Adverse human reproductive outcomes and electromagnetic fields: A brief summary of the epidemiologic literature

Abstract

Power frequency ®elds are of concern as risk factors for adverse reproductive outcomes. This report brie¯y summarizes the epidemiologic evidence of potential associations between a number of adverse reproductive outcomes and parental exposures to electric and magnetic ®elds (EMFs). Over the last decade numerous reviews of the human literature regarding these potential associations have been published. These reviews, in general, have concluded that: (1) evidence is lacking for a strong association between a woman's use of a video display terminal (VDT) and fetal loss, (2) evidence is lacking for a strong association between a woman's use of a VDT and adverse reproductive outcomes other than fetal loss, primarily a result of too few available data, and (3) the paucity of data on other parental EMF exposures and subsequent adverse outcomes of pregnancy limits drawing a valid scienti®c conclusion. Since those earlier reviews appeared, the number of new investigations have been relatively small. These new studies do not substantially alter the above summary conclusions. The lack of epidemiologic data in this area, coupled with some speculations about potential biological effects associated with EMFs, raises the importance of researching this area further.

Environmental Factors Implicated in the Causation of Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

“…A recent meta analysis on the subject did not find any increased rsik for spontaneous abortion, low birth weight and Prematurity, associated with electro magnetic radiations. (19)Long term use has been linked with carpal tunnel syndrome, due to the angling effect on the wrist.…”

Zinc Supplementation Ameliorates Electromagnetic Field-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in the Rat Brain

“…Electromagnetic radiation can also influence cells and molecules (Yasui and Otaka 1993;Yeniterzi et al 2002). The incidence of coronary heart disease (Savitz et al 1999), brain tumor (Savitz and Loomis 1995), leukemia (Tynes and Haldorsen 2003), lymphoma (Villeneuve et al 2000), soft tissue malignancies (Stuchly et al 1991;Beniashvili et al 2005), headache and depression (van Wijngaarden et al 2000;Iyer et al 2003), birth and reproduction anomalies (Shaw 2001;Blaasaas et al 2002), and Alzheimer disease (Qiu et al 2004) was increased in those exposed to magnetic fields.…”

Good practice in occupational health services – The influence of hazardous conditions and nuisance coexisting in the work environment and at home on the course and outcome of pregnancy

“…Shaw porównał wyniki badań z 13 publikacji na temat wpływu VDT na wystąpienie poronienia [13]. We wszystkich pracach oprócz jednej ryzyko było nieistotne statystycznie.…”

“…Wyjątek ten wynikał z ekspozycji kobiet na pole magnetyczne wysokiej częstotliwości, emitowane przez monitory ekranowe starego typu. Podsumowując, autor wysunął następujące wnioski [13]: n brakuje mocnych dowodów na poparcie wystąpie-nia związku między korzystaniem z monitorów ekranowych (VDT) a utratą ciąży, n brakuje dowodów wpływu VDT na wystąpienie innych powikłań reprodukcyjnych, n niedostateczna ilość danych i liczba publikacji dotyczących innych ekspozycji na pole elektromagnetyczne (EMF) oraz wystąpienie późniejszych powikłań ciąży uniemożliwia postawienie dokładnego wniosku naukowego. Bellieni i wsp.…”