In reply to paul mitchell:
> This Prof has a Ph D in genetics and bio chemistry,from Caltech.
OK, but he's also one step away from literally wearing a tinfoil hat.
In the interview he says that it's known that EMFs cause neuropsychiatric effects.
Here's one his papers where he reviews the evidence.
J Chem Neuroanat. 2016 Sep;75(Pt B):43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2015.08.001. Epub 2015 Aug 21.
Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression.
Pall ML1.
Author information
1
Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Washington State University, 638 NE 41st Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-3312, USA. Electronic address: martin_pall@wsu.edu.
The full paper is here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891061815000599?via%3Di...
Here's the abstract.
Abstract
Non-thermal microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Calcium channel blockers block EMF effects and several types of additional evidence confirm this mechanism. Low intensity microwave EMFs have been proposed to produce neuropsychiatric effects, sometimes called microwave syndrome, and the focus of this review is whether these are indeed well documented and consistent with the known mechanism(s) of action of such EMFs. VGCCs occur in very high densities throughout the nervous system and have near universal roles in release of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. Soviet and Western literature shows that much of the impact of non-thermal microwave exposures in experimental animals occurs in the brain and peripheral nervous system, such that nervous system histology and function show diverse and substantial changes. These may be generated through roles of VGCC activation, producing excessive neurotransmitter/neuroendocrine release as well as oxidative/nitrosative stress and other responses. Excessive VGCC activity has been shown from genetic polymorphism studies to have roles in producing neuropsychiatric changes in humans. Two U.S. government reports from the 1970s to 1980s provide evidence for many neuropsychiatric effects of non-thermal microwave EMFs, based on occupational exposure studies. 18 more recent epidemiological studies, provide substantial evidence that microwave EMFs from cell/mobile phone base stations, excessive cell/mobile phone usage and from wireless smart meters can each produce similar patterns of neuropsychiatric effects, with several of these studies showing clear dose-response relationships. Lesser evidence from 6 additional studies suggests that short wave, radio station, occupational and digital TV antenna exposures may produce similar neuropsychiatric effects. Among the more commonly reported changes are sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, depression/depressive symptoms, fatigue/tiredness, dysesthesia, concentration/attention dysfunction, memory changes, dizziness, irritability, loss of appetite/body weight, restlessness/anxiety, nausea, skin burning/tingling/dermographism and EEG changes. In summary, then, the mechanism of action of microwave EMFs, the role of the VGCCs in the brain, the impact of non-thermal EMFs on the brain, extensive epidemiological studies performed over the past 50 years, and five criteria testing for causality, all collectively show that various non-thermal microwave EMF exposures produce diverse neuropsychiatric effects.
I haven't chased down all the references cited but here are my impressions.
1. It seems perfectly logical that a sufficiently powerful EMF could activate voltage gated ion channels in a large variety of cells. I haven't yet seen any details of how these experiments were done or what range of strength of fields were used. I would be surprised if it was anything like comparable to a real world situation, but I don't know. There's a lot of speculation both in the abstract above and the rest of the paper. I've had papers rejected for a lot less!
2. Even if these experiments turned out to be credible, I would say they would be the equivalent of exposing cultured cells to high levels potential carcinogens over long periods and then equating that to a cancer risk in a whole organism (which they are not, in themselves).
3. Most of the pathology discussed is very subjective. Depression, insommnia, headache, fatigue, mild depression, lack of concentration - all hard to quantify, very common and extremely easy to associate with any number of possible environmental factors. The sort of people who are concerned about EMF are pretty self selecting as people who have a high level of general anxiety, I would say. It's very easy to be aware you live under a power line and then conclude that you are depressed because of it. If you believe it's doing you harm then it probably is, even if it's switched off.
4. There have been various reports of cancer clusters associated with power lines or other EMF sources. To my knowledge, none of the epidemiology has ever stood up. Some cancers naturally occur in clusters because infection or environmental pollution. If you can find me some evidence of one that correlates with EMF to the extent of being statistically significant over a matched control community, I'd be interested to read it.
5. I accept that there may well be a subtle effect of being constantly exposed to EMF. It might well cause some mild cognitive effects. The brain works on the basis of massively complex and subtle changes in membrane potentials and fields. Some people think it is based on quantum effects. So far, I don't see any evidence but I suspect we don't yet know enough to know what we'd be looking for. However, so far I'd say that allowing a fear of this to develop into anxiety neurosis is far bigger (and more easily measurable) risk.
Post edited at 10:15