Summer 2013© Tim Pratt REU June 2013 Biological Effects of Radio Waves or Are Cell Phones Dangerous to Your Health? Tim Pratt, Instructor

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt The Known Dange r Distracted driving – by you and by others In 2009: 5.5 million car crashes in the US 31,000 killed, 2 million injured 5,474 people killed in U.S. by accidents that involved distracted driving 448,000 were injured The price we pay for using automobiles

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Cell Phones and Vehicle Accidents Cell phone a factor in 995 fatal accidents Also in 24,000 injuries Under-20 age group had the highest percentage of distracted drivers 16% of under 20 years olds involved in fatal crashes were distracted while driving The price we pay for using cell phones

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Radiation Radiation is divided into two categories: Ionizing radiation Alpha particles, Beta particles, X rays, cosmic rays Non-ionizing radiation Light, including visible, Infra red and Ultra violet Radio waves from ULF to millimeter waves Also of interest: 60 Hz fields from power lines and other sources

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Ionizing Radiation Ionizing radiation causes changes to molecules Waves/particles have sufficient energy to knock electrons out of molecules Can cause damage to biological materials CDRH is US body responsible for human exposure Center for Devices and Radiological Health places limits on acceptable exposure to X rays Also regulates exposure to laser sources

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Non-Ionizing Radiation Non-ionizing radiation covers entire EM spectrum up to ultra violet light Light and radio waves do not have enough energy to cause changes in molecules Many molecules – especially water – absorb EM energy Absorption process is called dipole rotation Molecule behaves like electric dipole Rotates at incident frequency – dissipates energy

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Known Effects of EM Waves Heating Incident radio and light waves are absorbed by animal and human components Absorption varies greatly with material Water content closely related to absorption Effects observable with any microwave oven Example: Dried peas in water Water initially gets hot, peas don’t The miniature poodle case

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Penetration Depth Longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply At 100 MHz, 99% of energy is absorbed in a distance of several centimeters At 2.4 GHz depth is ~ 1 cm For optical frequencies depth is ~ ½ mm Sunlight is powerful EM source > 300 W / m 2 on sunny summer day Equal to 30 mW / cm 2

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Safety Standards International standards set by World Health Organization (WHO) National Standards set by government departments or agencies and national (independent) bodies CDRH in US National Radiological Protection Board in UK Department of Post and Telecommunications in Japan

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt International Exposure Levels Maximum permitted exposure UK mW/cm 2 US, Canada, Japan, 0.2 – 1.0 mW/cm 2 Germany Australia 0.2 mW/cm 2 Italy 0.05 mW/cm 2 Russia, Switzerland – 0.01 mW/cm 2 Higher exposure may be permitted for short period of time

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt FCC Rules for Cell Phones Particular concern because half energy from antenna is absorbed in head 900 MHz (AMPS) cell phones Tx power limit is around 0.5 watts 1.8 – 2.0 GHz (PCS) cell phones Limit is 0.3 W

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Cell Phones and Cancer Recent World Health Organization report called cell phones a possible factor in cancer, along with coffee, car exhaust … FCC statement: There is no scientific evidence to date that proves that wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other health effects, including headaches, dizziness or memory loss.

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt About 48% of power from cell phone transmitter is absorbed by user’s head

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Children and Cell Phones Microwave radiation penetrates a child’s head much further than an adult’s

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Research to Establish Biological Effects Sponsored by government agencies and departments, independent boards, private foundations Thousands of studies Hundreds of conclusions Particular concerns: Absorption of microwave energy by head when using a cell phone Intense 60 Hz fields below high voltage power lines

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Researching Biological Effects Population Studies - Epidemiological studies of groups of people Individual Studies - Animal and human research Cell and Tissue Studies - Cell and biological investigations Molecular Level Studies - Biochemical and molecularbiological

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Population Studies Compare groups of people exposed to radio waves with non-exposed control group Exposed groups: Workers building radar and communication systems Installation engineers People living near high power transmitters Children in schools near transmitters

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Population Studies Look for: General decline in health Specific conditions E.g. cancer, digestive illnesses, sleeplessness Results of Russian study: People working in factories where exposure to radio waves and radar transmissions were less healthy than general population Problem: What other factors might be involved?

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Russian Study Russian government took results of study seriously Banned microwave ovens in 1976 Reduced exposure standard from 10 mW/cm 2 to 0.01 mW/cm 2 No readily available data on whether health of workers improved No control groups reported Russians identified Radio Wave Sickness

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Individual Studies Typically conducted on rats, mice, guinea pigs Place animals around a radiating antenna Or in reduced power microwave oven Set up control group in identical condition with no radiation Compare general health of animals after 2, 4, 6 … many weeks Look for specific conditions: cancer, stroke, heart arhythmia, other illnesses,

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Iindividual Studies Rats, mice and guinea pigs Test group Cell phone on Control group Cell phone off Look for difference in health Use mice and rats susceptible to cancer

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Individual Studies Example study on rats with GSM cell phone: Equivalent of 0.91 W Tx power Rats located around radiating antenna Two control groups used Experiment conducted for number of weeks No adverse effects found Doesn’t prove that cell phones are harmless to humans

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Cell and Tissue Studies Cancer studies Use chemical agents to cause tumors Place animal in microwave oven for a while (at low power) Set up control group with power off See if tumor grows faster in exposed animals Particular interest: brain tumors Technique not used on human subjects

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Biological Studies Put human brain tissue in a dish Repeat rat experiment Look for change in DNA – especially tumors Test group Cell phone on Control group Cell phone off

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Molecular Studies Place cell cultures in Petrie dishes Radiate some, use others for controls Look for differences at molecular level

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Other Studies Radio wave sickness Further studies of selected groups via interviews and health reports Click effect – some people claim to hear a click from pulse transmitters Heart problems - look for specific condition

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Conclusions on Studies Several independent groups have evaluated many studies of all types Most get rejected as flawed, unscientific, or poorly conducted Conclusions from all groups: There is no conclusive evidence that radio waves at safety standard levels cause illnesses, cancer, or other health hazards

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Conclusions - Conditional Are some individuals more susceptible to radio waves than others? Are some tumors in some people sensitive to a specific frequency? What effect do radio waves have on children? FCC says there are no known adverse effects from cell phone use UK Radiological Protection Board recommends that children be restricted from non-essential cell phone use

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt The Concern Powerful interests don’t want restrictions E.g. Cell phone manufacturers and operators Others would like to discover a problem E.g. Trial lawyers would like a chance for a class action law suit on brain tumors Thalidomide, Viox cases Then there’s the Internet …

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt From the Internet …Hidden Hazards The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking By Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell Is it possible that millions of people are ignorantly sacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience of microwave ovens? Why did the Soviet Union ban the use of microwave ovens in 1976? Who invented microwave ovens, and why? The answers to these questions may shock you into throwing your microwave oven in the trash Ref:

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Hidden Hazards Over 90% of American homes have microwave ovens used for meal preparation Microwave ovens are convenient and energy efficient Very few homes or restaurants are without them People believe that microwave ovens don't have any negative effect on either the food or their health They are wrong!

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Hidden Hazards If microwave ovens were really harmful, our government would never allow them on the market, would they? Would they? We have stopped using ours based on the research facts outlined in this article The purpose of this report is to show proof - evidence - that microwave cooking is not natural, nor healthy Far more dangerous to the human body than anyone could imagine … The microwave oven is sapping your life force …

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Hz and 60 Hz Electric Fields Similar concerns exist about exposure to 50 Hz and 60 Hz electric fields from power lines Population studies in some places suggest a problem, especially for children Sweden moved some schools from under power lines after one study Conclusion from analysis of many studies: No conclusive evidence of health hazard

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Hz and 60 Hz Electric Fields How to get exposed to 50 / 60 Hz: Sleep under an electric blanket (turned on) Studies did reveal one interesting effect Workers who came in contact with high voltage lines were more likely to contract Lou Gherig’s disease (ALS) ALS = amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Condition in which some nerves cease to conduct – no known cure

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Lasers and the Human Eye Lasers radiate coherent radiation – a plane wave front Lens in the eye can focus laser beam to one micron spot Can burn a hole in the retina CDRH and EU have complex formulas limiting maximum exposure Based on eye 10 or 20 cm away from laser Limit is microwatts at visible and near IR

Summer 2013© Tim Pratt Conclusion After billions of dollars of research … No conclusive indication that EM waves or 50/60 Hz harm human health other than by heating The research continues ….