Post on 02-Jun-2018
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REU June 2013
Biological Effects of Radio Waves
or
Are Cell Phones Dangerous to Your Health?Tim Pratt, Instructor
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http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d417153ef014e89094ed4970d-popup8/11/2019 Biolog Radio Waves-Dr Pratt (2)
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The Known Danger
Distracted drivingby you and by others
In 2009:
5.5 million car crashes in the US
31,000 killed, 2 million injured 5,474 people killed in U.S. by accidents that
involved distracted driving
448,000 were injured
The price we pay for using automobiles
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Cell Phones and Vehicle Accidents
Cell phone a factor in 995 fatal accidents
Also in 24,000 injuries
Under-20 age group had the highest percentage
of distracted drivers
16% of under 20 years olds involved in fatal
crashes were distracted while driving
The price we pay for using cell phones
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Radiation
Radiation is divided into two categories:
Ionizing radiation
Alpha particles, Beta particles,
X rays, cosmic rays Non-ionizing radiation
Light, including visible, Infra red and Ultra violet
Radio waves from ULF to millimeter waves Also of interest:
60 Hz fields from power lines and other sources
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Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation causes changes to molecules
Waves/particles have sufficient energy to knock
electrons out of molecules
Can cause damage to biological materials
CDRH is US body responsible for human
exposure
Center for Devices and Radiological Healthplaces limits on acceptable exposure to X rays
Also regulates exposure to laser sources
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Non-Ionizing Radiation
Non-ionizing radiation covers entire EMspectrum up to ultra violet light
Light and radio waves do not have enough
energy to cause changes in molecules Many moleculesespecially waterabsorb
EM energy
Absorption process is called dipole rotation
Molecule behaves like electric dipole Rotates at incident frequencydissipates
energy
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Known Effects of EM Waves
Heating
Incident radio and light waves are absorbed byanimal and human components
Absorption varies greatly with material Water content closely related to absorption
Effects observable with any microwave oven
Example: Dried peas in water
Water initially gets hot, peas dont
The miniature poodle case
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Penetration Depth
Longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply
At 100 MHz, 99% of energy is absorbed in a
distance of several centimeters
At 2.4 GHz depth is ~ 1 cm
For optical frequencies depth is ~ mm
Sunlight is powerful EM source
> 300 W / m2on sunny summer day Equal to 30 mW / cm2
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Safety Standards
International standards set by World Health
Organization (WHO)
National Standards set by government
departments or agencies and national(independent) bodies
CDRH in US
National Radiological Protection Board in UK Department of Post and Telecommunications in
Japan
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International Exposure Levels
Maximum permitted exposure
UK 1.0 - 10 mW/cm2
US, Canada, Japan, 0.21.0 mW/cm2
Germany
Australia 0.2 mW/cm2
Italy 0.05 mW/cm2
Russia, Switzerland 0.0020.01 mW/cm2 Higher exposure may be permitted for short
period of time
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FCC Rules for Cell Phones
Particular concern because half energy from
antenna is absorbed in head
900 MHz (AMPS) cell phones
Tx power limit is around 0.5 watts
1.82.0 GHz (PCS) cell phones
Limit is 0.3 W
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Cell Phones and Cancer
Recent World Health Organization report calledcell phones a possible factor in cancer, alongwith coffee, car exhaust
FCC statement: There is no scientific evidence to date thatproves that wireless phone usage can lead tocancer or a variety of other health effects,
including headaches, dizziness or memory loss.
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About 48% of power from cell phone
transmitter is absorbed by users head
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Children and Cell Phones
Microwave radiation penetrates a childs headmuch further than an adults
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Research to Establish Biological Effects
Sponsored by government agencies and
departments, independent boards, private
foundations
Thousands of studies Hundreds of conclusions
Particular concerns:
Absorption of microwave energy by head whenusing a cell phone
Intense 60 Hz fields below high voltage power lines
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Researching Biological Effects
Population Studies -
Epidemiological studies of groups of people
Individual Studies -
Animal and human research
Cell and Tissue Studies -
Cell and biological investigations
Molecular Level Studies -
Biochemical and molecularbiological
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Population Studies
Compare groups of people exposed to radio
waves with non-exposed control group
Exposed groups:
Workers building radar and communicationsystems
Installation engineers
People living near high power transmitters Children in schools near transmitters
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Population Studies
Look for:
General decline in health
Specific conditions
E.g. cancer, digestive illnesses, sleeplessness
Results of Russian study:
People working in factories where exposure to
radio waves and radar transmissions were lesshealthy than general population
Problem: What other factors might be involved?
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Russian Study
Russian government took results of study
seriously
Banned microwave ovens in 1976
Reduced exposure standard from 10 mW/cm2
to 0.01 mW/cm2
No readily available data on whether health of
workers improved No control groups reported
Russians identified Radio Wave Sickness
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Individual Studies
Typically conducted on rats, mice, guinea pigs
Place animals around a radiating antenna
Or in reduced power microwave oven
Set up control group in identical condition with
no radiation
Compare general health of animals after 2, 4, 6
many weeks Look for specific conditions: cancer, stroke,
heart arhythmia, other illnesses,
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Iindividual Studies
Rats, mice and guinea pigs
Test group
Cell phone on
Control group
Cell phone off
Look for difference in health
Use mice and rats susceptible to cancer
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Individual Studies
Example study on rats with GSM cell phone:
Equivalent of 0.91 W Tx power
Rats located around radiating antenna
Two control groups used
Experiment conducted for number of weeks
No adverse effects found
Doesnt prove that cell phones are harmless tohumans
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Cell and Tissue Studies
Cancer studies
Use chemical agents to cause tumors
Place animal in microwave oven for a while
(at low power)
Set up control group with power off
See if tumor grows faster in exposed animals
Particular interest: brain tumors Technique not used on human subjects
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Biological Studies
Put human brain tissue in a dish
Repeat rat experiment
Look for change in DNAespecially tumors
Test group
Cell phone on
Control group
Cell phone off
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Molecular Studies
Place cell cultures in Petrie dishes
Radiate some, use others for controls
Look for differences at molecular level
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Other Studies
Radio wave sickness
Further studies of selected groups via interviews
and health reports
Click effectsome people claim to hear a clickfrom pulse transmitters
Heart problems - look for specific condition
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Conclusions on Studies
Several independent groups have evaluated
many studies of all types
Most get rejected as flawed, unscientific, or
poorly conducted Conclusions from all groups:
There is no conclusive evidence that radio
waves at safety standard levels cause illnesses,cancer, or other health hazards
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Conclusions - Conditional
Are some individuals more susceptible to radiowaves than others?
Are some tumors in some people sensitive to aspecific frequency?
What effect do radio waves have on children?
FCC says there are no known adverse effectsfrom cell phone use
UK Radiological Protection Board recommendsthat children be restricted from non-essential cellphone use
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The Concern
Powerful interests dont want restrictions
E.g. Cell phone manufacturers and operators
Others would like to discover a problem
E.g. Trial lawyers would like a chance for a class
action law suit on brain tumors
Thalidomide, Viox cases
Then theres the Internet
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From the Internet Hidden Hazards
The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking By Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell
Is it possible that millions of people are ignorantlysacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience
of microwave ovens? Why did the Soviet Union ban the use of microwave
ovens in 1976?
Who invented microwave ovens, and why?
The answers to these questions may shock you intothrowing your microwave oven in the trash
Ref:http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm
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Hidden Hazards
Over 90% of American homes have microwave ovens
used for meal preparation
Microwave ovens are convenient and energy efficient
Very few homes or restaurants are without them
People believe that microwave ovens don't have any
negative effect on either the food or their health
They are wrong!
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Hidden Hazards
If microwave ovens were really harmful, our government
would never allow them on the market, would they?
Would they?
We have stopped using ours based on the research
facts outlined in this article
The purpose of this report is to show proof - evidence -
that microwave cooking is not natural, nor healthy
Far more dangerous to the human body than anyone
could imagine
The microwave oven is sapping your life force
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50 Hz and 60 Hz Electric Fields
Similar concerns exist about exposure to 50 Hz
and 60 Hz electric fields from power lines
Population studies in some places suggest a
problem, especially for children Sweden moved some schools from under power
lines after one study
Conclusion from analysis of many studies: No conclusive evidence of health hazard
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50 Hz and 60 Hz Electric Fields
How to get exposed to 50 / 60 Hz:
Sleep under an electric blanket (turned on)
Studies did reveal one interesting effect
Workers who came in contact with high voltage
lines were more likely to contract Lou Gherigs
disease (ALS)
ALS = amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Condition in which some nerves cease to
conductno known cure
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Lasers and the Human Eye
Lasers radiate coherent radiationa plane
wave front
Lens in the eye can focus laser beam to one
micron spot Can burn a hole in the retina
CDRH and EU have complex formulas limiting
maximum exposure
Based on eye 10 or 20 cm away from laser
Limit is microwatts at visible and near IR
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Conclusion
After billions of dollars of research
No conclusive indication that EM waves or
50/60 Hz harm human health other than by
heating The research continues .