Evaluating exposure from electric fields in a high voltage switchyard according to the EU directive.

An assessment according to Directive 2013/35/EU of exposure in a 400 kV switchyard has been performed. Part of the body was exposed to electric field strength above the high action level. We therefore performed simulations of the electric fields induced in the body to assess these accoding to the exposure limit values (ELVs).

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia: A risk assessment by the ARIMMORA consortium.

Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) was evaluated in an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" in 2001, based on increased childhood leukemia risk observed in epidemiological studies. We conducted a hazard assessment using available scientific evidence published before March 2015, with inclusion of new research findings from the Advanced Research on Interaction Mechanisms of electroMagnetic exposures with Organisms for Risk Assessment (ARIMMORA) project. The IARC Monograph evaluation scheme was applied to hazard identification.

Feasibility of future epidemiological studies on possible health effects of mobile phone base stations.

The increasing deployment of mobile communication base stations led to an increasing demand for epidemiological studies on possible health effects of radio frequency emissions. The methodological challenges of such studies have been critically evaluated by a panel of scientists in the fields of radiofrequency engineering/dosimetry and epidemiology. Strengths and weaknesses of previous studies have been identified.

Exposure of cultured astroglial and microglial brain cells to 900 MHz microwave radiation.

The rapid rise in the use of mobile communications has raised concerns about health issues related to low-level microwave radiation. The head and brain are usually the most exposed targets in mobile phone users. In the brain, two types of glial cells, the astroglial and the microglial cells, are interesting in the context of biological effects from microwave exposure.

Study of subgridding in SAR computation for the cochlea.

A 3D subgridding technique is used to model the specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution in the isolated cochlea exposed to mobile phone radiation at 1750 MHz using the FDTD method. The cochlea is modeled using an increasing spatial resolutions of 1, 1/3, 1/5, and 1/7 mm. First simulations were performed at 1 mm spatial resolution.

Magnetic field from spot welding equipment--is the basic restriction exceeded?

A point measurement of the magnetic field (MF) near a typical spot welding machine showed that the magnetic flux density was above the ICNIRP reference level. To investigate if the basic restrictions were exceeded, the induced body currents in a full 3D human model were calculated. It was found that at an operator position of 34 cm away from the machine the maximum induced current density was below the ICNIRP basic restriction.

ELF magnetic fields in a city environment.

Some epidemiological studies indicate an association between extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure and cancer risks. These studies have mainly taken residential and occupational exposure into consideration. Outdoor environments are often considered as low level areas, but in this paper we show that this is not true in a city environment.

Cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations in human leukemia T-cells are reduced by 50 Hz magnetic fields.

The effect of 50 Hz magnetic fields on the cytosolic calcium oscillator in Jurkat E6.1 cells was investigated for field strengths within the range from 0 to 0.40 mT root mean square.

The influence of 50-Hz magnetic fields on cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations in human leukemia T-cells.

We have studied the effects of 50-Hz 100-microT rms magnetic fields on intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the Jurkat T lymphocyte variant E6.1 using fluorescent probes Indo-1 and Fura-2. We found, however, that the pattern of intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations also depended on the agent used for cell attachment, in our case the polypeptide poly-L-lysine.

Ca2+ ion transport through patch-clamped cells exposed to magnetic fields.

The total current of Ca2+ ions through patch-clamped cell membranes was measured while exposing clonal insulin-producing beta-cells (RINm5F) to a combination of DC and AC magnetic fields at so-called cyclotron resonance conditions. Previous experimental evidence supports the theory that a resonant interaction between magnetic fields and organisms can exist. This experiment was designed to test one possible site of interaction: channels in the cell membrane.

Effect of microwave radiation on permeability of liposomes. Evidence against non-thermal leakage.

The effect of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the permeability of unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes has been studied. Leakage of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein from the liposomes was measured using spectrofluorimetry after exposure to either microwaves or thermal heating for 5-20 min intervals.

Experimental search for combined AC and DC magnetic field effects on ion channels.

The hypothesis that specific combinations of DC and low frequency AC magnetic fields at so-called cyclotron-resonance conditions could affect the transport of ions through ion channels, or alter the kinetics of ion channels (opening and closing rates), has been tested. As a model system, the ion channels formed by gramicidin A incorporated in lipid bilayer membranes were studied. No significant changes in channel conductance, average lifetime, or formation rate as a function of applied fields could be detected over a wide range of frequencies and field strengths.

Theoretical study of the resonant behaviour of an ion confined to a potential well in a combination of AC and DC magnetic fields.

Numerical solutions are presented to the equation of motion for an ion confined to a region of space by a restoring force and subject to DC and AC magnetic fields. We have expanded on the theoretical work of Durney et al. [1988] by including a potential well as a confining factor.

Effect of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on permeability of unilamellar liposomes to 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. Evidence of non-thermal leakage.

The influence of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the membrane permeability of unilamellar liposomes was studied using the marker 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein trapped in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The release of the fluorescent marker was followed by spectrofluorimetry after an exposure of 10 minutes to either microwave radiation or to heat alone of the liposome solutions.

Microwave effects on the central nervous system--a study of radar mechanics.

Seventeen radar mechanics and engineers and 12 unexposed referents were examined, using extensive neurological, psychometric and neuropsychiatric techniques to determine whether there were any indications of central nervous system effects of microwave exposure. Pathological neurological findings were not more common in the exposed group than among the referents. In addition, the psychometric tests and the psychiatric rating scales did not reveal any statistically significant adverse effects of microwave exposure.

Biological effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on Salmonella typhimurium and Drosophila melanogaster.

Salmonella typhimurium and Drosophila melanogaster were exposed to continuous wave (CW) 2.45-GHz electromagnetic radiation, pulsed 3.10-GHz electromagnetic radiation, CW 27.

A negative test for mutagenic action of microwave radiation in Drosophila melanogaster.

Microwave radiation (2450 MHz CW) was tested for mutagenicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Embryos in water were exposed to the electromagnetic field with a mean specific absorption rate of 100 W/kg. A sensitive somatic test system was used, in which mutagenicity was measured as the frequency of somatic mutations for eye pigmentation.

Retinal damage experimentally induced by microwave radiation at 55 mW/cm2.

The action of 550 W/m2 (mean) 3100 MHz pulsed radiation on the rabbit retina in vivo was investigated by fundus photography, blood-retinal barrier tracers, light and electron microscopy, either after a single 1--1.5 h exposure or after a series of repeated 1 h exposures for up to 53 h during about 100 days. The electron microscopic investigation of the repeatedly exposed retinas revealed degenerative changes in the retinal neurons.