13 Jul 2022

To date, 30 different models of mobile phones with non compliant SARs have been either withdrawn from the French market or have had their Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) updated by software.

Read more at:

https://tinyurl.com/5aha9hcp

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Numerous studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) may negatively affect human health. We detected the effect of 3500 MHz RF-EMR on anxiety-like behavior and the auditory cortex (ACx) in guinea pigs. Forty male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to a continuous wave of 3500 MHz RF-EMF at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h. After exposure, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, anxiety-like behavior, hearing thresholds, cell ultrastructure, and apoptosis were detected. Our results revealed that hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior did not change significantly after exposure (P > 0.05). However, the MDA levels of ACx were increased (P < 0.05), and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities were decreased (P < 0.05) in the exposure groups compared to the sham group. Ultrastructural changes of ACx, including swollen mitochondria and layered myelin sheaths, were observed. Cytochrome-c relocalization, caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 activation were detected in the exposure groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that oxidative stress is an important mechanism underlying the biological effects of RF-EMR, which can induce ultrastructural damage to the ACx and cell apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent mechanism. Moreover, oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and ultrastructural damage increase in a SAR-dependent manner. However, RF-EMR does not increase hearing thresholds or induce anxiety. Bioelectromagnetics. 43:106–118, 2022. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.22388

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Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is conjectured to be related to many diseases. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that radiofrequency fields may induce oxidative stress in various cell types and thereby compromise human and animal health. This systematic review (SR) aims to summarize and evaluate the literature related to this hypothesis.

Objectives: The main objective of this SR is to evaluate the associations between the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress in experimental models (in vivo and in vitro).

Methods: The SR framework has been developed following the guidelines established in the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development and the Handbook for Conducting a Literature-Based Health Assessment). We will include controlled in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies that assess the effects of an exposure to RF-EMF on valid markers for oxidative stress compared to no or sham exposure. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and the EMF-Portal. The reference lists of included studies and retrieved review articles will also be manually searched.

Study appraisal and synthesis method: Data will be extracted according to a pre-defined set of forms developed in the DistillerSR online software and synthesized in a meta-analysis when studies are judged sufficiently similar to be combined. If a meta-analysis is not possible, we will describe the effects of the exposure in a narrative way.

Risk of bias: The risk of bias will be assessed with the NTP/OHAT risk of bias rating tool for human and animal studies. We will use GRADE to assess the certainty of the conclusions (high, moderate, low, or inadequate) regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress.

Funding: This work was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Registration: The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO webpage on July 8, 2021.

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34662800/

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Abstract

A novel exposure facility for exposing cell monolayers to centimeter and millimeter waves (18-40.5 GHz) used by future 5G mobile communication technology and similar applications has been developed. A detailed dosimetric characterization of the apparatus for frequencies of 27 and 40.5 GHz and 60 mm petri dishes, used in a presently ongoing study on human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, was carried out. The exposure facility enables a well-defined, randomized, and blinded application of sham exposure and exposure with selectable values of incident power flux density, and additionally provides the possibility of continuous monitoring of the sample temperature during exposure while it does not require significant deviations from routine in vitro handling procedures, i.e. petri dishes are not required to be placed inside waveguides or TEM cells. Mean specific absorption rate (SAR) values inside the cell monolayer of 115 W/kg (27 GHz) and 160 W/kg (40.5 GHz) per watt antenna input power and corresponding transmitted power density (S_t ) values at the bottom of the cell monolayer of 65 W/m² (27 GHz) and 70 W/m² (40.5 GHz) per watt antenna input power can be achieved, respectively. For reasonable amounts of harvested cells (80% of petri dish bottom area), the variation (max/min) of SAR and S_t over the cell monolayer remains below 3.7 dB (27 GHz) and 3.0 dB (40.5 GHz), respectively.

© 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.  Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Bioelectromagnetics Society.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34622469/

The post Design and Dosimetric Characterization of a Broadband Exposure Facility for In Vitro Experiments in the Frequency Range 18-40.5 GHz appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract:

This paper presents radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating of single and multiple tattoos during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T and 3 T. Various tattoos of different shapes, positions, pigment, length, diameter, and gap between the tattoos was investigated. Finite-difference time-domain based electromagnetic and thermal simulations were performed to study the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature rise, respectively. The results indicated that tattoos influenced the induced electric field distribution and maximum magnitude of the SAR on the surface of the skin. A notable enhancement in the SAR were observed around the sharp edges, long strips, and circular loops of tattoos. Interestingly, the maximum local SAR and increase in tissue temperature strongly depend on the shape of the tattoo. Furthermore, the relative position and size of the tattoos affected RF-induced heating. The RF-induced heating of multiple tattoos were investigated considering the worst case scenarios. Our results confirm that RF-induced heating of multiple tattoos is quite different from that of single tattoo and does not follow a simple superposition of the results from a single tattoos. Moreover, the procedures presented in the simulation environment are used to facilitate RF-induced heating for patients with tattoos undergoing clinical MRI.

PDF https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9483925

Extract:

V. CONCLUSION
This study presents data regarding RF-induced heating around different types and positions of tattoos at different field strengths of MRI and investigated a substantial factors that may impact RF-induced heating. These factors include tattoo pigment, tattoo shape, tattoo thickness, multiple tattoos, gap between the tattoos, position of tattoos on a human phantom, and conductivity of iron oxide. The study reveals that tattoo shapes, and positions are the major factors that affect RF-induced heating during MRI. Furthermore, the size of the tattoos and the gap between multiple tattoos could lead to higher RF-induced heating at different field strengths of MRI. Moreover, tattoo thickness is associated with small variations in RF-induced heating.

The radio frequency of MRI interacts with the ferromagnetic material found in tattoos, especially iron oxide. In addition, the RF-induced heating is different for different types of tattoos due to the different scattered E-fields. Thus, it is essential to study RF-induced heating in tattooed patients or follow the current recommendations of the FDA guidelines to avoid tattoo patient from MRI examination. Future studies on RF-induced heating of tattoos during MRI should consider patient orientation, landmark position, location of tattoos on the human body, tattoo pigments, and imaging studies.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9483925

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Abstract

Implantable antennas are mandatory to transfer data from implants to the external world wirelessly. Smart implants can be used to monitor and diagnose the medical conditions of the patient. The dispersion of the dielectric constant of the tissues and variability of organ structures of the human body absorb most of the antenna radiation. Consequently, implanting an antenna inside the human body is a very challenging task. The design of the antenna is required to fulfill several conditions, such as miniaturization of the antenna dimension, biocompatibility, the satisfaction of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and efficient radiation characteristics. The asymmetric hostile human body environment makes implant antenna technology even more challenging. This paper aims to summarize the recent implantable antenna technologies for medical applications and highlight the major research challenges. Also, it highlights the required technology and the frequency band, and the factors that can affect the radio frequency propagation through human body tissue. It includes a demonstration of a parametric literature investigation of the implantable antennas developed. Furthermore, fabrication and implantation methods of the antenna inside the human body are summarized elaborately. This extensive summary of the medical implantable antenna technology will help in understanding the prospects and challenges of this technology.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/9/3163/htm

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Source: https://www.phonegatealert.org/en/list-of-mobile-phones-with-non-compliant-sars-removed-or-updated-in-france

List updated as of April 25, 2021

To date, 28 different models of cell phones dangerous to the health of users have been either withdrawn from the French market or have had their Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) updated by software. Among the latest tested with a SAR trunk “non-compliant” we find the smartphone Nokia 7 Plus (SAR 3.48 W/kg) and Sony XPERIA 5 (2.64 W/kg). The manufacturer HMD GLOBAL OY (Nokia) received a financial penalty of 7 500 euros. And very recently in March and April 2021 two smartphones sold by the distributor Boulanger (EssentielB HeYou 60 and 40) with a SAR trunk and limbs “at risk” respectively of 2.86 W/kg and 5.26 W/kg for the HeYou 60 was sanctioned for exceeding regulatory thresholds.

Read more at: https://www.phonegatealert.org/en/list-of-mobile-phones-with-non-compliant-sars-removed-or-updated-in-france

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Abstract

The recent development of millimeter-wave (mmW) technologies, such as the fifth-generation (5G) network, comes with concerns related to user exposure. A quite large number of dosimetry studies above 6 GHz have been conducted, with the main purpose being to establish the correlation between different dosimetric parameters and the skin surface temperature elevation. However, the dosimetric studies from 28 GHz user equipment using different voxel models have not been comprehensively discussed yet. In this study, we used the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for the estimation of the absorption of radiofrequency (RF) energy from a microstrip patch antenna array (28 GHz) in different human models. Specifically, we analyzed different exposure conditions simulating three real common scenarios (a phone call scenario, message writing scenario, and browsing scenario) regarding the use of smartphones/tablets by four different individuals (adult male and female, child male and female). From the results of Absorbed Power Density (Sab), it is possible to conclude that all the considered exposure scenarios comply with the safety limits, both for adult and children models. However, the high values of the local Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the superficial tissues and the slight differences in its distribution between adults and children suggest the need for further and more detailed analysis.

Citation Morelli, M.S.; Gallucci, S.; Siervo, B.; Hartwig, V. Numerical Analysis of Electromagnetic Field Exposure from 5G Mobile Communications at 28 GHZ in Adults and Children Users for Real-World Exposure Scenarios. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031073 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1073

Full text https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7908514/

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The post 5G smartphones and health : How to control exposure to waves from new 5G mobiles? appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract: Wearable metal objects with high electromagnetic reflection characteristics can cause interference with the incident waves during exposure to the electromagnetic (EM) radiation. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the effect of metal objects capable of increasing the absorption of EM energy and temperature within the tissues when get exposed to EM radiation. A numerical analysis of increase in specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature distribution in a human head model when metal objects are placed between the head and radiating source is performed. A realistic three-dimensional heterogeneous human head model, metal objects of different shapes and sizes, and spectacles with different lenses are used. A half-wavelength dipole antenna operating at 1800 MHz served as an EM radiation source. Results show that the presence of metal objects in proximity to the head alters SAR and temperature increase within the tissues. In most cases, metal objects redistribute the EM field incident upon them to a smaller region increasing power absorption, thereby increasing SAR and temperature in that region. The power absorption in head layers is found to be sensitive to metal object’s size and shape, and distance of the antenna from the objects.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X20305311?fbclid=IwAR1hYRDjM4lRLyD3KrSCYf71XCgAlr6hx4Wusy-Q0U2fCEcf9qY_s-FYpcI

According to the authors the metal objects definitely alter the absorption of EM radiation in the tissues. In most of the cases, presence of all shapes of metal objects increase the SAR and temperature in the head model for voice calling position. This paper, hence, shows how important it is to study temperature distribution along with the SAR distribution to clearly understand the effect of EM radiation on the tissues. Results obtained from this study can help spread awareness among the people who often get exposed to EM radiation wearing some type of metal objects. If the metal objects have size and distance in the range of generating strong coupling interaction with the EM radiation source, this could cause a harmful effect on the health.

Under a Creative Commons license, Open Access.

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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