Voices and Witnesses About Electro-hypersensitivity

BLACK ON WHITE

VOICES AND WITNESSES ABOUT ELECTRO-HYPERSENSITIVITYTHE SWEDISH EXPERIENCECompiled and commented byRigmor Granlund-Lind and John Lind

This is the missing part of the official RALF Investigation.This text was originally published in Sweden in 2002 under the title: “Svart på vitt - Röster och vittnesmål om elöverkänslighet”. Its impact on public opinionhas been considerable and is still growing. Now even politicians and mobile phone produc-ers and operators are taking heed and try to find ways to stall further damage. We hopethat this English PDF-edition will add fuel to the fire.The English version has been made possible thanks to the generosity of anonymousdonors. A pocket book version is due in the fall of 2004.

2nd Internet Edition Oct 3, 2004

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Mimers Brunn Kunskapsförlaget, authors and translatorTranslation: Jeffrey GanellenDiagrams: Jan RennerfeltSALA 2004MIMERS BRUNN

K

UNSKAPSFÖRLAGETSWEDEN

mimersbrunn@spray.se

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Abstract

Black on White

is a translation of a Swedish book,

Svart på vitt. Röster och vittnesmål om elöverkänslighet

by Rigmor Granlund-Lind and John Lind. It is available inEnglish as a pdf-document, see below.This book, published in 2002, is based on documents to the Council for Work LifeResearch (RALF in abbreviation) - statements at a public hearing 8 March 2000 andletters in connection with the hearing – from more than 400 electro-hypersensitive people or from people in close contact with them as relatives, doctors, EMF-reductionengineers, etc.Here people explain what started their electro-hypersensitivity. Computers were perceived as the most usual triggering factor, followed by presence of amalgam/amalgam removing, fluorescent lights and low-energy lamps, cellular phones/base stations and ordinary telephones, chemicals and photocopiers.They also mention the factors giving symptoms. In 2000, symptoms were primarilycaused by computers but to a large extent also by all electrical installations,fluorescent lights and low-energy lamps, cellular phones and base stations, ordinarytelephones, radio, TV, cars, trains, airplanes, copiers and dental work such as removalof amalgam.What then are the symptoms? Skin problems top the list, followed by sensibility tolight, eye problems, problems with the heart and the blood pressure, headaches,migraines, pain in joint and muscles, dizziness, concentration difficulties, nausea,memory disorders, endocrine reactions and many more. There are also parts of the book concentrating on the important role of chemicals, on the benefit of EMF-reduction, on the "electro-refugees" - that is those who cannot remain in their homes because of cellular base stations in their neighbourhood - on the social consequencesfor those afflicted and on the way the healthcare institutions and the politicalauthorities deal with the problem.An important chapter gives ideas to research, strongly criticizing provocation trials,explaining the reason why they are valueless. The percentage of letterwriters withhigher education was large – some of them were postgraduates and many wereengineers – and they all had the ambition to describe their handicap in as much detailas possible for the benefit of future research.

www.feb.se/feb/blackonwhite-complete-book.pdf

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Contents:The Government Commission.....................................................................................4What Triggered Electro-Hypersensitivity?..................................................................7

Diagram 1. Factors that trigger electro-hypersensitivity (according to the letters to RALF)..................18

What Causes Symptoms?...........................................................................................19

Diagram 2. The frequency of factors reported to produce symptoms in those already electro-hypersensitive......................................................................................................................................24

How Was the Electro-Hypersensitivity Detected?...................................................25What Are the Symptoms?...........................................................................................29

Diagram 3. The frequency of the most common electro-hypersensitivity reactions - where such havebeen provided in detail (according to letter reports to RALF)...............................................................39

Chemicals.....................................................................................................................40Field Reduction/Rehabilitation...................................................................................50Electro-Refugees ........................................................................................................71Reactions......................................................................................................................84Social Consequences..................................................................................................94Healthcare Institutions..............................................................................................102Research.....................................................................................................................107Politicians and the Authorities.................................................................................128Afterword ...................................................................................................................143

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