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*
Cellular Phone Radiofrequency Alters Gene Expression - Building
a Safer Cell Phone Antenna
(11/10/02)
Tramès per Klaus Rudolph (Citizens'
Initiative Omega)
Exposure to Global System for Mobile
Communication (GSM) Cellular
Phone Radiofrequency Alters Gene Expression,
Proliferation, and Morphology of Human Skin Fibroblasts
Oncology Research, 2002, vol. 13, no.1, pp. 19-24(6)
Pacini S.[1]; Ruggiero M.[2];
Sardi I.[1]; Aterini S.[2]; Gulisano F.[3]; Gulisano M.[1]
[1]*Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University
of Firenze, viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Firenze, Italy
[2]?Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Firenze,
viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Firenze, Italy
[3]?Department of Physics, University of Firenze, viale Morgagni 85, 50134
Firenze, Italy
Abstract:
Human skin fibroblasts were exposed to global system for mobile communication
(GSM) cellular phone radiofrequency for 1 h. GSM exposure induced alterations
in cell morphology and increased the expression of mitogenic signal transduction
genes (e.g., MAP kinase kinase 3, G2/mitotic-specific cyclin G1), cell
growth inhibitors (e.g., transforming growth factor-), and genes controlling
apoptosis (e.g., bax). A significant increase in DNA synthesis and intracellular
mitogenic second messenger formation matched the high expression of MAP
kinase family genes. These findings show that these electromagnetic fields
have significant biological effects on human skin fibroblasts.
ISSN: 0965-0407
http://www.ingenta.com/isis/searching/ExpandTOC/ingenta?issue=infobike://cog/or/2002/00000013/00000001&index=4&
WebLogicSession=PaQjdrRvQmVumGz1Dn3d|1743987138665148490/-1052814329/6/7051/7051/7052/7052/7051/-1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12201670&dopt=Abstract
Informant: Jörg Wichmann
Building a Safer Cell
Phone Antenna
By Jay Wrolstad
June 14, 2002
"The danger is that if you reduce it too much, you will lose the
signal, and the base station will increase the power if it detects a weak
signal."
Nortel Networks is focused on changing how the world communicates and
exchanges information. It is supplying its customers with technology to
enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning MANs,
Wireless Networks, and Optical Long Haul Networks. Scientists at a British
university, taking advantage of their research in GPS (global positioning
system) location-based technology, have reported a breakthrough in antenna
design that could result in safer mobile phones.
Engineers at Loughborough University's Centre for Mobile Communications
Research (CMCR) say their work may yield a new antenna that will reduce
cell phone radiation emissions absorbed into the body. The small-scale
antenna initially was designed for devices receiving GPS signals from
satellites, CMCR head Yiannis Vardaxoglou told NewsFactor. However, the
researchers later discovered that the antenna had a low radiation SAR
(specific absorption rate).
While some of the radio frequency radiation emitted by mobile phones is
dissipated into the air, some is absorbed in the user's head. Given the
widespread concern over potential health hazards associated with cell
phone use -- hazards that are, as yet, unproven -- a reduction in emissions
would represent a significant development in phone safety. A reduction
in the SAR of up to 85 percent was accomplished, Vardaxoglou explained,
by creating an antenna using helical, or spiral, copper tracks etched
into a small ceramic cylinder. The antenna measures about one centimeter
in diameter by one centimeter in length.
Compromise Required
The GeoHelix antennas have been used by GPS handset and wireless location-device
manufacturers because the low near-field technology enables weak satellite
signals to be received even when the equipment is near a building or the
signal is blocked by the user's body. "The danger is that if you
reduce it too much, you will lose the signal, and the base station will
increase the power if it detects a weak signal," Vardaxoglou said.
"We are trying to produce a compromise in which we can control
the signal power and retain efficiency of the mobile phone," he added.
Health Hazard?
The project is still in the experimental stages, although a mobile phone
model with the new antenna has been built. "A lot of work remains
on integrating the antenna into a mobile phone. There is no generic
solution, since the devices -- and the way they are used -- vary significantly,"
Vardaxoglou said.
Many countries and regions have established strict SAR safety standards.
For example, the European Union limit is two watts per kg. Recently, China
proposed an even stricter standard of one watt per kg. Studies from the
National Cancer Institute, the Journal of the American Medical Association
and the New England Journal of Medicine state there is no definitive link
between cell phone use and cancer risk. Even so, those groups have said
that more research is needed on the risks of long-term use.
Phantom Head
The antenna also has applications for Bluetooth-enabled devices that use
short-range wireless connections. Vardaxoglou said his technology would
reduce the interference that often plagues Bluetooth networks that
connect several devices in an office. "That puts a lot of stress
on the network, and people are finding out that it requires a better antenna
than the simple copper wire stuck on the end of a chip that is currently
being used," he said. Still, Vardaxoglou primarily is concerned about
mobile phone health issues and reducing SAR levels. As a result, he said,
the CMCR researchers have made major investments in supercomputers and
an assessment system to accurately measure the radiation absorbed by a
"phantom head."
http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/18230.html
Informant: Volker Hartenstein, Member
of the Bavarian Parliament
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