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Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)
& Its Effects on Human Health:DEMYSTIFYING THE EMF MYTH
CAPELLAN, FRANCES LEANA L.ARCH 176 Research Paper
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We are using electricity and wireless technologies
as never before, we are seeing in our civilization an
apparent unstoppable wave of desire for the use of
these electronic technologies.
Every wireless and electronic device in your home radiatesmillions of frequencies every second
this creates stress to the nervous system.
Source:
Electrosmog, Electrostress and Sleep Disorders, 2010
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Research now links long term exposure
to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) withchronic health issues, from stress,fatigue to cancer.
Overwhelming numbers of scientists
now agree that EMFs created by cellphones power lines and othertechnologies are carcinogens. But likeany massive public health threat, itmay be years before the talk stops
and the action starts. In themeantime, people are getting sick.
Source:
Are You Living in A Soup of Dangerous Radiation? (2010)http://safespaceprotection.com
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Source:
WALLSTREET JOURNAL, The Flipside of Laptops (2009)http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/07213620/The-flip-side-of-laptops.html
It is now believed that extremelylow frequency (ELF) magneticfields, such as those emitted bytraditional (non-flat screen)computer monitors, as well aslaptops with unearthed powersources (such as their batteries),
have biological effects that mayhave the potential to affect thegrowth of developing tissue,contribute to miscarriage or birthdefects, promote the growth of
cancer cells, interfere with thecell processes and functions andalter neurological functions.
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Contents
1.0 All We Need To Know About Extremely LowFrequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
2.0 Facts / Effects of Exposure to Extremely LowFrequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
3.0 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) ElectromagneticFields and Cancer
4.0 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) ElectromagneticFields and Other Health Effects
5.0 Summary:
Standards and guidelines for ELF field exposure
6.0 Conclusion
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1.0All We Need To Know About Extremely Low Frequency(ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
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1.1 What are electromagnetic fields (EMF)?
1.2 What are ELF electromagnetic fields
generated by powerlines, wiring andappliances?
1.3 How strong are ELF fields near power-
lines, wiring and appliances?
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1.1 What are electromagnetic fields (EMF)?
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a combination of
invisible electric and magnetic fields of force. They occur both naturallyand due to human
activity.
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Humans are exposed to electromagnetic fieldsgenerated by natural phenomena such as the earth
magnetic field or lightning, but also by human
activities, including the use ofpower lines and
electrical appliances.
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Naturally Occurring EMFs
Naturally occurring EMF are forexample, the earth staticmagnetic field to which we areconstantly exposed, electric
fields caused by electric chargesin the clouds or by the staticelectricity produced when twoobjects are rubbed together as
well as sudden electric andmagnetic fields caused bylightning, etc.
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Man-Made EMFs
Man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF) are forexample generated by extremely low frequency (ELF)sources, such as power-lines, wiring and appliances(the focus of this study) as well as by higher frequencysources such as radio and television antennas and,more recently, cellular telephones and their antennas(which are not reviewed in this study).
1.0 All We Need To Know About Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
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1.2 What are ELF electromagnetic fields generated by
powerlines, wiring and appliances?
Most electricity
carried in powerlines,wiring and appliances
is alternating current
(AC).
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Electromagnetic fields produced by sources other
than electricity, such as cellular phone antennas,
have higher frequencies and are therefore not
classified as Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) fields,
nor are they discussed within this study.
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1.3 How strong are ELF fields near power-lines, wiring and
appliances?
Because electricity is so much a part of
our lives, there are electromagnetic
fields around us most of the time.
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We are exposed to electric and magnetic fields
from many sources including high, medium
and low tension (voltage) power lines, electric
wiring inside buildings and electric appliances
such as refrigerators, computer monitors,
electric saws and drill presses.
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While strong electric
fields are produced by
high voltage electricity,
strong magnetic fields
are produced by strong
electric currents (high
amperage).
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A general rule is that relatively strong electric
and weak magnetic fields are observed below
high voltage transmission lines, whereas
household appliances and industrial devices
and machines may produce weak electric and
strong magnetic fields.
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Both electric and magnetic
fields weaken with distance
away from the source.
With respect to magnetic
fields, field strength weakens
more rapidly from point
sources, such as appliances,
than from line sources, suchas power lines and wiring.
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Overlapping fields caninteract to strengthen or
weaken the total effect. Therefore, the strength of
the electric and magneticfields depends not only on
the distance from thesource but also the distancefrom, and location of, othernearby sources.
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2.0Facts/ Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency(ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
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2.1 How do we measure exposure to ELF fields?
2.2 What happens when we are exposed to
ELF fields?
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2.1 How do we measure exposure to ELF fields?
The exposure to
electromagnetic fields can
be measured usingspecialized instruments or
estimated from other
parameters.
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Electric and magnetic fieldscan be measured inpractically everyenvironment or estimated
from other parameters. Environmental levels of ELF
fields are very low, typically5-50 V/m for electric fields
and 0.01-0.2 T formagnetic fields.
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Much higher exposures can
take place in some
workplaces and possiblyoutside the workplace for
many of us for shorter
durations.
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There are very precise instruments to measureelectric and magnetic fields, but there is a lack
of consensus on what exposure characteristics
should be measured to determine health
effects.
Calculation methods are available to evaluate
human exposure, but there are uncertainties
in the results.
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2.2 What happens when we are exposed to ELF fields?
Several theories try to explain howExtremely Low Frequency (ELF)fields could possibly producebiological effects.
A well-established interaction
mechanism is that currents andelectric fields are induced in livingtissues by ELF electric andmagnetic fields, but otherpossibilities, which may even bemore important at typicalexposure levels, are also beingexplored.
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ELF electric fields are greatlyattenuated (weakened) inside
the body.
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A well-established interaction mechanism is
that external ELF electric and magnetic fields
induce electric fields and currents in biological
tissues. This is a basic physical mechanism for
interaction of ELF fields with living organisms.
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The electric field induced within the body
increases with the frequency of the external
field and the size of the exposed body.
Above a certain threshold level, these induced
electric fields and currents provoke a reaction
from some specific cells. This threshold is well
above typical human exposure levels.
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Typical exposure at home results in very small
induced electric fields, while some exposure
at work and exposure directly under very high-
voltage power lines may be greater resulting
in electric fields of about 1 mV/m in some
tissues.
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In order to understand the effects of electricand magnetic fields on animals and humans,their electrical properties have to beconsidered.
Static magnetic fields, which are notattenuated by the organism, can exert forceson moving charges, orient magnetic structuresand affect the energy levels of somemolecules.
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3.0Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
and Cancer
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3.1 Do ELF fields cause cancer in animals?
3.2 Do ELF fields cause cancer in children?
3.3 Do ELF fields cause cancer in adults?
3.4 How are ELF fields classified with
respect to cancer?
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3.1Do ELF fields cause cancer in animals?
The overall conclusion of the
many studies available is thatExtremely Low Frequency
(ELF) fields do not cause
cancer in laboratory animals.
3.0 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer
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Long and short term effects of ELF magnetic
fields on cancer development in animals have
been investigated. Several studies focused ondifferent types of cancer including leukaemia
as well as skin, brain, liver and breast cancer.
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Most studies did not demonstrate any
carcinogenic effect. Some studies did show an
increase in cancers but these findings havenot been confirmed in similar studies. No ELF
magnetic field study on animals has indicated
an increase in leukaemia or lymphoma.
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3.2 Do ELF fields cause cancer in children?
Overall, studies show anincrease in childhoodleukaemia when children
are exposed to relativelystrong magnetic fields inthe home. However, theevidence is considered
limited because ofvarious possible biases.
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3.3 Do ELF fields cause cancer in adults?
So far there is no
consistent indicationthat ELF fields can
cause cancer in adults.
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3.4 How are ELF fields classified with respect to cancer?
ELF magnetic fields were classified by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" based onlimited evidence for childhood leukaemia.
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4.0Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic
Fields and Other Health Effects
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4.1 Do ELF fields cause reproductive effects?
4.2 Do ELF fields cause genetic and related
effects?4.3 Do ELF fields cause other health effects
in animals?
4.4 Do ELF fields cause other health effects
in humans?
4 1 D ELF fi ld d ti ff t ?
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4.1Do ELF fields cause reproductive effects?
On the whole, available
studies do not indicate that
Extremely Low Frequency
(ELF) fields harm reproduction
and development in animals
or humans.
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Many laboratory experiments exposing mammals
and other animals to strong static magnetic andELF electric fields, have consistently shown no
harmful effects on reproduction and development.
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Exposure of the fetus to
ELF magnetic fields
generally does not resultin major harmful effects
on development and
reproduction in mammals.
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4.2 Do ELF fields cause genetic and related effects?
Most studies show no indication that ELF fields
are directly harmful to genetic material. Howeverit is possible that ELF fields enhance the effects of
agents (substances, factors or situations) that are
known to induce mutations or tumors.
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4.3 Do ELF fields cause other health effects in animals?
There were many studies on laboratory
animals to investigate non-cancer effectsbut no consistent effects were found.
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4.4 Do ELF fields cause other health effects in humans?
Many studies on humans involved tests, which
were performed on volunteers, mainly on theirimmune system, blood, melatonin hormone,cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
4.0 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields and Other Health Effects
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Despite a few subtle and transitory effects, the
overall conclusion is that there is no convincingevidence that ELF fields cause other harmful
health effect at environmental exposure levels.
4.0 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields and Other Health Effects
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5.0Summary:Standards and Guidelines for ELF field exposure
5 0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
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The WHO International
EMF Project has
compiled a worldwidedatabase ofstandards
limiting exposure to EMF.
5.0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
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Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection
for the Philippines
Radiation Protection Standards for RadiofrequencyRadiation in the Frequency Range 3 kHz to 300 GHz
Issued by the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology
(BHDT) and the Department of Health (DOH) Issued: October 11, 2004
Published in an Official Gazette of the Republic of thePhilippines (February 14, 2005)
Limits based on ICNIRP
Compliance: Mandatory
Source:
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection: Philippines" BHDT
DOH-Philippines, 10 Mar. 2005.http://www.who.int/docstore/peh-emf/EMFStandards/who-0102/Asia/Philippines_files/table_rp.htm
5 0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
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Issuance ofRadiofrequency Radiation (RFR)Evaluation report to RFR facilities prior to
installation to determine the minimum safedistances from the transmitting RFR equipmentthat a person must maintain without exceeding thelimits for occupational and non-occupational
exposure. This initial RFR report shall be a desk top evaluation
based on calculations using the technical dataprovided by the RFR facility concerned and by the
National Telecommunication Commision (NTC)
Source:
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection: Philippines" BHDT
DOH-Philippines, 10 Mar. 2005.http://www.who.int/docstore/peh-emf/EMFStandards/who-0102/Asia/Philippines_files/table_rp.htm
5.0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
5 0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
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Compliance shall be verified bydirect measurements through the
conduct ofRadiation ProtectionSurvey and Evaluation (RPSE) by ateam composed ofhealth physicist of the BHDT
and/or technical staff from theNTC.
Coverage / Group Protected:
All Public and OccupationalBuildings
Frequency Range Covered: 3 kHz 300 GHz
Source:
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection: Philippines" BHDT
DOH-Philippines, 10 Mar. 2005.http://www.who.int/docstore/peh-emf/EMFStandards/who-0102/Asia/Philippines_files/table_rp.htm
5.0 Standards and Guidelines for ELF Field Exposure
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6.0CONCLUSION
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ELF magnetic fields are classified by IARC as"possibly carcinogenic to humans" based onlimited evidence for childhood leukaemia atrelatively high exposure levels. ELF fields do notappear to cause cancer in laboratory animals or
in adults. (See: Section 3.0)
Overall, the many studies available do notindicate that ELF fields cause harmful non-cancer
health effects, neither in animals nor in humans.(See: Section 4.0)
6.0 Conclusion
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Book Baker-Laporte, Paula, Erica Elliott, and John Banta. "Case Studies." (pp.274+)
Prescriptions for a Healthy House: a Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, and
Homeowners. New Society Publishers, Canada: 2001.
Internet Sources "Electro Smog Awareness and the E-Cover Solution." E-Cover. Royal HealthFoam and Inner Wise - Electrosmog, 2010. Web. 3 July 2010.. "Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection: Philippines." BHDT, DOH-Philippines, 10 Mar. 2005. Web. 14 July 2010.. "Scientific Facts on Electromagnetic Fields from Power Lines, Wiring &Appliances." GreenFacts - Facts on Health and the Environment. 2004. Web. 4July 2010. .
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