Effects of ELF ands
MICROWAVES on human lymphocytes from hypersensitive persons (10/7/02)
Tramès per Klaus Rudolph (Citizens'
Initiative Omega)
EFFECTS
OF ELF AND MICROWAVES ON HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES FROM HYPERSENSITIVE PERSONS
I. Belyaev,
L. Hillert, C. Tamm, M. Harms-Ringdahl, L. Malmgren, B. Persson.
Department of Genetic and Cellular Toxicology, Stockholm University, Stockholm,
Sweden; Department of Environmental Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm,
Sweden; Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
INTRODUCTION:
Hypersensitivity to electricity (electromagnetic fields, EMF) is a fairly
new phenomenon and etiology of the EMF hypersensitivity is not yet known.
There are several symptoms that these people experience in the proximity
to different sources of EMF.
The symptoms are not specific to this illness and there is no known pathophysiological
marker or diagnostic test [1-2]. No causal relationship between EMF and
symptoms has yet been proven, but sensitivity to specific frequencies
has been suggested [1]. The frequency dependent non-thermal effects of
ELF magnetic fields and microwaves on the conformation of chromatin in
lymphocytes have been described and individual variability has been observed
[3, 4].
OBJECTIVE:
Here, we used specific conditions of exposure to ELF to investigate if
the response of lymphocytes from
hypersensitive persons is different as compared to healthy subjects. We
also used GSM modulated
microwaves, which have been previously shown to affect brain blood barrier
in rats [5].
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Fresh blood samples from two groups of donors, 7 persons reporting electrosensitivity
and 7 healthy controls matched by gender, age and smoking habits were
coded and all data were analysed in blind. The changes in chromatin conformation
were measured with the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencie
(AVTD).
Apoptosis was determined up to 72 h by morphological changes. Apoptotic
fragmentation of DNA was
analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Sinusoidal magnetic
field (8 Hz, 30 mT amplitude or 50 Hz, 15 mT amplitude) was applied using
Helmholtz coils. Installation employing GSM signal, 915 MHz, all modulations
included, SAR=1-2 mW/g in the TEMcell was used. All exposures were 2 h.
The data were analyzed with the t-test.
RESULTS:
Exposure to ELF at 8 Hz and specific static magnetic field as described
in [3] resulted in statistically significant changes of chromatin conformation,
which disappeared 19 h after exposure. This ELF exposure resulted in apoptotic
DNA fragmentation, which was comparable with the response induced by 2
cGy of g-rays.
No significant differences in effects were seen between groups of control
and hypersensitive donors. However, a trend to a prolonged state
of relaxed chromatin was observed in lymphocytes from hypersensitive persons.
No effects of 8 Hz exposure on apoptosis or AVTD were observed when static
magnetic field was changed by 10 mT.
Exposure either to 50 Hz or microwaves resulted in significant condensation
of chromatin which was comparable with heat shock at 41oC. This
condensation disappeared 2 h after exposure and no apoptosis was
observed during 72 h.
Comparison of pooled data obtained with 50 Hz and 915 MHz did not show
significant differences in effects between 4 control and 4 sensitive
subjects. However, in 3 of 4 matched pairs, both 50 Hz and 915 MHz
stronger affected cells from hypersensitive persons.
CONCLUSIONS:
The data suggested that ELF magnetic fields and microwaves under specific
conditions of exposure affect lymphocytes from healthy and electrosensitive
donors. ELF under specific conditions of exposure resulted in apoptotic
DNA fragmentation.
These effects differ at different frequencies and vary between donors.
In some cases, cells from electrosensitive donors responded stronger
than cells from gender- and age-matched control subjects, but the results
need to be confirmed in a larger study group.
These studies were supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and
Social Research and the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute.
Source:
http://www.bioelectromagnetics.org/doc/bems2002-program-platform.pdf
References:
* Rea, W.J., Y. Pan, E.J. Fenyves, I. Sujisawa, N. Samadi, and G.H. Ross,
Electromagnetic field sensitivity,
Journal of Bioelectricity, 10, 241-256, 1991
* Hillert, L., Hedman B.K., Soderman E., and B.B. Arnetz, Hypersensitivity
to electricity: working definition and additional characterization of
the syndrome. J. Psychosom. Res., 47, 429-38, 1999
* Belyaev, I.Ya., Y.D. Alipov, and M. Harms-Ringdahl, Resonance effects
of weak ELF on E. coli cells and human lymphocytes: role of genetic, physiological
and physical parameters, In: Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and
Medicine, ed. F. Bersani, Kluwer Academic, NY, 481-484, 1999
* Belyaev, I.Ya., and V.G. Kravchenko, Resonance Effect of Low Intensity
Millimeter Waves on the Chromatin Conformational State of Rat Thymocytes,
Z. Naturforsch., 49c, 352-358,1994
* Persson, B.R.R., Salford, L.G., and Brun, A. Blood-Brain Barrier permeability
in rats exposed to electromagnetic fields used in wireless communication.
Wireless Networks 3, 455-461, 1997
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