Guideline Only/Not a Substitute for Clinical Judgment

The 17 page guideline is available at https://jts.health.mil/assets/docs/cpgs/Radio_Frequency_EMF_Overexposure_CPG_12_Jul_2024_ID98.pdf

(Snippet) Introduction

Acute Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) overexposures pose safety hazards to service members.

Overexposures caused by RF-EMF emitting sources (e.g., navigation or radar systems, electromagnetic countermeasures, or Directed Energy EMF Weapons) can compromise essential military functions.1
An overexposure is defined as exposure to RF-EMF radiation in excess of Exposure Reference Level (ERL) limits at which harmful health effects may occur. Because the ERL limits also have a built-in safety margin, a relatively low amount of overexposure may not result in bodily injury; but the probability of injury increases with rising exposure dose above the ERL limits.2,3

The goals of this clinical practice guideline are to review potential injuries and adverse health effects related to RF-EMF overexposure at frequencies between 100 kilohertz (kHz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz), and to establish a clinical care guideline for first-line medical responders and military health care providers. Care for overexposures to frequencies outside of this range (e.g., electric shock or contact burns) will not be addressed by this CPG.

This CPG was developed based on expert consensus to include key elements of the service member’s medical history, examination, disposition, and medical record coding following RF-EMF overexposure. In general, early recognition and treatment of potential injuries are essential to maintain optimal treatment outcome. Timely reporting is vital to assess operational impact and carry out additional medical evaluation and care.

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Link to our April 2024 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/screens-cancer-breast-prostate-iarc-5g

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Abstract

Thyroid diseases are progressively increasing, mainly in terms of congenital hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and childhood thyrotoxicosis. A rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents has also been observed in the last decades, mirroring the incidence trend observed in adults. This epidemiologic tendency is paralleled by a progressive increment in costs for diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. Thyroid diseases depend on both genetic and environmental factors. Growing evidence link both altered thyroid function and thyroid cancer with a number of widely diffused toxic chemicals of anthropogenic origin. These synthetic substances persistently contaminate the environmental matrices (i.e., air, soil, water) and the food chain, and bio-accumulate in humans, starting from in utero life. Environmental toxics as air pollutants, endocrine disruptors, and high-frequency electromagnetic fields can act through common pathways, on common targets, and with trans-generational effects, with combined mechanisms contributing to thyroid damage. As shown by experimental and epidemiologic observation, these mechanisms include modulation of hormone synthesis, transportation and metabolism, direct interference with thyroid hormone receptors, modulation of gene expression, and autoimmunity. Available evidences linking environmental pollutants and thyroid disease, including cancer, should not be underestimated in consideration of the wide, worldwide, and increasing spread of these toxic substances, and of the key role of thyroid hormones in maintaining the systemic metabolic homeostasis and during the development. Thus, primary prevention measures are urgently needed in particular to protect children, the most exposed and vulnerable subjects.

https://www.eurekaselect.com/196304/article

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Article

Following the publication of the above systematic review and meta‑analysis, an interested reader drew to the Editor’s attention that there were potentially a number of concerns associated with the eight source papers on which the study had been based. Two of the studies were considered to have been based on 50 Hz electromagnetic fields and not on radiofrequency radiation; furthermore, one reference used an inaccurate risk estimate for the wrong exposure (shiftwork instead of RF), and one of the studies was focused on male breast cancer (the others all being concerned with female breast cancer). These issues were drawn to the attention of the authors, who did prepare a rebuttal in response to the reader’s comments. Independently, the Editorial Board also conducted an independent investigation of the reader’s claims, and reached the conclusion that the sheer number of corrections that would have been potentially required meant that it would not have been readily feasible to publish a Corrigendum. Taking all the factors into consideration, the Editor of Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine has therefore decided that the article should be retracted from the Journal on account of the number of uncertainties associated with both the way in which the meta‑analysis had been performed and the source papers selected for the study. Note that the authors were not in agreement with the retraction of this paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership of the Journal for any inconvenience caused by the retraction of this article. [the original article was published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21: 23, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9455]

https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2021.9903

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ABSTRACT

This is a review of the research on the genetic effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic field (EMF), mainly on radiofrequency radiation (RFR) and static and extremely low frequency EMF (ELF-EMF). The majority of the studies are on genotoxicity (e.g., DNA damage, chromatin conformation changes, etc.) and gene expression. Genetic effects of EMF depend on various factors, including field parameters and characteristics (frequency, intensity, wave-shape), cell type, and exposure duration. The types of gene expression affected (e.g., genes involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and stress responses, heat-shock proteins) are consistent with the findings that EMF causes genetic damages. Many studies reported effects in cells and animals after exposure to EMF at intensities similar to those in the public and occupational environments. The mechanisms by which effects are induced by EMF are basically unknown. Involvement of free radicals is a likely possibility. EMF also interacts synergistically with different entities on genetic functions. Interactions, particularly with chemotherapeutic compounds, raise the possibility of using EMF as an adjuvant for cancer treatment to increase the efficacy and decrease side effects of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs. Other data, such as adaptive effects and mitotic spindle aberrations after EMF exposure, further support the notion that EMF causes genetic effects in living organisms.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15368378.2021.1881866

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https://mailchi.mp/b00984f500d1/emfsa-october-2020-newsletter

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Highlights

•Black carbon and radiofrequency could be a suitable model for accelerated cellular toxicity.

•Electromagnetic fields and fine/coarse black carbon prolong innate and inflammatory immune responses.

•2.45 GHz radiofrequency and black carbon activate apoptosis of the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line.

Abstract

Environmental factors such as air pollution by particles and/or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are studied as harmful agents for human health. We analyzed whether the combined action of EMF with fine and coarse black carbon (BC) particles induced cell damage and inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cell line macrophages exposed to 2.45 GHz in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) chamber at sub-thermal specific absorption rate (SAR) levels. Radiofrequency (RF) dramatically increased BC-induced toxicity at high doses in the first 24 h and toxicity levels remained high 72 h later for all doses. The increase in macrophage phagocytosis induced after 24 h of RF and the high nitrite levels obtained by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin 24 and 72 h after radiation exposure suggests a prolongation of the innate and inflammatory immune response. The increase of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, after 24 h, and of interleukin-1β and caspase-3, after 72 h, indicated activation of the pro-inflammatory response and the apoptosis pathways through the combined effect of radiation and BC. Our results indicate that the interaction of BC and RF modifies macrophage immune response, activates apoptosis, and accelerates cell toxicity, by which it can activate the induction of hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune disorders.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720362100?via%3Dihub

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This special issue of the BERENIS newsletter contains a brief overview of the new guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP 2020), as well as a statement of the BERENIS expert group.

New ICNIRP guidelines for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (ICNIRP 2020).

a) Derivation of the guidelines

In March 2020, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has published new guidelines (ICNIRP 2020). These guidelines cover the RF EMF frequency range from 100 kHz to 300 GHz, replacing the corresponding sections of the 19981 and 20102 versions. In addition to currently used frequencies for 3G and 4G mobile phone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication as well as DAB, the revised guidelines also cover the frequency range above 6 GHz, which will probably be used more intensively for mobile communications in the future.

According to ICNIRP, the guidelines were developed on the basis of review reports on the topic, evaluations of individual studies, scientific workshops and an extensive public consultation process. For the development of the guidelines, ICNIRP considers effects being “harmful to human health and scientifically substantiated”.

The identification of the “adverse health effect threshold” was based on the relevant literature on thermal and non-thermal effects on biological systems. According to ICNIRP, only thermal effects meet the criteria for sufficient evidence of adverse health effects, and therefore, the threshold values were based on thermal mechanisms.

In order to account for uncertainty, additional reduction factors were applied to determine the restriction values. For whole-body exposure of e.g. mobile phone base stations, the proposed restriction value for the specific absorption rate (SAR) is 50 times lower than the threshold for human health effects assumed by ICNIRP. For local exposure from devices used close to the body, such as mobile phones, the reduction factor is 10. For occupationally exposed individuals, the reduction factors are 10 and 2 for whole-body exposure and local exposure, respectively.

b) Comparison of the new and previous guidelines

The basic restrictions for whole-body exposure are still expressed as SAR and remain unchanged compared to the previous ICNIRP guidelines: 0.4 W/kg for occupational exposure and 0.08 W/kg for the general public. With regard to mobile communication frequencies, this corresponds to field strengths from 36 V/m (700 MHz) to 61 V/m (2 GHz). For frequencies of 2 GHz and above, the relevant measure is power flux density, which should not exceed 10 W/m².

A modification in the new guidelines is that whole-body exposure is averaged over 30 minutes instead of 6 minutes, because new data show that steady-state conditions for whole-body exposure are reached after 30 minutes.

Another modification is that occupational exposure of pregnant women should not exceed exposure of the general public to protect the foetus.

For local exposure, the SAR per 10 g of tissue remains 2 W/kg for the head and torso and 4 W/kg for the limbs, or an absorbed power flux density of 20 W/m² at frequencies above 6 GHz (averaged over 6 minutes).

In addition, more detailed specifications are given for local exposure with regard to short exposure durations of less than 6 minutes, and with regard to exposure of small body regions of a few square centimetres (averaged over 4 cm² from 6 GHz to 30 GHz, and 1 cm² above 30 GHz).

These more precise specifications are important for the use of higher frequencies (above 6 GHz) to adequately protect the population.

c) Statement of BERENIS

• In principle, the new guidelines do not change the level of protection of the population.

The more precise guidelines for short-term and small-area exposures above 6 GHz should be considered by Swiss legislation before such frequencies are used for mobile communication in the future.

• Although ICNIRP stated that there is no evidence for health effects below the RF-EMF exposure limit values, there are still some uncertainties in this respect. There is sufficient evidence that RFEMF exposure of the brain in the range of 1-2 W/kg has measurable effects on the brain’s electrical activity.

• Furthermore, in cell and animal studies, relatively consistent effects on oxidative stress and on cellular signalling pathways have been found also below the limit values, while it is not clear whether these effects are associated with long-term health consequences. On the other hand, epidemiological research regarding long-term whole-body exposure above 1 V/m is insufficient.

Emphasis added by EMFSA

References

1. ICNIRP (1998): Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields
(up to 300 GHz). International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Health Phys 74:494–521.

2. ICNIRP (2010): Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric and magnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz).
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Health Phys 99:818–836.

3. Thielens A, Greco MK, Verloock L, Martens L, Joseph W (2020): Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field
Exposure of Western Honey Bees. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):461.

PDF https://www.emfsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Newsletter_BERENIS-Special_Issue_July_2020-ENGLISH.pdf

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Excerpt:

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FCC ET Docket No. 19-226, submitted electronically to https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/

https://www.ewg.org/testimony-official-correspondence/ewg-comments-fcc-human-exposure-radiofrequency-electromagnetic

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