News for Estonia

Mobile-phone induced EEG changes similar to those seen in depression: study
Estonia Created: 26 Aug 2021
Abstract: This review aims to estimate the threshold of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) effects on human brain based on analyses of published research results.

To clarify the threshold of the RF EMF effects, two approaches have been applied: (1) the analyses of restrictions in sensitivity for different steps of the physical model of low-level RF EMF mechanism and (2) the analyses of experimental data to clarify the dependence of the RF EMF effect on exposure level based on the results of published original neurophysiological and behavioral human studies for 15 years 2007–2021.

Conclusions

The analyses of the physical model of nonthermal mechanisms of RF EMF effect leads to conclusion that no principal threshold of the effect can be determined.

According to the review of experimental data, the rate of detected RF EMF effects is 76.7% in resting EEG studies, 41.7% in sleep EEG and 38.5% in behavioral studies. The changes in EEG probably appear earlier than alterations in behavior become evident.

The lowest level of RF EMF at which the effect in EEG was detected is 2.45 V/m (SAR = 0.003 W/kg).

There is a preliminary indication that the dependence of the effect on the level of exposure follows rather field strength than SAR alterations.

However, no sufficient data are available for clarifying linearity-nonlinearity of the dependence of effect on the level of RF EMF.

The finding that only part of people are sensitive to RF EMF exposure can be related to immunity to radiation or hypersensitivity. The changes in EEG caused by RF EMF appeared similar in the majority of analyzed studies and similar to these in depression.

The possible causal relationship between RF EMF effect and depression among young people is highly important problem.
Click here to view the source article.
Source: International Journal of Radiation Biology, Hinrikus et al., 23 Aug 2021

Effect of low frequency modulated microwave exposure on human EEG: Individual sensitivity
Estonia Created: 12 May 2008
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of modulated microwave exposure on human EEG of individual subjects.

The experiments were carried out on four different groups of healthy volunteers.
The 450 MHz microwave radiation modulated at 7 Hz (first group, 19 subjects), 14 and 21 Hz (second group, 13 subjects), 40 and 70 Hz (third group, 15 subjects), 217 and 1000 Hz (fourth group, 19 subjects) frequencies was applied.

The field power density at the scalp was 0.16 mW/cm2.
The calculated spatial peak SAR averaged over 1 g was 0.303 W/kg.
Ten cycles of the exposure (1 min off and 1 min on) at fixed modulation frequencies were applied.
All subjects completed the experimental protocols with exposure and sham.
The exposed and sham-exposed subjects were randomly assigned.
A computer also randomly assigned the succession of modulation frequencies.
Our results showed that microwave exposure increased the EEG energy.
Relative changes in the EEG beta1 power in P3-P4 channels were selected for evaluation of individual sensitivity.
The rate of subjects significantly affected is similar in all groups except for the 1000 Hz group: in first group 3 subjects (16%) at 7 Hz modulation; in second group 4 subjects (31%) at 14 Hz modulation and 3 subjects (23%) at 21 Hz modulation; in third group 3 subjects (20%) at 40 Hz and 2 subjects (13%) at 70 Hz modulation; in fourth group 3 subjects (16%) at 217 Hz and 0 subjects at 1000 Hz modulation frequency.
Bioelectromagnetics, 2008 © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Click here to view the source article.
Source: Tallinn University of Technology, Hiie Hinrikus *, Maie Bachmann, Jaanus Lass, Deniss Karai, Viiu Tuulik, 31 Jan 2008

 News item: