Chronic electromagnetic stressors in the environment: A risk factor in human cancer

Abstract

CHRONIC ELECTROMAGNETIC STRESSORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT:A RISK FACTOR IN HUMAN CANCERAndrew A. Marino and *Don H. MorrisDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery*Veterans Administration Medical CenterandDepartment of Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryLouisiana State UniversitySchool of Medicine in ShreveportP.O. Box 33932Shreveport, LA 71130—3932Contents: I. Introduction, II. Epidemiology, III. Role of ElectromagneticFields in Clinical Cancer, IV. Mechanism of Action, V. SummaryI. INTRODUCTIONElectromagnetic fields are real, physical, incorporeal entities thatarise from the existence and motions of atomic charges. Electromagneticwaves are electromagnetic fields that propagate through space and, aftergeneration by the source, are physically unconnected to it. Typicalexamples are radar, microwave ovens, and radio and television signals.The second class of electromagnetic fields consists of electric andmagnetic fields. They are distinct but frequently superimposed fieldsthat arise in the vicinity of wires carrying electric currents. Althoughthese fields are stationary in the sense that they do not propagatethrough space, their magnitude or direction may be time-dependent. The