Examination of Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation

Cynthia Kelly, M.D.

Orthopaedic Oncologist Denver, Colorado

Radiation
aYou cant
touch it, feel it, smell it, or taste it.

Radiation
aVery high doses cause immediate cellular death. aLow doses cause disturbances within the cell, causing systems malfunction but not death.
Ion transport(calcium), gene transcription

Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields

aBrain cancer aChildhood leukemia aBirth defects aPregnancy loss
Physiotherapists 0.04-0.56 QW/cm2 0.04-

aSleep disturbances aAltered calcium ion movement in brain cells aAltered childrens performance
Mental & physical 0-4 QW/cm2 0-

Literature Review
aCells (plant & animal) exposed to EMF show distinct growth changes alteration in cellular enzymes. aHuman & animal cells demonstrated modulation of gene-expression, genechanges in transcription pattern & protein synthesis.
DNA effects
Hawaii Med J 1991

Literature Review
aAvailable data suggest that RF radiation should be considered a carcinogenic risk, a position taken in an internal 1990 US EPA document
when there was much less evidence of the potential harmfulness of EMF radiation.
Env Health Perspectives 105(s) Dec 1997

Literature Review
aStatistically significant dosedoseresponse relationships exist for the physiotherapist study, Korean war study and the Polish military study.

Dept Natural Resources Engineering NZ 1997

Lit Review: Health Effects Due to EMF Exposure

Study
Polish Military (1996) North Sydney Australia (1996) Moscow Embassy (1995) US Air Force (1996)

Exposure (QW/cm2)
20 <0.2 - 8 2.4 - 4.0 Variable

Risk Ratio (range)

3.0-13.9 3.01.61-2.74 1.611.7-5.0 1.71.28-3.3 1.28-

Community levels after LCG proposed tower = 1-20QW/cm2 1-20Q

Health Effects of EMF

aThere are more than 60 major studies declaring the dangers of EMF. aEMF has been declared a hazard by the Swedish government, and they have instituted mandates concerning public exposure.

Public Exposure Limit

aIf cancer risk is to be reduced,
the limit should be <0.1QW/cm2 0.1Q

aIf miscarriage risk, sleep disruption, childrens performance impairment, and chronic fatigue is to be reduced,
the limit should be <0.01QW/cm2 0.01Q

Dept Natural Resources Engineering NZ 1997

Health Effects of EMF

aUnder extended exposure conditions RF signals at average of 5 QW/kg are capable of inducing chromosome damage in human lymphocytes. aIncrease in # micronucleated cells
Bioelectromagnetics 23:113-126, 2002 23:113-

Susceptibility:
Our children

Childhood Leukemia & EMF

a Positive association & dose-response doserelationship with relative risk estimates from 1.5-2.7 for past exposure (5 studies). 1.5a Significant dose-response relationship (3 dosestudies).
Observations cant be explained by misclassmisclassification of exposure or a selection bias. A confounder effect would hardly explain such results.

a Possible causal nature cannot be dismissed.

Levallois: Am J Prev Med 1995

Childhood Leukemia & EMF

aItalian study 2.2 fold increase in leukemia in children living w/in 6 km of Vatican radio and TV transmission towers (2001) aAustralia study increased incidence of childhood leukemia and death d/t TV tower RF
Med. J. Australia, Vol.165, No. 2 p.601-5 p.601-

Health Effects of EMF

a18 studies of childhood cancer & residential exposure to EMF have been conducted.
There is a preponderance of positive results, more than one would expect by chance.

aWhen all studies are pooled, the average risk for leukemia, lymphoma and nervous system tumors are statistically significant.
Cancer Causes Control 5:299-309, 1994 5:299-

Health Effects of EMF

a There were excess leukemia & central nervous system cancers in those employed in occupations where there is substantial use of electricity
Electricians, electric utility & power company employees

a Meta-analysis regarding occupational Metaexposure to EMF, leukemia & brain cancer report modest but statistically significant increases in cancer risk.
J Occup Environ Med, Dec. 1995

Standards
aCurrent regulatory standards are based solely on the THERMAL effects of RF radiation (200QW/cm2) at the (200Q cellular level. aEvidence from Moscow & other community studies suggest that exposure as low as 2QW/cm2 may 2Q have long term health effects.
Env Health Perspectives 105(s) Dec 1997

Health Studies
aThe focus of more recent animal studies exploring the possible carcinogenicity of EMF exposure has been the role of EMF as a promoter of malfunction within a cell. aDevelopment of cancer is probably multifactorial.

Carcinogenesis
a multistep process that requires at least 2 genotoxic events in its critical path but is facilitated by nongenotoxic proliferative effects on target cells. EMF could influence carcinogenesis if it exerted either direct or indirect effects on target cell turnover.
Bioelectromagnetics 17:339, 1996

Carcinogenesis
aIn work spanning a decade & 9 projects, Goodman & Henderson reported increased transcription of oncogenes (cancer genes) & other specific mRNA sequences in several types of cells exposed to low-frequency magnetic lowfields.

Latency
aLatency is the delayed effect of exposure to a harmful substance, i.e. sun and UV exposure.

Latency
aTobacco industry
Initially there was felt to be no link between tobacco use and cancer Now the link is clear cut

Clinical Experience
aChildren with cancer aParents concerns

Risk vs. Benefit

aRisk: Health hazard to community, both real & perceived. aBenefit: Better resolution on a television screen

Implications for Public Policy

aThe risk of EMF exposure with erection of the new tower is sufficiently significant and the exposure sufficiently widespread that actions to limit new exposures are warranted.

Implications for Public Policy

aTwo main approaches for lowering exposure to EMF:

Personal: change in ones habits Personal: Societal: increase the distance of Societal: the source of EMF from people

Economics
aThe costs of mitigation and litigation relating to the power line cancer connection have risen into the billions of $$ & threaten to go much higher. aAvoid additional costs & locate the proposed tower to an alternate, less-inhabited site. less-

Conclusion
aWhen it is possible to reduce EMF exposure at a reasonable cost and low inconvenience, future disease may be substantially reduced.
Public Health Reports, May/June 1996

aThe evidence justifies Prudent Avoidance of unnecessary community exposures.

Env Health Perspectives 105(s) Dec 1997

Conclusion
aThere is discrepancy surrounding allowable, safe levels of exposure to all sources of electromagnetic energy. aWith the possible association with cancer, fetal loss and other effects, prudence in the design and placement of new power systems is imperative.

Conclusion
aThere is conclusive, alarming, scientific evidence linking EMR and the development of cancer and other health problems in children & adults at the same levels this Super Tower will emit.

Conclusion
aAfter exposure to EMR:
there are significant patterns of increase incidence of childhood leukemia, brain cancer, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), and other harmful effects with exposure to EMR. biochemical & physiologic reactions and alterations at the cellular and tissue level.

Conclusion

aIt is unconscionable that Jeffco commissioners would expose an UNWILLING community of constituents to the effects of EMR until it is unequivocally proven to be safe.

The Future
aWhat do you say to the children of the community living in proximity to the new tower who develop cancer?

Conclusion

aWhy put your constituents at risk all for better TV viewing? aOther acceptable site available

Will we leave Jefferson County if the proposed tower is erected?

YES!

Thank You!