Electromagnetic fields and radiation produced by
radio antennae or mobile phones can influence biological processes, a recent
research study by the Swiss National Research Program has shown on Friday.
Some research projects within the program of "Non-Ionising Radiatin-Health
and Environment" have confirmed that non ionising radiation affects biological
processes in cells and organs.
With the help of cell culture experiments, they have discovered that
radiation causes a slight increase in DNA strand breaks without, however,
directly damaging the DNA.
Furthermore, until now, the protection needed by foetuses in the womb has
not been given enough attention, as a modelling study has shown.
Using numerical techniques, researchers simulated the amount of
electromagnetic radiation that reaches unborn babies in the third, seventh and
ninth month of pregnancy.
They thereby discovered that the radiation to which a foetus is exposed
lies above the permissible threshold for the general public if the mother has
maximum exposure at the workplace.
In order to protect unborn children from undue exposure, product standards
for technical equipment at the workplace - in particular, induction cookers -
ought to be adjusted.
A team from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University
of Zurich discovered changes to brain waves during sleep if the subject was
exposed to the radiation of a half-hour mobile phone conversation before going
to sleep.
However, the changes in brain activity - as compared to feigned exposure in
a control experiment - do not affect the structure and duration of the
different sleep phases, nor do they detract from the subjectively felt quality
of sleep.
All in all, the research conducted has not brought to light any alarming
new facts that would necessitate changes to the law or intervention by the
authorities.
"It is still not clear whether the proven effects on the brain and on cells
are relevant to the health of human beings. Further research might lead to a
better understanding of how electromagnetic fields affect organs and
organisms", said the study.
Furthermore, it is important for research to keep pace with the rapid
developments on the technology side. Follow-up studies are important - even
after this project is wrapped up.
Since 2007, researchers of the Swiss National Research Programme have
assessed the health risks posed by our exposure to electromagnetic fields and
non-ionising radiation in 11 different research projects.
In the "Dosimetry and exposure assessment" module, researchers measured the
electromagnetic fields produced by radio masts or mobile phones and calculated
the amount of radiation absorbed by the human body.
The "Laboratory studies and epidemiology" module looked at the short-term
and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation; and the "Cell biology" module
sought to track down molecular mechanisms of action.
Finally, two sociological studies of the "Risk perception" module examined
what the media and the public make of the risks of non-ionising radiation.
However, they have not been able to establish any links between everyday
exposure to radiation and health problems.
A total of five billion mobile phones were in use last year around the
world, and there are daily more: the growth curve for mobile phone usage shows
a steep rise.
At the same time, other equipment and technologies associated with
electromagnetic fields and radiation are also increasingly being used, for
instance wireless Internet connections or cordless phones. What health and
environmental impacts does this have is the main question without enought
answers.
Despite international efforts, to which the Swiss National Research Program
"Non-Ionising Radiation - Health and Environment" has contributed over the
past four years, there are still no easy answers to these simple questions.
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