Public health implications of wireless technologies

Public health implications of wireless technologies

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TBB-4VV1B6P-1&_user=10&_coverDate=03%2F14%2F2009&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235138%239999%23999999999%2399999%23FLA%23display%23Articles)&_cdi=5138&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=26&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=65a077170757169e843c38383dab5e7b

Cindy Sage^{a, ,} and David O. Carpenter^b

^aSage Associates, 1396 Danielson Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, USA

^bInstitute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA

Received 18 January 2008; 

accepted 30 January 2009. 

Available online 14 March 2009.

Abstract

Global exposures to emerging wireless technologies from applications including mobile phones, cordless phones, DECT phones, WI-FI, WLAN, WiMAX, wireless internet, baby monitors, and others may present serious public health consequences. Evidence supporting a public health risk is documented in the BioInitiative Report. New, biologically based public exposure standards for chronic exposure to low-intensity exposures are warranted. Existing safety standards are obsolete because they are based solely on thermal effects from acute exposures. The rapidly expanding development of new wireless technologies and the long latency for the development of such serious diseases as brain cancers means that failure to take immediate action to reduce risks may result in an epidemic of potentially fatal diseases in the future. Regardless of whether or not the associations are causal, the strengths of the associations are sufficiently strong that in the opinion of the authors, taking action to reduce exposures is imperative, especially for the fetus and children. Such action is fully compatible with the precautionary principle, as enunciated by the Rio Declaration, the European Constitution Principle on Health (Section 3.1) and the European Union Treaties Article 174.

Keywords: Wireless technology; Brain cancer; Radiofrequency; Cell phones; Wireless antenna facilities; Childrens' health

Article Outline

1. Introduction and background

2. Evidence supporting a public health risk

2.1. Malignant brain tumors

2.2. Plausible biological mechanisms for a relationship between RF exposure and cancer

2.2.1. DNA damage and oxidative stress

2.2.2. Stress proteins (heat shock proteins or HSP)

2.2.3. RF-induced gene expression changes

3. Sleep, cognitive function and performance

3.1. Plausible biological mechanisms for neurobehavioral effects

3.1.1. The melatonin hypothesis

3.1.2. Blood–brain barrier alterations

4. What are sources of wireless radiation?

5. Problems with existing public health standards (safety limits)

6. Prudent public health responses

7. Conclusions and recommended actions

References