Effects of Modulated VHF Fields on the Central Nervous System*

Bawin, S.M.; Kaczmarek, L. K.; Adey, W. R.

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb35984.x

Cited by 339 publications

(204 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…If in some kind of cells there is an upper limit for this value of membrane potential change, then the channel would be gated whenever the force exerted on its sensors is within this 'window'". Five of these studies show effects on [Ca2+] i fluxes (24)(25)(26)(27)(28), consistent with possible roles of VGCCs. These studies provide strong evidence that these window effects occur at levels where there is either no measured change in temperature or extremely low heating.…”

Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…It has been shown that there can be intensity "windows" where biological activity is greater than at intensities both higher and lower than the window intensity (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). This again argues against a heating mechanism as there are no known thermal dose-response curves with similar windows.…”

Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Pall

2015

Reviews on Environmental Health

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AbstractThis review considers a paradigm shift on microwave electromagnetic field (EMF) action from only thermal effects to action via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Microwave/lower frequency EMFs were shown in two dozen studies to act via VGCC activation because all effects studied were blocked by calcium channel blockers. This mode of action was further supported by hundreds of studies showing microwave changes in calcium fluxes and intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i signaling. The biophysical properties of VGCCs/similar channels make them particularly sensitive to low intensity, non-thermal EMF exposures. Non-thermal studies have shown that in most cases pulsed fields are more active than are non-pulsed fields and that exposures within certain intensity windows have much large biological effects than do either lower or higher intensity exposures; these are both consistent with a VGCC role but inconsistent with only a heating/thermal role. Downstream effects of VGCC activation include calcium signaling, elevated nitric oxide (NO), NO signaling, peroxynitrite, free radical formation, and oxidative stress. Downstream effects explain repeatedly reported biological responses to non-thermal exposures: oxidative stress; single and double strand breaks in cellular DNA; cancer; male and female infertility; lowered melatonin/sleep disruption; cardiac changes including tachycardia, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death; diverse neuropsychiatric effects including depression; and therapeutic effects. Non-VGCC non-thermal mechanisms may occur, but none have been shown to have effects in mammals. Biologically relevant safety standards can be developed through studies of cell lines/cell cultures with high levels of different VGCCs, measuring their responses to different EMF exposures. The 2014 Canadian Report by a panel of experts only recognizes thermal effects regarding safety standards for non-ionizing radiation exposures. Its position is therefore contradicted by each of the observations above. The Report is assessed here in several ways including through Karl Popper’s assessment of strength of evidence. Popper argues that the strongest type of evidence is evidence that falsifies a theory; second strongest is a test of “risky prediction”; the weakest confirms a prediction that the theory could be correct but in no way rules out alternative theories. All of the evidence supporting the Report’s conclusion that only thermal effects need be considered are of the weakest type, confirming prediction but not ruling out alternatives. In contrast, there are thousands of studies apparently falsifying their position. The Report argues that there are no biophysically viable mechanisms for non-thermal effects (shown to be false, see above). It claims that there are many “inconsistencies” in the literature causing them to throw out large numbers of studies; however, the one area where it apparently documents this claim, that of genotoxicity, shows no inconsistencies; rather it shows that various cell types, fields and end points produce different responses, as should be expected. The Report claims that cataract formation is produced by thermal effects but ignores studies falsifying this claim and also studies showing [Ca2+]i and VGCC roles. It is time for a paradigm shift away from only thermal effects toward VGCC activation and consequent downstream effects.

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Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 89%

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Pall

2015

Reviews on Environmental Health

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“…Most modern cellular systems operate in a pulsating mode in which the data is accumulated and transmitted in short pulses. Such modulated RFR at low average power has been reported to have effects on the central nervous system [Bawin et al, 1975;Blackman et al, 1979Blackman et al, , 1980. Several recent studies on the effects of exposure to RFR from cellular phones report that exposure to 900 MHz has an identifiable effect on electroencephalogram (EEG).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular telephones on the cognitive functions of humans

Eliyahu¹,

Luria

Hareuveny³

et al. 2006

Bioelectromagnetics

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The present study examined the effects of exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation emitted by a standard GSM phone at 890 MHz on human cognitive functions. This study attempted to establish a connection between the exposure of a specific area of the brain and the cognitive functions associated with that area. A total of 36 healthy right-handed male subjects performed four distinct cognitive tasks: spatial item recognition, verbal item recognition, and two spatial compatibility tasks. Tasks were chosen according to the brain side they are assumed to activate. All subjects performed the tasks under three exposure conditions: right side, left side, and sham exposure. The phones were controlled by a base station simulator and operated at their full power. We have recorded the reaction times (RTs) and accuracy of the responses. The experiments consisted of two sections, of 1 h each, with a 5 min break in between. The tasks and the exposure regimes were counterbalanced. The results indicated that the exposure of the left side of the brain slows down the left-hand response time, in the second-laterpart of the experiment. This effect was apparent in three of the four tasks, and was highly significant in only one of the tests. The exposure intensity and its duration exceeded the common exposure of cellular phone users.

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“…These studies showed that the response depended on a narrow band of slow modulation frequencies (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) Hz), and not on the presence of the unmodulated carrier wave alone (147 MHz, 0.8 mW/cm2). In the present study, chick cerebral hemisphere and cat cerebral cortex were exposed, in vitro, to weak (5-100 V/m) extremely low frequency (ELF) fields .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of calcium binding in cerebral tissue to weak environmental electric fields oscillating at low frequency.

Bawin¹,

Adey²

1976

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

386

143

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Weak sinusoidal electric fields modify the calcium efflux from freshly isolated chick and cat cerebral tissues bathed in Ringer's solution, at 360. Following incubation (30 min) with radioactive calcium (45Ca2+), each sample, immersed in fresh solution, was exposed for 20 min to fields at 1, 6, 16, 32, or We have previously described a sharply increased efflux of calcium from isolated chick brain tissues exposed to modulated radio frequency fields (16). These studies showed that the response depended on a narrow band of slow modulation frequencies (6-25 Hz), and not on the presence of the unmodulated carrier wave alone (147 MHz, 0.8 mW/cm2). In the present study, chick cerebral hemisphere and cat cerebral cortex were exposed, in vitro, to weak (5-100 V/m) extremely low frequency (ELF) fields (1-75 Hz). MATERIALS AND METHODSField exposure was performed in an environmental screened chamber, between two parallel metal plates, one square meter in area, 50 cm apart. Sine wave electric fields were applied to the plates at levels of 5-100 V/m and at frequencies of 1-75 Hz. Equal voltages with respect to ground were applied to each plate.Chick cerebral hemispheres were rapidly removed following decapitation. The hemispheres were separated and after weighing each was incubated at 36' for 30 min in 1 ml of a physiological medium [155 mM NaCl, 5.6 mM KCI, 2.16 mM CaCl2, 24 mM NaHCO3, and D-glucose (2 g/liter)] together with 0.2 ml of a solution containing 45Ca2+ (0.2 1ACi, specific activity 1.39 Ci/mmol). The incubated samples were then rinsed three times and exposed for 20 min to an environmental electric field while immersed in 1.0 ml of the physiological medium. At the conclusion of field exposure, an aliquot of 0.2 ml of the bathing solution was taken for scintillation counting. Prior to counting this aliquot was mixed with 9.0 ml of a scintillation adjuvant (Packard Dimilume). The brain samples were dissolved overnight in a digestive medium (Soluene 350, Packard) and then assayed for radioactivity. For each field condition (in both frequency and amplitude) "sets" of 10 brain samples were used simultaneously in field exposure and control conditions. Control samples were tested identically to the test samples except for the field exposure. All tissues were maintained at 36' during the whole experiment (16).The same experimental procedure was applied to striated muscles (lateral head of the gastrocnemius) in a series of chicks to evaluate possible effects in nonnervous tissue. Fifty muscle specimens were tested with 20 V/mi, 16 Hz field and compared with nonexposed muscles (30 samples). The statistical treatment of the data was identical to that applied to brain tissues.Samples of freshly removed cat cortex were similarly tested. Under ether anesthesia, the cerebral hemispheres were exposed. After completion of surgery, general anesthesia was discontinued and local anesthesia was instituted in all incisions and pressure points and thereafter the animal was immobilized with gallamine triethiodide (6.0 mg, intra...

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Effects of Modulated VHF Fields on the Central Nervous System*

Cited by 339 publications

References 23 publications

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular telephones on the cognitive functions of humans

Sensitivity of calcium binding in cerebral tissue to weak environmental electric fields oscillating at low frequency.

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