Back to Health Impacts

Back to Health Impacts

On Pregnancy

"The best way to reduce your magnetic field exposure is distance. Magnetic field strength drops dramatically with increasing distance from the source," said Li. "So pregnant women should try to limit their exposure to known MF sources and keep distance from them when they are in use."

-De-Kun Li, MD, PhD, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif

Breast Cancer Risk is Increased.

This meta-analysis showed an association between exposure to ELF EMF and Breast Cancer.

Zhao G, Lin X, Zhou M, Zhao J. Relationship between exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2014;35(3):264-9.

What Can Schools Do?

1. Build away from powerlines.

2. Ensure Low EMF wiring in the building.

The California Department of Education enacted regulations in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 14010 that require minimum distances between a new school and the edge of a transmission line “right-of-way."

The setback distances are 100 feet for 50-133 kV lines, 150 feet for 220-230 kV lines, and 350 feet for 500-550 kV lines.

Asthma, Leukemia, and Electromagnetic Fields 

"Children exposed to 4mG or more in their bedrooms had a statistically significant, almost 5 times more leukemia than those living in low exposure homes."

A mother's exposure to weak power-frequency magnetic fields during pregnancy substantially increases the chances her child will develop asthma.

De-Kun Li et al,. Maternal Exposure to Magnetic Fields During Pregnancy in Relation to the Risk of Asthma in Offspring, JAMA Pediatrics, Oct 2011, Vol 165, No. 10

Leukemia and Asthma are both Immune issues.

Comparison of Countries Actions

“Comparison of international policies on electromagnetic fields (power frequency and radiofrequency fields) Rianne Stam, Laboratory for Radiation Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands May 2011

HERE

What Can I do?

Keep Bedrooms Clear of EMF

1. Clear room of plugged in electronics and extension cords.

2. Use a battery powered alarm clock.  No corded alarm clocks, as they emit very high fields.

3. Be sure the bedroom does not have the electric meter off the outside wall.

4. Call your electric/power  company and ask for their FREE ELF magnetic field measurement assessment. They will come to your home and take measurements so you can understand the levels in your home and take further actions.

5. Get a magnetic field meter to know your house levels.

Information = Action 

The California Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Program

"To one degree or another, all three of the DHS scientists are inclined to believe that EMFs can cause some degree of increased risk of childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's Disease, and miscarriage. “

California EMF Program. California Department of Health Services. An Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations, and Appliances: Final Report June 2002. California EMF Program, Oakland, CA, 2002.

3 to 4 mG is linked to increased Leukemia in children.

The US government says this level meets "safety" standards.

How come other countries and California advise against building in areas with levels that high?

Would you want your child to sleep in 4 mG or 0 mG?

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IARC FINDS LIMITED EVIDENCE THAT RESIDENTIAL MAGNETIC FIELDS
INCREASE RISK OF CHILDHOOD LEUKAEMIA

"based on consistent statistical associations of high level residential magnetic fields with a doubling of risk of childhood leukaemia. "

International Agency for Research on Cancer.  Press Release No. 136, 27 June 2001.

What about Wireless Radiation/WiFi?

"Because almost all organs and tissues possess stem cells and because stem cells are more active in children, the possible relationship of chronic microwave exposure and various types of tumors and leukemia—especially in children—should be investigated."

Markova et al., Microwaves from Mobile Phones Inhibit 53BP1 Focus Formation in Human Stem Cells More Strongly Than in Differentiated Cells: Possible Mechanistic Link to Cancer Risk Environ Health Perspect 118:- (2009).

What if one of these children was your child?

50 60 cases a year of

Leukemia from EMF?

Read this review study.

 Potential health impacts of residential exposures to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in Europe.

"We estimated  the total annual number of cases of leukaemia attributable to ELF MF at

between ~50 (95% CIs: -14, 132) and ~60 (95% CIs: -9, 610)

~1.5% and ~2.0% of all incident cases of childhood leukaemia occurring
annually in the EU

This work was done by looking at the research showing the relationship between living near power lines and leukemia.  As you read more about his issue you will see significant links to the immune sytem.  The United States used to fund research focused on this issue but that ended years ago. Why?

We think this is an important issue especially as there are many homes in the US with high voltage powerlines directly overhead.

What of wifi? Will we wait for more "estimates". We have enough research showing brain damage.

This should be enough.

Some Research to Consider

Lowenthal RM, Tuck DM, Bray IC (2007) Residential exposure to electric power transmission lines and risk of lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders: a case–control study. Internal Medicine Journal 37: 614–619.

• People who had lived within 300 m (1000 feet) of a power transmission line as children (0–5 years) had a fivefold increase in risk of leukemia & lymphoma compared with those who had always lived >300 m from a power line.  Adults who had lived within 300 m of a power line during the first 15 years of life had a threefold increase in risk.  People living within 50 m (164 ft) of a power line as adults had a twofold increase in risk, and those living 50-300 m had a 30% increase in risk.
  

Draper G, Vincent T, Kroll ME, Swanson J (2005) Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study. British Medical Journal 330:1290.

• Children who lived within 200 m of a power transmission line from birth onward had a 70% elevation in risk of leukemia compared with those who lived > 600 m away.  Those living between 200 and 600 m of a power line had a 23% elevation in risk of leukemia.  There was a significant (P < 0.01) trend in risk in relation to the reciprocal of distance from the line.  No excess risk in relation to proximity to lines was found for other childhood cancers.
  

Li DK, Odouli R, Wi S,  et al.  A population-based prospective cohort study of personal exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage.  Epidemiology. 2002;13(1):9-20

• "Our findings provide strong prospective evidence that prenatal maximum magnetic field exposure above a certain level (possibly around 16 mG) may be associated with miscarriage risk.  This observed association is unlikely to be due to uncontrolled biases or unmeasured confounders."
  

Su XJ, Yuan W, Tan H, Liu XY, Li D, Li DK, Huang GY, Zhang LW, Miao MH. Correlation between Exposure to Magnetic Fields and Embryonic Development in the First Trimester. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 30;9(6)

• Embryonic bud length was inversely associated with maternal daily MF exposure level; the association was statistically significant at the time-weighted-average and 75th percentile of MF exposure levels. CONCLUSION: Prenatal MF exposure may have an adverse effect on embryonic development.
  

  
  

Li DK, Checkoway H, Mueller BA. Electric blanket use during pregnancy in relation to the risk of congenital urinary tract anomalies among women with a history of subfertility.  Epidemiology. 1995;6(5):485-489

• The risk also appeared to increase with increasing duration of electric blanket use.  Despite small numbers and the potential for recall bias, our study indicates that identifying a susceptible population may be required for detecting adverse reproductive effects of electromagnetic fields.
  

Li DK, Yan B, Li Z,  et al.  Exposure to magnetic fields and the risk of poor sperm quality.  Reprod Toxicol. 2010;29(1):86-92

• Age-adjusted Spearman Rank Order Correlations showed an inverse correlation between MF exposure and all semen parameters.  Our study provides some evidence for the first time that MF exposure may have an adverse effect on sperm quality.

Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan-Garip A. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens.  Bioelectromagnetics. 2010;31(8):603-612

• "These data confirm that ELF-EMF affects bacterial growth and the response of the immune system to bacterial challenges"
  

Simkó M, Mattsson MO. Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields as effectors of cellular responses in vitro: possible immune cell activation.  J Cell Biochem. 2004;93(1):83-92

• "We envisage that EMF exposure can cause both acute and chronic effects that are mediated by increased free radical levels:  (1) Direct activation of, for example macrophages (or other cells) by short-term exposure to EMF leads to phagocytosis (or other cell specific responses) and consequently, free radical production. This pathway may be utilized to positively influence certain aspects of the immune response, and could be useful for specific therapeutic applications.
  

• (2) EMF-induced macrophage (cell) activation includes direct stimulation of free radical production.
  

• (3) An increase in the lifetime of free radicals by EMF leads to persistently elevated free radical concentrations. In general, reactions in which radicals are involved become more frequent, increasing the possibility of DNA damage.
  

• (4) Long-term EMF exposure leads to a chronically increased level of free radicals, subsequently causing an inhibition of the effects of the pineal gland hormone melatonin.
  

• Taken together, these EMF induced reactions could lead to a higher incidence of DNA damage and therefore, to an increased risk of tumour development. While the effects on melatonin and the extension of the lifetime of radicals can explain the link between EMF exposure and the incidence of for example leukaemia, the two additional mechanisms described here specifically for mouse macrophages, can explain the possible correlation between immune cell system stimulation and EMF exposure."
  

Michelle C. Turner, Geza Benke, Joseph D. Bowman, Jordi Figuerola, Sarah Fleming, Martine Hours, Laurel Kincl,Daniel Krewski, Dave McLean, Marie-Elise Parent, Lesley Richardson, Siegal Sadetzki, Klaus Schlaefer, Brigitte Schlehofer, Joachim Schuz, Jack Siemiatycki, Martie Van Tongeren, and Elisabeth Cardis. Occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and brain tumour risks in the INTEROCC study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention. Published online first Jun 15, 2014.

• "There were positive associations between cumulative ELF 1-4 years prior to the diagnosis/reference date and glioma ...and, somewhat weaker associations with meningioma ... Conclusions: Results showed positive associations between ELF in the recent past and glioma. Occupational ELF exposure may play a role in the later stages (promotion and progression) of brain tumourigenesis."
  

   Reduce your Child's Risk of Leukemia

In 2001, the World Health Organization classified the EMF from electrical wiring and power lines ELF-EMF as  a possible human carcinogen.  The last decade of research continues to confirm the consistent link between ELF and leukemia in children. 

The mechanism for causation is "unknown."  Several countries have taken action to minimize exposure to this type of non ionizing radiation.  California (after doing a scientific review) has regulations protecting school children by keeping high voltage power lines at a distance. The US federal government has no protections in place.