscular
endurance– Kolodynski and Kolodynska, 1996
• People who lived and worked near radio
antennae and radar installations showed
deficits in psychological and short-term
memory tests—Chiang, 1989
Conclusions
• There is a real and very concerning body of
evidence suggesting that RF radiation at doses
within FCC guidelines have biological
significance and serious and harmful health
consequences
• Until more definitive data can demonstrate the
safety of locating such facilities in residential
areas, it would be prudent to locate new such
facilities away from residential populations