Individual variation in temporal relationships between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms: A new approach in studying ‘electrosensitivity’

Bogers, Rik P.; Gils, Anne van; Clahsen, Sander; Vercruijsse, W; Kamp, Irene van; Baliatsas, Christos; Rosmalen, Judith; Bolte, John

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.064

Cited by 39 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In the last two decades, due to the development of the information society, the use of information technologies has increased, including the connection and communication of multiple electronic devices Despite the results obtained in these studies, a large part of the population remains concerned as diseases of unknown etiology appear [53][54][55][56], which is why it is necessary to continue researching to try to respond to these concerns. When Pall's work was published [30], whose title is "Wi-Fi is an Important Threat to Human Health" it was interesting and worrisome, and therefore it motivated us to write a comment [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Public Health 2020, 17, x; doi: FOR PEER REVIEW www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph microenvironments [15,16,20,24,[43][44][45][46], and third, to make sporadic and point measurements, and to design models to estimate exposure levels [12,[47][48][49][50][51][52]. Despite the results obtained in these studies, a large part of the population remains concerned as diseases of unknown etiology appear [53][54][55][56], which is why it is necessary to continue researching to try to respond to these concerns. When Pall's work was published [30], whose title is "Wi-Fi is an Important Threat to Human Health" it was interesting and worrisome, and therefore it motivated us to write a comment [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area

Ramirez-Vazquez

Arabasi

Al-Ta’ani

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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In the last two decades, due to the development of the information society, the massive increase in the use of information technologies, including the connection and communication of multiple electronic devices, highlighting Wi-Fi networks, as well as the emerging technological advances of 4G and 5G (new-generation mobile phones that will use 5G), have caused a significant increase in the personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF), and as a consequence, increasing discussions about the possible adverse health effects. The main objective of this study was to measure the personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from the Wi-Fi in the university area of German Jordanian University (GJU) and prepare georeferenced maps of the registered intensity levels and to compare them with the basic international restrictions. Spot measurements were made outside the university area at German Jordanian University. Measurements were made in the whole university area and around two buildings. Two Satimo EME SPY 140 (Brest, France) personal exposimeters were used, and the measurements were performed in the morning and afternoon, and on weekends and weekdays. The total average personal exposure to RF-EMF from the Wi-Fi band registered in the three study areas and in the four days measured was 28.82 μW/m2. The average total exposure from the Wi-Fi band registered in the ten measured points of the university area of GJU was 22.97 μW/m2, the one registered in the eight measured points of building H was 34.48 μW/m2, and the one registered in the eight points of building C was 29.00 μW/m2. The maximum average values registered in the campus of GJU are below the guidelines allowed by International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measurement protocol used in this work has been applied in measurements already carried out in Spain and Mexico, and it is applicable in university areas of other countries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area

Ramirez-Vazquez

Arabasi

Al-Ta’ani

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Such an approach should enable distinguishing between three often confused, but likely distinct, categories of individuals: (1) Individuals who are concerned about the health effects of EMF, who may change their behaviors, but who do not suffer from significant health problems (cautious but not sick, i.e., simply presenting modern health worries [Petrie et al, ]); (2) Individuals suffering from non‐specific physical symptoms, which they attribute to EMF, but who do not worry about them on a daily basis and do not adopt specific behaviors (sick but not cautious, i.e., whose attribution does not incur consequences, and may be an artifact of risk perception studies) [Baliatsas et al, ]; (3) Individuals suffering from health problems, who attribute these to EMF and modify their lifestyle accordingly (sick and cautious, who should be regarded as the only true EHS persons). The distinction between these three categories of persons might explain the difference between the relatively high prevalence of perceived sensitivity to EMF in the general population and the very low number of persons actually labeling themselves as EHS, illustrated by the restrained size of EHS support groups and recruitment difficulties encountered in various studies [e.g., Bogers et al, ; Verrender et al, ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Becoming electro‐hypersensitive: A replication study

Dieudonné

2019

Bioelectromagnetics

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Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (IEI-EMF) is an emerging environmental illness that is characterized by the attribution of various symptoms to electromagnetic fields (EMF). To date, research has not succeeded in objectifying the illness' semiology or etiology. IEI-EMF remains impossible to define other than in terms of the attributions of the persons affected. Yet, the genesis of these attributions is still not well understood. This study's objective is to replicate previous results relating to them, while correcting their limitations. Sixteen electro-hypersensitive (EHS) subjects lent themselves to both a sociological interview and a medical interview, and completed a set of standardized questionnaires. Three distinct types of biographical trajectories leading to persons becoming convinced of their hypersensitivity were identified, which were called the Reticent Attribution model, the Prior Attribution model, and the By Proxy Attribution model. These three models of EHS attribution process do not appear to lead to clinically distinct forms of IEI-EMF. What distinguishes them is the way in which the initial suspicion of the electromagnetic environment emerges. They demonstrate a diversification of the pathways to IEI-EMF. Nonetheless, in each model, the learning process that enables the EHS attribution to be materialized and operationalized is identical. The ability to establish causation between the electromagnetic environment and their condition is therefore the result of EHS subjects' trajectories, rather than their starting point. This observation is not congruent with models attributing IEI-EMF to nocebo reactions, which raises the question of these models' ecological validity.

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“…Scientific studies of this phenomenon (known as idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF)) have demonstrated, above all, patients' bias in their symptoms, which were not confirmed in double-blind experiments. However, some isolated cases of people's hypersensitivity to EMF have been reported, and researchers in their findings emphasize the need for more thorough studies, except for facts that could lead to distortions of results [37,[38][39][40]. It should be noted that some physiological reactions and behavior changes under the influence of EMF are also found in animals [41], where self-suggestion is not a question.…”

Section: Epidemiological Studies Diseases Associated With Long-term mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Risks of Using Non-Thermal Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Fields

Nizhelska¹,

Marynchenko

Piasetskyi

2020

Innov Biosyst Bioeng

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Electromagnetic pollution of the environment has become a significant environmental factor. The intensity of technogenic electromagnetic fields far exceeds the background indicators to which organisms have adapted in the course of evolution, in particular by their biorhythms. Much data on the biological effects of lowintensity (non-thermal) extremely high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EHF-EMF) at different levels of the organization has been accumulated. There are many possible explanations for these impacts, but the mechanism of action is not established. The purpose of this work is to analyze the negative effects of the use of non-thermal coherent electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequencies. In particular, the use of microwave therapy is considered. A review of reports on the harmful effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic and magnetic fields among the population and professional groups has been made; the presence of the problem of hypersensitivity to such fields was shown. Information on the development of the direction of study of the resonant biological influence of EHF-EMF by Ukrainian specialists was provided. Particular attention is paid to the use of non-thermal microwaves for physiotherapy procedures, pain relief, correction of psycho-emotional disorders, ulcer healing, in particular stomach and duodenum, etc. It is noted that the so-called "therapeutic" frequencies of EHF-EMF, even if controlled, can cause negative effects, although they are not perceived as damaging. Changes in objective vital signs in the case of targeted exposure by low-intensity millimeter-wave radiation, namely, hemodynamics, temperature increase in the exposure zone, muscle activity, and the speed of the passage of a nerve impulse, an encephalogram were established. Precautionary recommendations based on the scientific and practical experience of using microwave acupuncture methods in the conditions of medical institutions are formulated. The synergistic effect of various influences, in particular electromagnetic fields, may not be a direct trigger of the disease, but a factor of not compensated stress. Therefore, clinical studies conducted many years ago cannot simply be dismissed on the grounds that the millimeter radiation penetrates only the outer layer of the skin. Skin cells can also secrete mediators that cause changes in ionic calcium channels and the level of calcium in the cells. The interest in these works is justified by the fact that currently the sources of monochromatic millimeter radiation will be spread with new communication systems. The risks of their biological action should be taken into account when emitters are installed.

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Individual variation in temporal relationships between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms: A new approach in studying ‘electrosensitivity’

Abstract: RF-EMF exposure was associated either positively or negatively with NSPS in some but not all of the selected self-declared electrohypersensitive persons.

Cited by 39 publications

References 40 publications

Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area

Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area

Becoming electro‐hypersensitive: A replication study

Biological Risks of Using Non-Thermal Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Fields

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