Marek Zmyslony

Dysregulation of Autonomic Control of Cardiac Function in Workers at am Broadcasting Stations (0.738–1.503 MHz)

Ninety-three adult males working at AM broadcasting stations (0.738–1.503 MHz) or radio line stations volunteered for cardiological examinations. The examinations included routine electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest, analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), Holter 24-h ECG, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). Results of cardiological examinations were correlated with individual exposure to EM fields (maximum exposure levels during working shift, daily exposure dose, and cumulative lifetime exposure). Of the 93 subjects qualified for the study, 71 (76.3%) experienced occupational RF exposure, while the remaining 22 (23.7%) had no history of regular EM exposure. ECG abnormalities or pathological changes were recorded quite frequently (50–70%) in both exposed and control populations. There was no correlation with exposure levels. We found measurable effects in the HRV and ABP parameters in the EM-exposed population, but none could be assigned clinical significance. The results suggest that exposure of wor...

Effects of UMTS cellular phones on human hearing: results of the European project EMFnEAR.

Abstract The European project EMFnEAR was undertaken to assess potential changes in human auditory function after a short-term exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation produced by UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) mobile phones. Participants were healthy young adults with no hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to radiofrequency radiation, and only the exposed ear was tested. Tests for the assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (CAS effect on TEOAE), and auditory evoked potentials (AEP). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham RF-radiation exposure produced by a commercial phone controlled by a personal computer. Results from 134 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system after a 20-min UMTS exposure at the maximum output of the phone with 69 mW/kg SAR in the cochlea region in a double blind comparison of genuine and sham exposure. An isolated effect on the hearing threshold at high frequencies was identified, but this was statistically nonsignificant after correction for multiple comparisons. It is concluded that UMTS short-term exposure at the maximum output of consumer mobile phones does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.

Absence of short-term effects of UMTS exposure on the human auditory system

Abstract The aim of this study, which was performed in the framework of the European project EMFnEAR, was to investigate the potential effects of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS, also known as 3G) exposure at a high specific absorption rate (SAR) on the human auditory system. Participants were healthy young adults with no hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation, and only the exposed ear was tested. Tests for the assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (CAS effect on TEOAE), and auditory evoked potentials (AEP). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham RF-radiation exposure obtained by an exposure system based on a patch antenna and controlled by software. Results from 73 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system after a 20-min UMTS exposure at 1947 MHz at a maximum SAR over 1 g of 1.75 W/kg at a position equivalent to the cochlea. Analysis entailed a double-blind comparison of genuine and sham exposure. It is concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at this relatively high SAR does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.

THE EFFECT OF IRON IONS AND WEAK STATIC OR LOW FREQUENCY (50 HZ) MAGNETIC FIELDS ON LYMPHOCYTES: FREE RADICAL PROCESSES

The aim of the work is to present our observations and suggestions that changes in the oxidative processes and number of free oxygen radicals in cells affected by the iron ions and weak static or power frequency magnetic fields (MF) could be qualitatively explained by the radical pair mechanism. The experiments were performed on rat lymphocytes. Exposures to static or 50 Hz MF were performed inside a pair of Helmholtz coils. Iron ions (FeCl2) were used as a stimulator of the oxidation processes. Oxygen radicals were measured by fluorimetry using a DCF-DA fluorescent probe. The alkaline comet assay was chosen for the assessment of DNA damage. During pre-incubation, a portion of the cell samples were supplemented with melatonin (0.5 or 1.0 mM) or trolox (0.1 mM). For studying cell death and morphological changes in the nucleus, we used dye exclusion method with DNA-fluorochromes: ethidium bromide and acridine orange. A decrease of fluorescence in relation to nonexposed samples occurred in the lymphocytes exposed to 40 μT MF (only when axis of Helmholtz coils was directed along Earth’s static MF). In the lymphocytes exposed to 50 Hz MF at 7 mT flux density, there was an increase of fluorescence in relation to non-exposed samples, the effect opposite to that observed in 40 μT. A significant increase in the number of cells with damaged DNA was found after simultaneous exposure of lymphocytes to FeCl2 and (7

ECG Abnormalities in Workers Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields at Different Exposure Levels

The present state of knowledge on the effects of exposure to medium frequency electromagnetic fields (MF EM) on the circulatory system derives mainly from the reports of Soviet studies of the 60s which indicated that in the exposed people such symptoms develop as heart rhythm disturbances, impaired conduction, decreased amplitude of ECG records and blood pressure changes (hypo-or hypertension)1,2,3,4,5. Although since these studies a considerable progress in ECG methodology has been made, their results have not as yet been verified using any objective methods. Therefore, we have undertaken the present study in order to evaluate the cardiovascular function in workers occupationally exposed to EM fields at different exposure levels and frequencies.

Enhancement or Reduction of Calcium-Ion Efflux from Brain Tissues in Vitro Following Exposure to Elf Fields Depending on Intensity of Local Geomagnetic Field

45Ca2+-preincubated chicken brains were exposed to 16 Hz electric (E), magnetic (B) or electromagnetic (E/B) fields at two different intensities of local geomagnetic field (LGF) - normal (49.4 μT) and reduced (19.0 μT). At the LGF of 49.4 μT an increase of the efflux of 45Ca2+ from brain tissues was observed under the influence of mixed E (0.48 Vp·p/m in water) and B (59.5 nT/rms) fields, while both the components applied separately did not influence the 45Ca2+ efflux. However, at the reduced LGF (19.0 μT) the mixed 16 Hz E/B fields lowered the calcium efflux, with both E and B fields applied separately being not effective.