ON THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Abstract

There is limited evidence in favor of a carcinogenic effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, based predominantly on epidemiologic research. However, epidemiologic studies of radiation effects may be associated with bias. The brain tumor incidence has in fact not reacted to the tremendous increase in the mobile phone use. A moderate incidence increase in some countries and age groups can be explained by improvements of the imaging technology. The risks reported by epidemiological studies are from electromagnetic radiation of non-thermal intensity. However, UHF-therapy of thermal intensity has been widely used for the treatment of otorhinolaryngolical and other diseases since the 1960s. Associations of the UHF-therapy with enhanced cancer risk have never been reported. Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields of solar and atmospheric origin are components of the natural environment; they are subject to considerable fluctuations. Accordingly, there must be living organisms’ adaptation. The problem can be solved by large-scale animal experiments with registration of the life duration. In some experiments, exposed animals had higher average life duration than controls, which may reflect a biphasic dose-response of hormetic type. Examinations of animals and necropsies incur expenditures that could be used to enhance the number of animals and statistical significance. To make results of experiments transferable to professional exposures or the use of mobile phones, dose rates must be comparable to those in humans.