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Röösli M, Dongus S, Jalilian H, Eyers J, Esu E, Oringanje CM, Meremikwu M, Bosch-Capblanch X. The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on tinnitus, migraine and non-specific symptoms in the general and working population: A systematic review and meta-analysis on human observational studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108338. [PMID: 38104437 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Applications emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF; 100 kHz to 300 GHz) are widely used for communication (e.g. mobile phones), in medicine (diathermy) and in industry (RF heaters). OBJECTIVES The objective is to systematically review the effects of longer-term or repeated local and whole human body radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on the occurrence of symptoms. Primary hypotheses were tinnitus, migraine and headaches in relation to RF-EMF exposure of the brain, sleep disturbances and composite symptom scores in relation to whole-body RF-EMF exposure. METHODS Eligibility criteria: We included case-control and prospective cohort studies in the general population or workers estimating local or whole-body RF-EMF exposure for at least one week. INFORMATION SOURCES We conducted a systematic literature search in various databases including Web of Science and Medline. Risk of bias: We used the Risk of Bias (RoB) tool developed by OHAT adapted to the topic of this review. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS We synthesized studies using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS Included studies: We included 13 papers from eight distinct cohort and one case-control studies with a total of 486,558 participants conducted exclusively in Europe. Tinnitus is addressed in three papers, migraine in one, headaches in six, sleep disturbances in five, and composite symptom scores in five papers. Only one study addressed occupational exposure. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS For all five priority hypotheses, available research suggests that RF-EMF exposure below guideline values does not cause symptoms, but the evidence is very uncertain. The very low certainty evidence is due the low number of studies, possible risk of bias in some studies, inconsistencies, indirectness, and imprecision. In terms of non-priority hypotheses numerous exposure-outcome combinations were addressed in the 13 eligible papers without indication for an association related to a specific symptom or exposure source. DISCUSSION Limitations of evidence: This review topic includes various challenges related to confounding control and exposure assessment. Many of these aspects are inherently present and not easy to be solved in future research. Since near-field exposure from wireless communication devices is related to lifestyle, a particular challenge is to differentiate between potential biophysical effects and other potential effects from extensive use of wireless communication devices that may compete with healthy behaviour such as sleeping or physical activity. Future research needs novel and innovative methods to differentiate between these two hypothetical mechanisms. INTERPRETATION This is currently the best available evidence to underpin safety of RF-EMF. There is no indication that RF-EMF below guideline values causes symptoms. However, inherent limitations of the research results in substantial uncertainty. OTHER Funding: This review was partially funded by the WHO radioprotection programme. REGISTRATION The protocol for this review has been registered in Prospero (reg no CRD42021239432) and published in Environment International (Röösli et al., 2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hamed Jalilian
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - John Eyers
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, 3ie, c/o LIDC, 20 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2NS, UK
| | - Ekpereonne Esu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Chioma Moses Oringanje
- Department of Biology, College of Art & Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Martin Meremikwu
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
| | - Xavier Bosch-Capblanch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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Jiang Y, Wang H, Sun X, Li C, Wu T. Evaluation of Chinese populational exposure to environmental electromagnetic field based on stochastic dosimetry and parametric human modelling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:40445-40460. [PMID: 36609755 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25153-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the distribution of the whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (WBSAR) using several measurable physique parameters for Chinese adult population exposed to environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of current wireless communication frequencies, and to discuss the effects of these physique parameters in the frequency-dependent dosimetric results. The physique distribution of Chinese adults was obtained from the National Physical Fitness and Health Database comprising 81,490 adult samples. The number of physique parameters used to construct the surrogate model was reduced to three via mutual information analysis. A stochastic method with 40 deterministic simulations was used to generate frequency-dependent and gender-specific surrogate models for WBSAR via polynomial chaos expansion. In the simulations, we constructed anatomically correct models conforming to the targeted physique parameters via deformable human modelling technique, which was based on deep learning from the image database including 767 Chinese adults. Thereafter, we analysed the sensitivity of the physique parameters to WBSAR by covariance-based Sobol decomposition. The results indicated that the generated models were consistent with the targeted physique parameters. The estimated dosimetric results were validated using finite-difference time-domain simulations (the error was < 6% across all the investigated frequencies for WBSAR). The novelty of the study included that it demonstrated the feasibility of estimating the individual WBSAR using a limited number of physique parameters with the aid of surrogate modelling. In addition, the population-based distribution of the WBSAR in Chinese adults was firstly presented in the manuscript. The results also indicated that the different combinations of physique parameter, dependent on genders and frequencies, significantly influenced the WBSAR, although the general conservativeness of the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation and Protection can be confirmed in the surveyed population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Jiang
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, No. 52, Huayuan Bei Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hongkai Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xiaobang Sun
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
- Faculty of Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Congsheng Li
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, No. 52, Huayuan Bei Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tongning Wu
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, No. 52, Huayuan Bei Road, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Eeftens M, Shen C, Sönksen J, Schmutz C, van Wel L, Liorni I, Vermeulen R, Cardis E, Wiart J, Toledano M, Röösli M. Modelling of daily radiofrequency electromagnetic field dose for a prospective adolescent cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107737. [PMID: 36709672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields originate from a variety of wireless communication sources operating near and far from the body, making it challenging to quantify daily absorbed dose. In the framework of the prospective cohort SCAMP (Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones), we aimed to characterize RF-EMF dose over a 2-year period. METHODS The SCAMP cohort included 6605 children from greater London, UK at baseline (age 12.1 years; 2014-2016) and 5194 at follow-up (age 14.2; 2016-2018). We estimated the daily dose of RF-EMF to eight tissues including the whole body and whole brain, using dosimetric algorithms for the specific absorption rate transfer into the body. We considered RF-EMF dose from 12 common usage scenarios such as mobile phone calls or data transmission. We evaluated the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, ethnicity, phone ownership and socio-economic status), and the dose change between baseline and follow-up. RESULTS Whole body dose was estimated at an average of 170 mJ/kg/day at baseline and 178 mJ/kg/day at follow-up. Among the eight tissues considered, the right temporal lobe received the highest daily dose (baseline 1150 mJ/kg/day, follow-up 1520 mJ/kg/day). Estimated daily dose [mJ/kg/day] increased between baseline and follow-up for head and brain related tissues, but remained stable for the whole body and heart. Doses estimated at baseline and follow-up showed low correlation among the 3384 children who completed both assessments. Asian ethnicity (compared to white) and owning a bar phone or no phone (as opposed to a smartphone) were associated with lower estimated whole-body and whole-brain RF-EMF dose, while black ethnicity, a moderate/low socio-economic status (compared to high), and increasing age (at baseline) were associated with higher estimated RF-EMF dose. CONCLUSION This study describes the first longitudinal exposure assessment for children in a critical period of development. Dose estimations will be used in further epidemiological analyses for the SCAMP study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Chen Shen
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Jana Sönksen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Schmutz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ilaria Liorni
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS Foundation), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joe Wiart
- Chair C2M, LTCI Télecom ParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, 46 rue Barrault, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Mireille Toledano
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Cabré-Riera A, van Wel L, Liorni I, Koopman-Verhoeff ME, Imaz L, Ibarluzea J, Huss A, Wiart J, Vermeulen R, Joseph W, Capstick M, Vrijheid M, Cardis E, Röösli M, Eeftens M, Thielens A, Tiemeier H, Guxens M. Estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses, and sleep in preadolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112291. [PMID: 34757029 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) doses with sleep disturbances and objective sleep measures in preadolescents. METHODS We included preadolescents aged 9-12 years from two population-based birth cohorts, the Dutch Generation R Study (n = 974) and the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project (n = 868). All-day and evening overall whole-brain RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) were estimated for several RF-EMF sources including mobile and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phone calls (named phone calls), other mobile phone uses, tablet use, laptop use (named screen activities), and far-field sources. We also estimated all-day and evening whole-brain RF-EMF doses in these three groups separately (i.e. phone calls, screen activities, and far-field). The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was completed by mothers to assess sleep disturbances. Wrist accelerometers together with sleep diaries were used to measure sleep characteristics objectively for 7 consecutive days. RESULTS All-day whole-brain RF-EMF doses were not associated with self-reported sleep disturbances and objective sleep measures. Regarding evening doses, preadolescents with high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls had a shorter total sleep time compared to preadolescents with zero evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls [-11.9 min (95%CI -21.2; -2.5)]. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest the evening as a potentially relevant window of RF-EMF exposure for sleep. However, we cannot exclude that observed associations are due to the activities or reasons motivating the phone calls rather than the RF-EMF exposure itself or due to chance finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Cabré-Riera
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - M Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Liher Imaz
- Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, Sub-Directorate for Public Health and Addictions of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastián, Spain; BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Jesús Ibarluzea
- Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, Sub-Directorate for Public Health and Addictions of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastián, Spain; BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joe Wiart
- LTCI, Telecom Paris, Chaire C2M, France
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wout Joseph
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Arno Thielens
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Mobile Phone Radiation Deflects Brain Energy Homeostasis and Prompts Human Food Ingestion. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14020339. [PMID: 35057520 PMCID: PMC8777647 DOI: 10.3390/nu14020339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and mobile phone usage have simultaneously spread worldwide. Radio frequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by mobile phones are largely absorbed by the head of the user, influence cerebral glucose metabolism, and modulate neuronal excitability. Body weight adjustment, in turn, is one of the main brain functions as food intake behavior and appetite perception underlie hypothalamic regulation. Against this background, we questioned if mobile phone radiation and food intake may be related. In a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized crossover comparison, 15 normal-weight young men (23.47 ± 0.68 years) were exposed to 25 min of RF-EMFs emitted by two different mobile phone types vs. sham radiation under fasting conditions. Spontaneous food intake was assessed by an ad libitum standard buffet test and cerebral energy homeostasis was monitored by 31phosphorus-magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements. Exposure to both mobile phones strikingly increased overall caloric intake by 22–27% compared with the sham condition. Differential analyses of macronutrient ingestion revealed that higher calorie consumption was mainly due to enhanced carbohydrate intake. Measurements of the cerebral energy content, i.e., adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine ratios to inorganic phosphate, displayed an increase upon mobile phone radiation. Our results identify RF-EMFs as a potential contributing factor to overeating, which underlies the obesity epidemic. Beyond that, the observed RF-EMFs-induced alterations of the brain energy homeostasis may put our data into a broader context because a balanced brain energy homeostasis is of fundamental importance for all brain functions. Potential disturbances by electromagnetic fields may therefore exert some generalized neurobiological effects, which are not yet foreseeable.
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Röösli M, Dongus S, Jalilian H, Feychting M, Eyers J, Esu E, Oringanje CM, Meremikwu M, Bosch-Capblanch X. The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on tinnitus, migraine and non-specific symptoms in the general and working population: A protocol for a systematic review on human observational studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106852. [PMID: 34500362 PMCID: PMC8484767 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Applications emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF; 100 kHz to 300 GHz) are widely used for communication (e.g. mobile phones), in medicine (diathermy) and in industry (RF heaters). Concern has been raised that RF-EMF exposure affects health related quality of life, because a part of the population reports to experience a variety of symptoms related to low exposure levels below regulatory limits. OBJECTIVES To systematically review the effects of longer-term or repeated local and whole human body RF-EMF exposure on the occurrence of symptoms evaluating migraine, tinnitus, headaches, sleep disturbances and composite symptom scores as primary outcomes. METHODS We will follow the WHO handbook for guideline development. For the development of the systematic review protocol we considered handbook for conducting systematic reviews for health effects evaluations from the National Toxicology Program-Office of Health Assessment and Translation (NTP-OHAT) and COSTER (Recommendations for the conduct of systematic reviews in toxicology and environmental health research). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Peer-reviewed epidemiological studies in the general population or workers aiming to investigate the association between local or whole-body RF-EMF exposure for at least one week and symptoms are eligible for inclusion. Only cohort, case-control and panel studies will be included. INFORMATION SOURCES We will search the scientific literature databases Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos and Embase, using a predefined search strategy. This search will be supplemented by a search in the EMF-Portal and checks of reference lists of relevant papers and reviews. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHOD Data from included papers will be extracted according to predefined forms. Findings will be summarized in tables, graphical displays and in a narrative synthesis of the available evidence, complemented with meta-analyses. We will separately review effects of local, far field and occupational exposure. RISK OF BIAS The internal validity of included studies will be assessed using the NTP-OHAT Risk of Bias Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies, elaborated to observational RF-EMF studies. EVIDENCE APPRAISAL To rate certainty of the evidence, we will use the OHAT GRADE-based approach for epidemiological studies. FRAMEWORK AND FUNDING This protocol concerns one of the ten different systematic reviews considered in a larger systematic review of the World Health Organization to assess potential health effects of exposure to RF-EMF in the general and working population. REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021239432.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hamed Jalilian
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
| | - Maria Feychting
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - John Eyers
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, 3ie, c/o LIDC, 20 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2NS, United Kingdom.
| | - Ekpereonne Esu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
| | - Chioma Moses Oringanje
- Department of Biology, College of Art & Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Martin Meremikwu
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
| | - Xavier Bosch-Capblanch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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Lagorio S, Blettner M, Baaken D, Feychting M, Karipidis K, Loney T, Orsini N, Röösli M, Paulo MS, Elwood M. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A protocol for a systematic review of human observational studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106828. [PMID: 34433115 PMCID: PMC8484862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) has an ongoing project to assess potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in the general and working population. Here we present the protocol for a systematic review of the scientific literature on cancer hazards from exposure to RF-EMF in humans, commissioned by the WHO as part of that project. OBJECTIVE To assess the quality and strength of the evidence provided by human observational studies for a causal association between exposure to RF-EMF and risk of neoplastic diseases. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We will include cohort and case-control studies investigating neoplasia risks in relation to three types of exposure to RF-EMF: near-field, head-localized, exposure from wireless phone use (SR-A); far-field, whole body, environmental exposure from fixed-site transmitters (SR-B); near/far-field occupational exposures from use of handheld transceivers or RF-emitting equipment in the workplace (SR-C). While no restriction on tumour type will be applied, we will focus on selected neoplasms of the central nervous system (brain, meninges, pituitary gland, acoustic nerve) and salivary gland tumours (SR-A); brain tumours and leukaemias (SR-B, SR-C). INFORMATION SOURCES Eligible studies will be identified through Medline, Embase, and EMF-Portal. RISK-OF-BIAS ASSESSMENT We will use a tailored version of the OHAT's tool to evaluate the study's internal validity. DATA SYNTHESIS We will consider separately studies on different tumours, neoplasm-specific risks from different exposure sources, and a given exposure-outcome pair in adults and children. When a quantitative synthesis of findings can be envisaged, the main aims of the meta-analysis will be to assess the strength of association and the shape of the exposure-response relationship; to quantify the degree of heterogeneity across studies; and explore the sources of inconsistency (if any). When a meta-analysis is judged inappropriate, we will perform a narrative synthesis, complemented by a structured tabulation of results and appropriate visual displays. EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT Confidence in evidence will be assessed in line with the GRADE approach. FUNDING This project is supported by the World Health Organization. Co-financing was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in its capacity as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health; ARPANSA as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection. REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021236798.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Lagorio
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Blettner
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany.
| | - Dan Baaken
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany.
| | - Maria Feychting
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ken Karipidis
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, Australia.
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Nicola Orsini
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marilia Silva Paulo
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Okechukwu C. Smartphone Use and Child Neurology. Neurol India 2021; 69:1896-1897. [DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.333470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Cabré-Riera A, Marroun HE, Muetzel R, van Wel L, Liorni I, Thielens A, Birks LE, Pierotti L, Huss A, Joseph W, Wiart J, Capstick M, Hillegers M, Vermeulen R, Cardis E, Vrijheid M, White T, Röösli M, Tiemeier H, Guxens M. Estimated whole-brain and lobe-specific radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses and brain volumes in preadolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 142:105808. [PMID: 32554140 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the association between estimated whole-brain and lobe-specific radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) doses, using an improved integrated RF-EMF exposure model, and brain volumes in preadolescents at 9-12 years old. METHODS Cross-sectional analysis in preadolescents aged 9-12 years from the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort set up in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (n = 2592). An integrated exposure model was used to estimate whole-brain and lobe-specific RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) from different RF-EMF sources including mobile and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phone calls, other mobile phone uses than calling, tablet use, laptop use, and far-field sources. Whole-brain and lobe-specific RF-EMF doses were estimated for all RF-EMF sources together (i.e. overall) and for three groups of RF-EMF sources that lead to a different pattern of RF-EMF exposure. Information on brain volumes was extracted from magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS Estimated overall whole-brain RF-EMF dose was 84.3 mJ/kg/day. The highest overall lobe-specific dose was estimated in the temporal lobe (307.1 mJ/kg/day). Whole-brain and lobe-specific RF-EMF doses from all RF-EMF sources together, from mobile and DECT phone calls, and from far-field sources were not associated with global, cortical, or subcortical brain volumes. However, a higher whole-brain RF-EMF dose from mobile phone use for internet browsing, e-mailing, and text messaging, tablet use, and laptop use while wirelessly connected to the internet was associated with a smaller caudate volume. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that estimated whole-brain and lobe-specific RF-EMF doses were not related to brain volumes in preadolescents at 9-12 years old. Screen activities with mobile communication devices while wirelessly connected to the internet lead to low RF-EMF dose to the brain and our observed association may thus rather reflect effects of social or individual factors related to these specific uses of mobile communication devices. However, we cannot discard residual confounding, chance finding, or reverse causality. Further studies on mobile communication devices and their potential negative associations with brain development are warranted, regardless whether associations are due to RF-EMF exposure or to other factors related to their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Cabré-Riera
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences - Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands
| | - Ryan Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Arno Thielens
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laura Ellen Birks
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wout Joseph
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joe Wiart
- LTCI, Telecom Paris, Chaire C2M, France
| | | | - Manon Hillegers
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Kinder Neuroimaging Centrum Rotterdam (KNICR), Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Röösli
- Departement of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4051, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, the Netherlands.
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