History of Electromagnetic Radiation

The human race has evolved against a background of very low level natural radiation - about 8Hz. The current artificial

radiation is now billions of times higher than when our grandparents lived (1)

• 1900 Electricity
• 1920 AM Radio
• 1940 Radar
• 1950 FM Radio, TV
• 1970 Computers
• 1980 Mobile Phones
• 2000 WiFi, WiMAX, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) (2)

By 2013, the electromagnetic radiation signals emitted from WiFi transmitters, TV masts and mobile phone masts will be at a rate that Nokia claims we will be able to recharge our mobile phones by this ambient level alone. (3)

The first signs of impact from Radio Waves were noted during World War 2 where the radar operators showed common signs of: fatigue, changes in blood counts, mutated cell reproduction, headaches, cataracts, some increase in cancer.

For the last 15 years we have seen, worldwide, a marked increase in illnesses such as cancers, cardiac illness, obesity, diabetes, asthma, allergies in children, short term memory problems and sleeplessness, to name but a few. (4)

Allowing for environmental pollution, artificial foods and an aging population – there may well be another contributing factor to this state of ill health.

Radio and TV stations have been broadcasting since the 1950s and electromagnetic fields (appliances /wiring) have been part of our daily life since the 1900s. But, it is the increased EMR load and the introduction of the Microwave frequencies (that are being emitted continuously) from telecommunication antennae and satellites since the early 1990s, that is a cause for concern.

“Most people don’t think about this fact, they somehow think that these frequencies that are being sent all around the planet, somehow magically find their way to our phones, TVs and radios without even touching us. But the human body has its own delicate and sensitive electrical system, which is easily affected by the many electromagnetic frequencies we are surrounded by and which penetrate our bodies daily.” (5)

The Australian FCC (Federal Communications Commission) recommend that we refrain from using our mobile phones in airplanes and in hospitals because it interferes with their finely tuned electronic devices. “When electromagnetic waves try to go through them, the devices sometimes stop working.” “Cell Phone FAQs”  (6)

So... our brain is a finely tuned electronic device...

References

1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/01/08/cellular-phones.aspx
2. Fisher, D 2009, More Silent Fields, Cancer and Dirty Electricity Plague, The Missing Link. Joshua Books, Queensland pg 87
3. http://3g4g.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html
4. Benson, S 2007 http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects
5. Benson, S 2007 http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects
6. Thomas, W Attack of the Cell Phone Zombies http://willthomasonline.net/willthomasonline/Attack_Of_The_Cell_Phone_Zombie.html

Mobile Phones

Mobile telephones are arguably the most radiative appliance we have ever invented apart from the microwave oven and people are putting them by their heads - arguably the most sensitive part of the body,” comments British biologist and mobile phone specialist Roger Coghill. “Human brains may absorb up to 40% of a cell phone's RF energy, and as much as 60% of its microwave energy.”  (1)

Dr. Peter Franch in a co-authored landmark study, Effects Of 835mHz Exposure On Cell Structure And Function. ”The higher frequency range” used in today's digital cell phones “is also very close to the resonant frequency of human DNA, and as well as the resonant frequency of the human skull case.” (2) The possible implications of this research are discussed further in the section on Effects on Children.

Governmental communication frequencies standards were set according to the so-called  ‘non-thermal’ impact from their power level. Scientists are proving the effects are not limited to these heat producing power levels.

The rational was that the microwave power level used with mobile phones was considerably lower than the microwave oven level (and not able to heat living tissue), therefore it was considered safe. No heat, no harm. This is the same as saying,   ‘cigarettes don’t burn you so they are safe.’

Well-known scientist and author Robert Becker said in 1985, “…when non-thermal dangers were originally documented in America, military and industrial spokespeople refused to acknowledge them, lying to Congress and the public. Many scientists who naturally wanted to continue working went along with the charade.” (3)

As far back as 1994, Australia’s CSIRO did a 150 page literature review on the status of health effects from EMR. The report’s author, Dr Stan Barnett, said: “whilst researching the scientific database in preparation for this report it has become evident that subtle changes in cell structure and biochemistry have been frequently reported at exposure levels where gross thermal change could not be attributed as a cause.” (4)

In a new study, Joseph Friedman and colleagues at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot Israel, exposed rat and human cell cultures, and also isolated cell membranes, to low-level electromagnetic radiation at 875 megahertz - a similar frequency to those of GSM (Global Systems Mobile- frequency bands) phone signals.  (Biochemical Journal, DOI: 10.1042/BJ20061653).

The team is confident that the effect of altered cellular communication was not caused by heating: "The radiation that we used was very low-energy, and our sensitive thermostats did not register a change in the temperature of the cell medium," says team member Rony Seger. "The significance lies in showing that cells do react to cellphone radiation in a non-thermal way (5)

To read more on these finding, refer to: http://www.biochemj.org/bj/405/0559/4050559.pdf

Today, there is more and more compelling evidence showing low intensity, pulsed radiation can exert subtle influences that have serious health problems. (6) 

Robert Kane, PhD., former Motorola Senior Research Scientist and Technical Staff Member, said this, “Recent research has demonstrated that even short-term exposure to radiation power densities emanating from a nearby cellular telephone is sufficient to modify brainwave patterns, affect short-term memory, and modify an individual’s ability to perform physical tasks such as driving an automobile.” He went on to say, “The body of available research indicates that operation of a nearby portable cellular telephone will expose a non-user to radiation, some of which will be deposited into the brain of the non-user at levels higher than necessary to elicit undesirable biological effects even though the phone may be more than ten feet away from the non-user.” (7) 

In light of the above research, the World Health Organisation states  “Human and animal studies examining brain wave patterns, cognition and behaviour after exposure to RF fields, such as those generated by mobile phones, have not identified adverse effects.” (8)

References

1.Thomas, W Attack of the Cell Phone Zombies http://willthomasonline.net/willthomasonline/Attack_Of_The_Cell_Phone_Zombie.html

2. Thomas, W Attack of the Cell Phone Zombies http://willthomasonline.net/willthomasonline/Attack_Of_The_Cell_Phone_Zombie.html

3.,Benson, S 2007 http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

4. Barnett, S., 1994, Status of Research on Biological Effects and safety of Electromagnetic Radiation: Telecommunications Frequencies, CSIRO, Division of Radiophysics. Sourced from Benson, S 2007 http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

5. http://www.goodplanet.info/eng/Contenu/Points-de-vues/Cellphones-affect-human-cells-without-heating-them/(theme)/271

6. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/directory/EMF/default.aspx

7. http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/index.php?p=661

8. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html

Other EMR Transmissions

From 1996 until he died in 2003, New Zealand physicist and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) meta-analyst, Dr Neil Cherry, studied over 600 researchers worldwide. He found that EMR caused DNA breakages, chromosome aberrations, increased oncogene activity in cells, altered brain activity, altered blood pressure and increased brain cancer at very low levels – much lower than those allowed by the Australian standard. He also found that it impacts on the pineal gland in the brain, resulting in a reduction of melatonin - a vital part of many of the body’s biochemical systems, including the mediation of many hormone functions (including the control of weight) and a major scavenger of damaging free radicals." (9)

Cherry was surprised to find how much published research there is to show that - across the entire EMR spectrum - damage was done to cellular DNA, rendering it genotoxic and therefore likely to be implicated in the formation of tumours and other illnesses. (10)  Cherry also found that microwaves can open the blood brain barrier allowing damaging chemicals, viruses and bacteria into the brain which could cause problems such as dementia and brain tumours.(11)

For more results on Dr. Cherry’s comprehensive research refer to: http://www.neilcherry.com/documents.php

The EMR impact is not restricted to mobile phones...  Draper et al. in 2005 reported that a 70% increase was found in childhood leukaemia for those living within 200 metres (656 ft) of an overhead transmission line, and a 23% increase for those living between 200 and 600 metres (656 and 1,969 ft).

Dr. Bruce Hocking did a study in Sydney, Australia, of children living near TV and FM broadcast towers that are very similar to cell phone towers. He found that these children had more than twice the rate of leukaemia as children living more than seven miles away from these same towers. (12)

For more information on Cancer Clusters around TV and broadcasting stations, refer to the section on Effects – Cancer.

On the current World Health Organisation fact sheet they state, “...radio and television broadcast stations have been in operation for the past 50 or more years without any adverse health consequence being established”. (13)

Studies at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, found that children who were exposed to radiation as low as one milligauss (1mG) over long periods of time have twice the normal risk of developing leukemia. (14)

Between 1953-1976 the US Embassy in Moscow was bombarded with Radio Frequencies from the Russians. Two Ambassadors developed leukaemia. Personnel complained of their inability to concentrate, sleep and think. The US Epidemiologist documented these findings. The Soviet military scientists had successfully used microwaves (of the types used by mobile phones) to weaken the blood brain barrier. At that particular time the safety standards for exposure to radio frequency radiation in the Soviet Union was significantly more stringent than United States standards by almost 1000 times.(15)

Powerlines fields, microwave signals and pulsed radio-frequency operate in the range of Extremely Low Frequencies (ELF). Professor Ross Adey of the Loma Linda University Medical School in California has been researching electrical bio-effects for over 35 years. He was previously Director of the NASA Space Biology Institute, Professor of Anatomy & Physiology UCLA, Founder UCLA Brain Research Institute, and a member of the National Academy of Science Committee studying the bio- physical effects of the Seafarer ELF Communication System.

Regarding the possible adverse health effects of ELF fields he stated in 1992: "As far as the science itself goes, I think that there are four major areas about which there can be very little doubt as to the significance of the findings:

1. The effects on the immune system. A reduction in the ability of the circulating white blood cells to kill tumour cells. This has been shown in cell culture work and partially corroborated in animal studies
2. Effects on foetal development. There is evidence not only of foetal abnormalities but also in psycho-sexual development. Epidemio-logical work has shown evidence that miscarriages may be linked to electrical blanket use and some electrical home heating systems.
3. The area of the control and regulation of cell growth, including tumour formation.
4. The effects on the central nervous system and the brain in the ways which affect very powerful hormonal mechanisms, which in turn have connections to cancer and cancer related problems. (16)

References

9. Cherry, N., 2000: Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic: The Implications for the Epidemiology of Cancer, Cardiac, Neurological and Reproductive Effects. Sourced from: http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

10.Barnett, S., 1994, Status of Research on Biological Effects and safety of Electromagnetic Radiation: Telecommunications Frequencies, CSIRO, Division of Radiophysics. Sourced from : http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

11. Cherry, 2000 from: http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects 

12. http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

13. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html

14. Cherry 2000 from: http://www.ecolibria.com.au/Resources/Electromagnetic-Radiation-EMR-And-Potential-Adverse-Health-Affects

15.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/directory/EMF/default.aspx

16. http://www.declarepeace.org.uk/captain/murder_inc/site/avianemf.html