Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Research Articles

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in the media – a qualitative content analysis of Norwegian newspapers

ObjectivesElectromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a condition characterized by experiencing symptoms after perceived exposure to weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs). There is substantial debate concerning the aetiology of EHS, but experimental data indicate no association between EHS and actual presence of EMFs. Newspapers play a key role in shaping peoples’ understanding of health-related issues. The aim of this study was to describe the content of newspaper articles concerning aetiology and treatment of EHS.DesignQualitative content analysis of newspaper articles.SettingNorwegian newspaper articles were identified using a comprehensive electronic media archive.ParticipantsNorwegian newspaper articles published between 1 February 2006 and 11 August 2010.Main outcome measuresStatements coded according to source of information, whether it was pro or con scientific evidence on EHS aetiology, and type of intervention presented as treatment option for EHS.ResultsOf the statements concerning EHS aetiology (n = 196), 35% (n = 69) were categorized as pro evidence, 65% (n = 127) as con evidence. Of the statements about EHS interventions assessed, 78% (n = 99) were categorized as ‘radiance reduction’, 4% (n = 5) as ‘complementary medicine’, and 18% (n = 23) as ‘other’. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychotropic drugs were never presented as possible treatment options for EHS.ConclusionsThe newspaper media discourse of EHS aetiology and recommended treatment interventions is much in conflict with the current evidence in the field. The majority of statements concerning aetiology convey that EHS is related to the presence of weak EMFs, and radiance reduction as the most frequently conveyed measure to reduce EHS-related symptoms.

Hypersensitivity Responses in Humans to Electromagnetic Fields [Health Effects

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) was the subject of many scientific studies about a decade ago [1], and several research investigations have appeared since then. The syndromes of EHS consist of nervous-system symptoms, such as headache and fatigue; skin symptoms, like facial irritations and rashes; as well as other nonspecific health-related symptoms. Also, there have been reports of problems with concentration, loss of memory, and dizziness. Exposure of the affected persons was generally below the recommended standard promulgated in internationally accepted guidelines.

Radio-frequency radiation safety and health: The effect of electromagnetic field exposure on hypersensitivity responses in humans

The syndrome of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) consists of nervous-system symptoms, such as headache and fatigue; skin symptoms, such as facial irritations and rashes; as well as other nonspecific health-related symptoms. One of the most renowned case of EHS is the reported hypersensitivity of Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway. She was the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1998 to 2003. She had not publicly talked about her EHS for more than 10 years. However, that ended when she told a reporter, “I avoid talking on mobile phone,” in response to a newspaper article alleging that she now uses a mobile phone, according to a former top aide at WHO, Jonas Gahr Store, the current Norwegian Minister of Health.

A pilot neighborhood study towards establishing a benchmark for reducing electromagnetic field levels within single family residential dwellings

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) permeate the built environment in different forms and come from a number of sources including electrical wiring and devices, wireless communication, ‘energy-efficient’ lighting, and appliances. It can be present in the indoor environment directly from indoor sources, or can be transmitted through building materials from outside sources. Scientists have identified it as an indoor environmental pollutant or toxin that has ubiquitously plagued developed nations causing a variety of adverse health effects such as sick-building syndrome symptoms, asthma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, electro-hypersensitivity (EHS), behavior disorders, and more. There is currently no international consensus on guidelines and exposure limits. This paper presents the results of 29 EMF field audits in single family residential dwellings located within an urban neighborhood in Toronto (Canada). The following EMF spectra were evaluated: radio frequency, power frequency electric fields, power frequency magnetic fields and high frequency voltage transients. The field audits were conducted in order to provide initial baseline statistics to be used in future studies and in order to be compared to a low-cost EMF reduction design incorporated within the Renovation2050 research house — located within the test neighborhood. The results show the low-cost reduction strategy to be effective, on average reducing exposure by 80% for high-intensity EMF metrics. Research of this nature has not been conducted with relation to the built environment and can be used to spark an industry movement to design for low-exposure to EMF in a residential context.

The Case of Hypersensitivity to Electromagnetic Fields [Telecommunications Health and Safety

The syndrome of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) consists of nervous-system symptoms, such as headache and fatigue; skin symptoms, such as facial irritations and rashes; as well as other nonspecific health-related symptoms. One of the most renowned case of EHS is the reported hypersensitivity of Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway. She was the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1998 to 2003. She had not publicly talked about her EHS for more than 10 years. However, that ended when she told a reporter, I avoid talking on mobile phone, in response to a newspaper article alleging that she now uses a mobile phone, according to a former top aide at WHO, Jonas Gahr Store, the current Norwegian Minister of Health.

Electromagnetic hypersensitive Finns: Symptoms, perceived sources and treatments, a questionnaire study

The aim was to analyze the subjective experiences of Finns who describe themselves as suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), their symptoms, self-perceived sources of the health complaints and the effectiveness of medical and complementary alternative therapies. A total of 395 questionnaires were mailed to self-diagnosed EHS persons. Of the participants 345 belonged to a Finnish self-help group and 50 came from outside of the group. The return rate of the study was 52.1% (206) and 80.9% of the respondents were women. Before the onset of EHS the most common health complaints were different types of allergies (35.1%, 68). During the acute phase of EHS the most common symptoms were nervous system related: “stress” (60.3%, 117), “sleeping disorders” (59.3%, 115) and “fatigue” (57.2%, 111). The sources that were most often reported to have triggered EHS were: “personal computers” (50.8%, 94) and “mobile phones” (47.0%, 87). The same devices were also claimed to cause the most symptoms during the acute phase. After the acute phase of EHS had passed, the respondents still claimed to react to these same digital and wireless devices while their reactions to basic electrical appliances were reduced. According to 76% of 157 respondents the reduction or avoidance of electromagnetic fields (EMF) helped in their full or partial recovery. The best treatments for EHS were given as: “dietary change” (69.4%), “nutritional supplements” (67.8%) and “increased physical exercise” (61.6%). The official treatment recommendations of psychotherapy (2.6%) and medication (−4.2%) were not significantly helpful. According to the present results the official treatment protocols should take better account the EHS person's own experiences. The avoidance of electromagnetic radiation and fields effectively removed or lessened the symptoms in EHS persons.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome revisited again

We described experimental evidence indicating that electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) was a bona fide neurological syndrome (that not all self-identified sufferers had a purely psychosomatic di...

Hypothesis on how to measure electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is an ill-defined term to describe the fact that people who experience health symptoms in the vicinity of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) regard them as causal for their complaints. Up to now most scientists assume a psychological cause for the suffering of electromagnetic hypersensitive individuals. This paper addresses reasons why most provocation studies could not find any association between EMF exposure and EHS and presents a hypothesis on diagnosis and differentiation of this condition. Simultaneous recordings of heart rate variability, microcirculation and electric skin potentials are used for classification of EHS. Thus, it could be possible to distinguish “genuine” electromagnetic hypersensitive individuals from those who suffer from other conditions.

Radiation from wireless technology affects the blood, the heart, and the autonomic nervous system1)

Exposure to electrosmog generated by electric, electronic, and wireless technology is accelerating to the point that a portion of the population is experiencing adverse reactions when they are exposed. The symptoms of electrohypersensitivity (EHS), best described as rapid aging syndrome, experienced by adults and children resemble symptoms experienced by radar operators in the 1940s to the 1960s and are well described in the literature. An increasingly common response includes clumping (rouleau formation) of the red blood cells, heart palpitations, pain or pressure in the chest accompanied by anxiety, and an upregulation of the sympathetic nervous system coincident with a downregulation of the parasympathetic nervous system typical of the "fight-or-flight" response. Provocation studies presented in this article demonstrate that the response to electrosmog is physiologic and not psychosomatic. Those who experience prolonged and severe EHS may develop psychologic problems as a consequence of their inability to work, their limited ability to travel in our highly technologic environment, and the social stigma that their symptoms are imagined rather than real.

Effects of radiation emitted by WCDMA mobile phones on electromagnetic hypersensitive subjects

BackgroundWith the use of the third generation (3 G) mobile phones on the rise, social concerns have arisen concerning the possible health effects of radio frequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) mobile phones in humans. The number of people with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), who complain of various subjective symptoms such as headache, dizziness and fatigue, has also increased. However, the origins of EHS remain unclear.MethodsIn this double-blind study, two volunteer groups of 17 EHS and 20 non-EHS subjects were simultaneously investigated for physiological changes (heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiration rate), eight subjective symptoms, and perception of RF-EMFs during real and sham exposure sessions. Experiments were conducted using a dummy phone containing a WCDMA module (average power, 24 dBm at 1950 MHz; specific absorption rate, 1.57 W/kg) within a headset placed on the head for 32 min.ResultsWCDMA RF-EMFs generated no physiological changes or subjective symptoms in either group. There was no evidence that EHS subjects perceived RF-EMFs better than non-EHS subjects.ConclusionsConsidering the analyzed physiological data, the subjective symptoms surveyed, and the percentages of those who believed they were being exposed, 32 min of RF radiation emitted by WCDMA mobile phones demonstrated no effects in either EHS or non-EHS subjects.

WCDMA 휴대전화 전자파에 의한 심호흡계 영향

With rapid increasing usage of smart phones, social concerns have arisen about the possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted from wideband code division multiple access(WCDMA) mobile phones on human health. The number of people with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity(EHS) who complain of various subjective symptoms such as headache, insomnia etc. has also recently increased. However, it is unclear whether EHS results from physiological or other origins. In this double-blinded study, we investigated physiological changes such as heart rate, respiration rate, and heart rate variability with real and sham exposures for 15 EHS and 17 non-EHS persons using a module inside a dummy phone. Experiment was conducted using a WCDMA module with average power of 24 dBm at 1950 MHz with the specific absorption rate of 1.57 W/kg using a headphone for 32 min. As a conclusion, WCDMA RF exposure did not have any effects on the physiological variables in either group.

Letter to the Editor: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Letter to the Editor: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Reported functional impairments of electrohypersensitive Japanese: A questionnaire survey

An increasing number of people worldwide complain that they have become electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS). We conducted a questionnaire survey of EHS persons in Japan. The aim was to identify electromagnetic fields (EMF) and plausible EMF sources that caused their symptoms. Postal questionnaires were distributed via a self-help group, and 75 participants (95% women) responded. Reported major complaints were “fatigue/tiredness” (85%), “headache”, “concentration, memory, and thinking” difficulty (81%, respectively). Seventy-two per cent used some form of complementary/alternative therapy. The most plausible trigger of EHS onset was a mobile phone base station or personal handy-phone system (37%). Sixty-five percent experienced health problems to be due to the radiation from other passengers’ mobile phones in trains or buses, and 12% reported that they could not use public transportation at all. Fifty-three percent had a job before the onset, but most had lost their work and/or experienced a decrease in income. Moreover, 85.3% had to take measures to protect themselves from EMF, such as moving to low EMF areas, or buying low EMF electric appliances. EHS persons were suffering not only from their symptoms, but also from economical and social problems.

Right to Reply: Correspondence about Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Right to Reply: Correspondence about Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Letter to the Editor: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

McCarty et al. [1] present the results from two experiments which assessed whether exposure to an electric field could trigger symptoms in a participant who reported having “electromagnetic hyperse...

Response to Letter to the Editor Concerning “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Evidence for a Novel Neurological Syndrome”

Response to Letter to the Editor Concerning “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Evidence for a Novel Neurological Syndrome”

Green Communication- A Stipulation to Reduce Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity from Cellular Phone

With the introduction of wireless communication technologies cellular phones and base stations became more prominent. Since wireless technology has come into existence in the last decades but now the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposure levels has amplified many folds because of the extensive use of cellular phone. In general, cellular phones irradiate an average power of 0.2-0.6 watts when operated near to the head and likely 40-50% electromagnetic radiation (EMR) absorbed into the brain. In order to reduce EMR from wireless devices or cellular phones, debates for green communication have been initiated and highly appreciated by technocrats or innovators. In this study we are lighting over the stipulation of green communication in terms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) among cellular users from its irradiation. Prevalence of EHS for Headache symptom was assessed among 659 cellular phone users in India. Risk assessment was made on the basis of age, gender and ethnicity. Study also aimed to compare ‘headache’ among 4 individual groups, i.e., low users (LU), normal users (NU), moderate users (MU) and heavy users (HU). The questionnaire was designed to collect the information for demographic and social characteristics, cellular phone utilization patterns, association of the symptom to the subjects and awareness over the safety measures to reduce the cellular phone's exposure. The overall 92 users reported headache and association of headache symptom was found greater with normal, moderate and heavy cellular phone users when compared to low users. Although significant association were not found within these individual groups in overall analysis but a trend (p=0.091) was observed among moderate users. Risk of headache among moderate users was 1.6 fold increased (95% CI: 0.925 – 2.827) than the low users. The risk at significant level was not found on the basis of gender, ethnicity and age, yet moderate users those belong to rural areas, had more than 3 times increased risk (OR-3.438; CI: 1.117-10.58) of headache than the low users of same ethnicity. Furthermore, concept of green communication would play a vital role to minimize the cellular irradiation and then possibilities of EHS can be reduced among cellular users.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the light of empirical results

Az elektromágneses túlérzékenység (electromagnetic hypersensitivity — EHS) a modern korral együtt járó egészségi problémák egyik tipikus képviselője, lényegében a működő elektromos eszközök és berendezések közelében észlelt kellemetlen közérzetet és nem-specifikus tüneteket takarja. Jelen narratív összefoglaló áttekinti a jelenség definiálásával, diagnózisával és terápiájával kapcsolatos legfontosabb problémákat, a különféle magyarázó elméleteket, valamint az azokat alátámasztó empirikus eredményeket. A leginkább elfogadott megközelítés szerint az EHS esetében az idiopátiás környezeti intolerancia (idiopathic environmental intolerance — IEI) egyik válfajáról van szó, ahol az ok-okozati viszonyok még nem világosak. Bár az elektromágneses terek és sugárzások közvetlen hatása („toxikogén” megközelítés) sem kizárható, a legtöbb bizonyíték a „pszichogén” eredet mellett szól. A tünetek ál-expozícióval is kiválthatók, a betegekre fokozott szomatizációs és szomatoszenzoros amplifikációs hajlam jellemző, ezért a jelenséget sokan a nocebo-hatással kapcsolják össze. Összességében elmondható az, hogy egy tipikusan multikauzális, csak biopszichoszociális megközelítésben megragadható és kezelhető problémáról van szó.

An old issue and a new look: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity caused by radiations emitted by GSM mobile phones

University students use mobile phones frequently. We previously showed that there was no association between mobile phone use and EMF health hazards among university students. As our previous study was based only on self-reported symptoms this double-blind study was designed to answer two basic questions. Firstly, are self-reported hypersensitive individuals capable of sensing whether there is a real/sham microwave exposure? Secondly, do hypersensitive patients show alterations in their biological parameters such as heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure during microwave exposure? The study consisted of a preliminary screening phase and two subsequent complementary phases. In the 1st phase, 700 students were screened for EMF hypersensitivity. Fifty two participants were hypersensitive individuals but after applying the exclusion criteria only 28 students were invited to take part in the 2nd and 3rd phase of the study, but only 20 students (71.4%) declared their informed consent. In the 2nd phase, these self reported hypersensitive participants, were exposed/sham exposed to microwave radiation emitted from a mobile phone for 10 minutes and they were asked if they could sense the existence of microwave radiation. In the 3rd phase, all students were connected to ICU monitoring devices and their basic physiological parameters were recorded precisely. Among self-reported symptoms reported in our previous study, in this study only problem in concentration (P < 0.05) and low back pain (P < 0.05) were associated with mobile phone use. Furthermore, there was a significant association between the location of mobile phone during talk and the overall score of the severity of the symptoms (P < 0.001). When the participants were asked to report their perception about the real and sham exposures, only 5 students (25%) could discriminate the real exposure/sham exposure phases. This relative frequency can be only due to chance. In the 3rd phase all of the 20 participants were connected to intensive care unit monitors and the changes in their heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure during real/sham exposure were recorded. No statistically significant changes between the means of these parameters in real/sham exposure were observed. Our findings clearly confirm the results obtained inother provocative studies. These data also indicate the possible role of psychological factors in electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Origins of electromagnetic hypersensitivity to 60 Hz magnetic fields: A provocation study

With increasing electrical device usage, social concerns about the possible effects of 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on human health have increased. The number of people with self-attributed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) who complain of various subjective symptoms such as headache and insomnia has also increased. However, it is unclear whether EHS results from physiological or other origins. In this double-blinded study, we simultaneously investigated physiological changes (heart rate, respiration rate, and heart rate variability), subjective symptoms, and perception of the magnetic field to assess origins of the subjective symptoms. Two volunteer groups of 15 self-reported EHS and 16 non-EHS individuals were tested with exposure to sham and real (60 Hz, 12.5 µT) magnetic fields for 30 min. Magnetic field exposure did not have any effects on physiological parameters or eight subjective symptoms in either group. There was also no evidence that the EHS group perceived the magnetic field better than the non-EHS group. In conclusion, the subjective symptoms did not result from the 60 Hz, 12.5 µT magnetic field exposures but from other non-physiological factors.