Evidence for an Effect of ELF Electromagnetic Fields on Human Pineal Gland Function

Wilson, Bary W.; Wright, Cherylyn W.; Morris, James E.; Buschbom, R.L.; Brown, D. P.; Miller, Douglas L.; Sommers-Flannigan, Rita; Anderson, Larry E.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-079x.1990.tb00901.x

Cited by 118 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…This could potentially be found for different outcomes possibly related to EMF exposure. For instance, some studies found that certain subjects might be more sensitive to the effect of EMFs on melatonin secretion (41,42). Although this is still preliminary evidence and not synonymous with adverse health effects, it seems to support the possibility of individual susceptibility to EMF exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Levallois

2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Hypersensitivity to exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) has been reported for nearly 20 years; however, the literature on the subject is still very limited. Nearly all the literature published concerns a dermatological syndrome that consists of mainly subjective symptoms (itching, burning, dryness) and a few objective symptoms (redness, dryness) appearing after individuals begin working with video display units and decreasing during absence from work. Case-control studies as well as some good but limited double-blind trials have not found any clear relationship between this syndrome and exposure to EMFs. A "general syndrome" with more general symptoms has been rarely described but seems to have a worse prognosis. The symptoms often associated with skin disorders are mainly of neurasthenic type and can cover a lot of nonspecific symptoms present in other atypical syndromes such as multiple chemical sensitivity or chronic fatigue. Most of these symptoms are allegedly triggered by exposure to different sources of EMFs, but there have been no valid etiological studies published on this more general syndrome. It appears that the so-called hypersensitivity to environmental electric and magnetic fields is an unclear health problem whose nature has yet to be determined.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Levallois

2002

Environ Health Perspect

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“…Support for this hypothesis was found in pinealectomy and constant-light studies, which indicate that eliminating the endogenous nOCturnalmelatonin signal enhances mammary tumorigenesis in female rats (5). Some studies have suggested inhibition of melatonin production in humans mediated by~F exposure (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), while others have not (12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population-Based Case-Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Breast Cancer

Wijngaarden

Nylander‐French

Millikan

et al. 2001

Annals of Epidemiology

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PURPOSE: This population-based case-control study examined occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in relation to female breast cancer incidence among 843 breast cancer cases and 773 controls. METIIODS: Exposure was classified based on work in the two longest-held jobs. and indices of cumu1at ive exposure to magnetic fields based on a measurement survey. , RESULTS: Female breast cancer was not associated with employment as an office or industrial worker. For the total study population, cumulative exposure ove~the entire career, and in the past 0-10 and 10-20 years generally showed odds mtios (ORs) close to the null Moderately elevated risks were found for intermediate but not high levels of cumulative exposure accumulated 20 or more yean; ago (OR == 1.5i 95% CI ::::1.1-2.0). Associations were stronger for premenopausal women (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-2.7) in the past 10-20 years, and those with estrogen-receptor positive (ER +) breast tumorS (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 0:: 1.1-4.0). No consistent dose-response patterns were observed.CONCLUSIONS: These findings give little support to the hypothesiS that electromagnetic fields cause cancer of the female breast.Ann Epidemio! 2oql;

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“…Although data concerning the effects of exposure to EMFs on human pineal function are limited, inhibition of melatonin production has been reported. [6][7][8] Furthermore, in several reports, lower levels of melatonin formation are associated with depression. [9][10][11][12] Moreover, exposure to EMFs has been linked with depression and depressive tendencies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study

Wijngaarden

Savitz²,

Kleckner³

et al. 2000

Western Journal of Medicine

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ⅷ Objective To examine mortality from suicide in relation to estimated exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in a cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers. ⅷ Methods Casecontrol sampling, which included 536 deaths from suicide and 5,348 eligible controls. Exposure was classified based on work in the most common jobs with increased exposure to magnetic fields and indices of cumulative exposure to magnetic fields based on a measurement survey. ⅷ Results Suicide mortality was increased relative to work in exposed jobs and with indices of exposure to magnetic fields. Increased odds ratios (ORs) were found for years of employment as an electrician (OR, 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-3.80) or line worker (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18-2.14), whereas a decreased OR was found for power plant operators (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.33-1.40). A dose-response gradient with exposure to magnetic fields was found for exposure in the previous year, with a mortality OR of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.00-2.90) in the highest exposure category. Stronger associations, with ORs in the range of 2.12 to 3.62, were found for men younger than 50 years. ⅷ Conclusions These data provide evidence for an association between occupational electromagnetic fields and suicide that warrants further evaluation. A plausible mechanism related to melatonin and depression provides a direction for additional laboratory research and epidemiologic evaluation.

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Evidence for an Effect of ELF Electromagnetic Fields on Human Pineal Gland Function

Cited by 118 publications

References 21 publications

Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Hypersensitivity of human subjects to environmental electric and magnetic field exposure: a review of the literature.

Population-Based Case-Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Breast Cancer

Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study

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