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EMF Health Report
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Answers to Selected Questions about EMF from Our Readers
January 10, 2010
Hi, you mention in your web posting you can send average levels of EMF at various distances away from a power line. Would you please email them to me? many thanks, Linda
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Linda, Magnetic field levels (generally what people are concerned about with power frequency EMF) will decrease with increasing distance from a power line, but the exact level will vary with the type of line, depending mostly on the amount of current the line carries (the load) and the configuration of lines carrying different phase currents. There is general information on average levels in the NIEHS booklet of questions and answers on EMF: you can find a figure showing typical levels on page 37 of their booklet, available at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/emf-02.pdf The information in that booklet is a bit out of date, but is generally fairly useful as an overview of the research and concerns. Our EMF Health Report provides discusses more recent research on EMF bioeffects, both the health concerns and the positive applications. Regards, Bob
August 26, 2009
Can you please tell me what is a safe distance to build a home from High Voltage power lines. Kind Regards, Brenda
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Brenda, It is not really possible to give you a simple answer based only on the distance of your house site from the nearby transmission lines. Health concerns about low level EMF exposures center on the magnetic field levels, and these depend on a number of factors in addition to the distance to the nearest power line. Critical factors include the load carried by the lines, the configuration of the phases in the lines, as well as the height and distance of the lines from your property. The electric utility company may be able to give you an idea of how high the magnetic field levels will be from the lines near a home you are planning to build, but in many cases the best way to find out is to measure magnetic field levels. In our area of the US many home inspectors will make measurements. It is fairly easy to obtain a gaussmeter (or a private inspector or utility representative with a gaussmeter) to take magnetic field measurements in the area where your living space will be and in the yard moving toward the line. Since the level will depend on power usage you should make the measurements at a representative or worst case time of day when power usage is high. This can be difficult in an area where homes are not yet built but a development is planned since field levels will go up as usage increases. What you should get is a map of magnetic field levels around the house site you are considering buying (the units are milligauss or microtesla - 1 microtesla is 10 milligauss). Interpreting the measurements will be more difficult. In most cases the field levels will fall well within mandated guideline limits of international exposure standards, so utility companies are not required to take any measures to reduce the field levels. The health issues are not really clear. Concern arises mainly from studies of populations living near power lines (epidemiology studies) that suggest a doubled risk for childhood leukemia in residential environments where the fields average 3 or 4 milligauss or more from sources outside the house. This concern has not been incorporated into existing guidelines because the reason for the association has not been established (it is not clear that magnetic field exposure causes the increase), there is a lack of evidence from animal studies to show a similar cancer-causing or cancer-promoting effect, and there is general skepticism about possible mechanisms of how such weak fields could cause biological damage. There are some policies of "prudent" or "precautionary" avoidance that act to try to reduce human exposure in the face of the uncertain risk, but this is done with the understanding that the risk is not proven nor is it clear exactly what exposure level might be "safe" since we are all exposed regularly to fields well over 4 milligauss from electrical appliances and wiring. This area of research has not been well funded in the US, but there have been some recent studies from Europe and the Pacific rim. We have monitored the science on EMF health effects since the mid 1970s and our EMF Health Report publication has some articles that may be useful to you if you want to learn more about the health issues involved. Regards, Bob Goldberg
June 26, 2009
Good day, I am thinking of buying a house that is in approximate distance of 100 meters from high tension transmission tower and lines. I want to know if it is safe to live at such an approximate distance without the fear of any health hazards, and what do I have to do in order to make sure that the house is inhabitable or not. Your quick response in highly appreciated. Regards.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Sir, It is not really possible to give you a simple answer based only on the distance of your house from the nearby transmission lines. Health concerns about low level EMF exposures center on the magnetic field levels, and these depend on a number of factors in addition to the distance to the nearest power line. Critical factors include the load carried by the lines, the configuration of the phases in the lines, as well as the height and distance of the lines from your property. Even at 100 meters, you may find that the line has no impact on the field level at the house you are considering buying. The utility company may be able to give you an idea of how high the magnetic field levels will be from the lines near the home you are planning to buy, but in many cases the best way to find out with an existing property is to measure magnetic field levels. In our area of the US many home inspectors will make measurements. It is fairly easy to obtain a gaussmeter (or a private inspector or utility representative with a gaussmeter) to take magnetic field measurements in the living space and the yard moving toward the line. Since the level will depend on power usage you should make the measurements at a representative or worst case time of day when power usage is high. What you should get is a map of magnetic field levels around the house you are considering buying (the units are milligauss or microtesla - 1 microtesla is 10 milligauss), and you should determine what levels are due to household wiring (the level will decrease very quickly as you move away from the wire or appliance source) and what levels are due to the power lines (the level will decline with distance much more slowly). Interpreting the measurements will be more difficult. In most cases the field levels will fall well within mandated guideline limits of international exposure standards, and utility companies are not required to take any measures to reduce the field levels. The health issues are not really clear. Concern arises mainly from studies of populations living near power lines (epidemiology studies) that suggest a doubled risk for childhood leukemia in residential environments where the fields average 3 or 4 milligauss or more. This concern has not been incorporated into existing guidelines because the reason for the association has not been established (it is not clear that magnetic field exposure causes the increase), there is a lack of evidence from animal studies to show a similar cancer-causing or cancer-promoting effect, and there is general skepticism about possible mechanisms of how such weak fields could cause biological damage. There are some policies of "prudent" or "precautionary" avoidance that act to try to reduce human exposure in the face of the uncertain risk, but this is done with the understanding that the risk is not proven nor is it clear exactly what exposure level might be "safe" since we are all exposed regularly to fields well over 4 milligauss from electrical appliances and wiring. This area of research has not been well funded in the US, but there have been some recent studies from Europe and the Pacific rim. We have monitored the science on EMF health effects since the mid 1970s and our EMF Health Report publication has some articles that may be useful to you if you want to learn more about the health issues involved. Regards, Bob Goldberg
April 20, 2009
Hello, I was wondering if you have any more recent info from studies on EMF'S? My husband and I are interested in a home BUT there are a series of powerlines going across the backyard all the way down the street. We have two children and were concerned of the leukemia risks. We asked one neighbor if they had any concerns. They expressed that the powerline does "buzz" quite often and their cell phone reception is poor. Other than that they weren't concerned because they said they would be moving soon. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Madam, Health concerns about low level EMF exposures center on the magnetic field levels, and these depend on a number of factors in addition to the distance to the nearest power line. Critical factors include the load carried by the lines, the configuration of the phases in the lines, as well as the height and distance of the lines from your property. You may find that the line has no impact on the field level at the house you are considering buying. The utility company may be able to give you an idea of how high the magnetic field levels will be from the lines near the home you are planning to buy, but in many cases the best way to find out with an existing property is to measure magnetic field levels. In our area of the US many home inspectors will make measurements. It is fairly easy to obtain a gaussmeter (or a private inspector or utility representative with a gaussmeter) to take magnetic field measurements in the living space and the yard moving toward the line. Since the level will depend on power usage you should make the measurements at a representative or worst case time of day when power usage is high. What you should get is a map of magnetic field levels around the house you are considering buying (the units are milligauss or microtesla - 1 microtesla is 10 milligauss), and you should determine what levels are due to household wiring (the level will decrease very quickly as you move away from the wire or appliance source) and what levels are due to the power lines (the level will decline with distance much more slowly). Interpreting the measurements will be more difficult. In most cases the field levels will fall well within mandated guideline limits of international exposure standards, and utility companies are not required to take any measures to reduce the field levels. The health issues are not really clear. Concern arises mainly from studies of populations living near power lines (epidemiology studies) that suggest a doubled risk for childhood leukemia in residential environments where the fields average 3 or 4 milligauss or more. This concern has not been incorporated into existing guidelines because the reason for the association has not been
established (it is not clear that magnetic field exposure causes the increase), there is a lack of evidence from animal studies to show a
similar cancer-causing or cancer-promoting effect, and there is general skepticism about possible mechanisms of how such weak fields
could cause biological damage. There are some policies of "prudent" or "precautionary" avoidance that act to try to reduce human exposure
in the face of the uncertain risk, but this is done with the understanding that the risk is not proven nor is it clear exactly
what exposure level might be "safe" since we are all exposed regularly to fields well over 4 milligauss from electrical appliances
and wiring. This area of research has not been well funded in the US, but there have been some recent studies from Europe and the Pacific rim. We have monitored the science on EMF health effects since the mid 1970s and our EMF Health Report publication has some articles that may be
useful to you if you want to learn more about the health issues involved. Regards, Bob Goldberg
February 20, 2004
Good Day, I would like to buy a house which has a power line less than 50 ft from it. Is this a bad idea and what are the health risks?
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: The health risks associated with powerlines are not well understood. The strongest concern comes from results of studies indicating that residential proximity to powerlines that produce background magnetic fields in the home of 3 or 4 milligauss are associated with a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of chilhood leukemia. Such exposure are rare -- in the US the average home has about one milligauss from outside sources. Magnetic field levels depend on the current in the powerline, not the voltage. Likely average magnetic field levels could be calculated by the utility company, or you could get someone with a gauss meter to measure average fields around the house you are thinking of buying when the household current is shut off. This will give you a better indication of the field you are getting from the powerline, but you will have to decide, if it is elevated above usual background levels, what exposure you are willing to live with. If you want to understand this issue, I suggest starting with a booklet prepared under the EMF RAPID Program on power frequency EMF exposures and possible health risks. It was updated in 2002, after the end of the EMF Rapid program, and is still available on their web site at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/booklet/home.htm Our company assisted the EMF RAPID Program for many years with access to the EMF research literature, and ran a telephone hotline to answer questions from the public on EMF concerns. We still respond to questions from the public under a contract with CDC. We maintain information resources over the whole frequency spectrum (including wireless frequency issues) and can provide consultant services and literature if you are interested in monitoring this area. Regards, Bob
January 21, 2004
Please help me determine how close is too close for any prolonged exposure of a young child to heat pump units. We try to keep a buffer around the TV, but what about heat pump units, the indoor air handlers in particular? Thank you for any information you can provide.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Like any electrical device, the magnetic field level at your heat pump will depend on the amount of current the device uses. The field level will decline as you move away from the source, and the rate at which it drops off with distance from the source depends on how it is wired - a close wiring pattern that brings the phases together tends to have more phase cancellation and field levels will drop off more rapidly. Most likely, the magnetic field source in the indoor air handlers are electric motors used to power the fan, and perhaps also auxillary electric heating coils used for situtions where the outdoor temperature is too cold to effectively extract heat. The heat pump manufacturer may be able to provide some magnetic field levels, or you may have to get a gauss meter and make some measurements around your particular unit. In general, readings of 1-2 milligauss are about average for a home environment, so you may want to adjust your distance from the heat pump to keep in this range, if possible. The issue of health concerns is more complicated, and there is no established long-term exposure level that is associated with adverse health effects (or lack of them). If you are interested in following this issue there are many articles in the EMF Health Report that concern studies of basic biological effects and health effects associated with power frequency electromagnetic radiation. Regards, Bob
November 24, 2003
We were hoping to obtain some info on EMF at our location. We recently had a cellular phone company install a suite at our work place. The antennas are in a location where we will be within 50' of them for periods of 2-3 hours while performing work duties. The site was installed several months ago, but within the last three weeks they have installed a sign that states not to come within 7' of the antennas and do not stop in front of them. We are pretty much in the dark regarding EMF from this and if it is a possible hazard. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Generally, cell phone antennas operate at relatively low output powers and easily meet existing safety standards, unless you are close to them and directly in the beam of the antenna. The distance of seven feet seems a reasonable way to address this concern (probably four feet away or closer would expose an individual above the limit, so a warning to stay seven feet away adds a margin of safety in case people underestimate their distance). At a distance of 50 feet, you and your coworkers are being exposed to a level that almost certainly falls well within existing exposure standards, and is likely to be nearly undetectable from general background levels (from radio/television broadcast and other radiofrequency sources). The question of safety is harder to answer. Most scientists do not think that people living and working near cell phone towers are likely to show effects from the exposure because of the very low levels involved -- those that suspect some adverse effects from cell phone signals expect to see them in users of hand-held cell phones first because the exposure is much higher. Many activists, especially in Europe, are much more concerned however, in part because of the involuntary nature of the exposure and the lack of research on the effects of very long-term low-level exposures. There are a few epidemiological studies, for example, that suggest a higher cancer rate among people living near broadcast towers, and there has been little long-term research on the new cell phone technology so that safety cannot be completely certain. About the best you can do is inform yourself on this issue and make some decision based on your level of comfort with the possible risk. Our company can help you identify the resources you need for understanding the issues, and assist you in responding to related issues that may arise from customer concerns about possible electromagnetic field (EMF) health effects. As manager of the electromagnetic field (EMF) bioeffects projects at Information Ventures, I review thousands of research reports each year and am very familiar with research developments in this area. I also have an extensive network of contacts in the bioelectromagnetics research community that I can enlist for addressing more specialized issues. We can establish an ongoing relationship with your company to provide consultant services, delivering specialized reports or immediate response by phone or e-mail as needed. We also produce print and electronic resources that can provide vital EMF information for your in-house staff concerned with EMF health effects issues. If this is more of a personal concern for you and your coworkers, we have some general articles on cell phone epidemiology and related research in the EMF Health Report (http://infoventures.com/emf/hrpt/contents.html). You may want to consider the few articles we have available for purchase at our “online bookstore” (available as a button at http://infoventures.com/emf/). From the EMF Health report reprint section I can recommend “CELLULAR TOWERS: EXPOSURE LEVELS AND PUBLIC HEALTH” which describes the expected exposure levels from cell phone base stations, and “CELLULAR PHONE RESEARCH UNDERWAY” which outlines some of the areas of cell phone research. If you are interested in up to date and more complete information, more detailed summaries of individual research studies appear in the specialized content of our EMF Database. Coverage of base station-related topics in the EMF Database is quite extensive, so it would be desirable to focus your interest more specifically if you are interested in obtaining some EMF Database articles. We can do a custom search of our EMF Database and give you selected detailed summaries and scientific literature citations with some brief comments on the interpretation. Samples of the kind of records delivered from the search can be viewed at http://infoventures.com/emf/database/ These sample records demonstrate the type of coverage we provide in our abstracted papers. The cost for a basic search is $425.00. If you have an ongoing need for monitoring the research in the EMF health effects area, a subscription to the EMF Database and/or the Health report would be a good investment. I can provide you with further details if you are interested. General information on services provided by our company is also available on our website, http://infoventures.com Regards, Bob
April 23, 2003
Hello, I specialize in Interior design. Recently I have come across an interesting oppurtunity. A client of mine has a disorder called ElectroMagnetic Syndrome. I have done some research on this and in doing so I came across your website. What I'm looking for is some information on people currently with the syndrome and how they cope with the disease, i.e. what kind of materials they use on a day to day basis to make their lives as normal as possible. I hope I'm leaning to the right direction and you may be of some assistance to me. Thank you very much for your time.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: I believe what you are talking about is electromagnetic sensitivity; reactions to normal levels of exposure to power frequency or radiofrequency fields that may produce visible symptoms like rash, headaches, or other types of extreme discomfort. If you do an Internet search (using google or something similar) on the terms "electromagnetic sensitivity" or "elecromagnetic hypersensitivity" you will find links to a number of activist websites, as well as some organizations like the World Health Organization and the Danish occupational health agency that have done research on the subject. Unfortunately, this is an area that attracts some treatments of questionable effectiveness, so I would caution you to keep an open mind on the options for reducing exposure and view crystals and other devices that "improve" the exposures without producing a measurable change in them with skepticism. As you read some of the scientific sites you will see that there is some doubt if the very real symptoms are actually related to EMF exposure, or are a form of conditioned response. Of course it is always a good idea to have your client see a physician to rule out other possible causes of his or her symptoms. Regards, Bob
March 14, 2003
I am aged 46 years. I have been implanted a pacemaker SSR 203. I am working on computers as I am a computer operator in a bank. The pacemaker had to be programmed twice in a span of 6 months and now it is adjusted for 7.5 V which is the maximum output. Why has it to be programmed even the doctors attending are at surprise. If I get further giddiness we cannot enhance the output. Kindly advice in the matter and also let me know whether there can be sufficient interference in the working of pacemaker while working on a computer.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: In our EMF Database covering the literature on electromagnetic field bioeffects we have roughly 100 articles concerning electromagnetic interference (EMI) with implanted cardiac pacemakers, many of which document the absence of any EMI, even with fairly strong field sources from appliances or power distribution. The commonly recognized hazards come from certain models of cellular phones when located close to the pacemaker or leads (in a chest pocket for example), antitheft devices, and strong magnetic fields that can act to reset the pacemaker controls (which are designed to be adjusted externally with a magnet). Newer pacemaker designs appear to be better able to reject EMI, but it varies to some extent in individual patients because the pacemaker wires (leads) act as an antenna and can pick up incident fields or weak contact currents in the body. You or your doctor should contact the pacemaker manufacturer since there may be some information particular to this model or a malfunction in your device. I would be surprised if the fields from the computers you work with had any influence on your pacemaker. Regards, Bob
February 11, 2003
The city is planning to put a transformer in my front yard. I am discussing my legal rights, if any, with an attorney today. Without costing myself thousands of dollars on a possibly losing fight, I need to know: How much EMF or exposure does a transformer put out exactly and are there any proven facts to substantiate a health risk association? I just want the transformer moved to the vacant lot, instead of right next to my driveway and basketball hoop, where my kids play. I have concerns and so do a lot of other people. Is there real reason for concern? Thank you
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Transformers can produce relatively high levels of magnetic fields, the exact level depending on the amount of current flowing through them. Because of their winding pattern, the field produced by a transformer tends to decrease very rapidly as you move away from it. The city engineers should be able to tell you from the predicted load on the transformer what magnetic field levels should be like in the area around the transformer. It is not possible to be sure without calculations or measurements, but I would suspect the transformer would produce levels in the hundreds of milligauss at its surface, dropping off to background levels (1-2 milligauss) at a distance of a couple of yards away. The health risks associated with magnetic field exposures are not proven, but many property owners take a precautionary approach of avoiding above average exposures if it can be done at a reasonable cost. As you describe the situation, there may be the option of placing the transformer further away from areas of high activity (even if it still must be placed on your property, it could go to a location where people do not spend as much time as they would on the driveway). If you want to learn more about the possible health problems and basis for concern about power frequency magnetic fields, we have a number of publications that would be useful. Regards, Bob
November 21, 2002
We have clients concerned about a cell tower proposed for erection near their homes in Maryland. We're looking for someone we could engage to help us determine if there's any cause for concern. Can you recommend anyone?
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: As you may know from looking at our web site, our company has been collecting and reviewing the scientific research literature on the possible health effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure for almost 30 years now. We do not advocate a particular activist or industry position -- rather we attempt to analyze the evidence and present an assessment that is as objective and comprehensive as possible. We have prepared general interest articles and specialized reports that might answer some of your questions. If you would like to provide me with more information regarding the specific concerns your clients have, I would be happy to advise you on the cost of preparing a focused literature review or a report on the particular issues of concern to you. Our company also works with other scientists and engineers around the world, and could arrange for services such as site measurements if that is what you need to assess a particular situation. Please let me know more about your clients' concerns and I will try to suggest ways in which we could help you. Regards, Bob
July 13, 2002
I am looking for an answer for the items below from a technical / professional staff. I am about to move to my new house which is just 35 feet away from a power line. I believe this power line is 11 kV line or 415 V, Is this considered as high tension power line? Is this type of voltage level and distances are part of the on-going controversy about EMF? Is there any device that could accurately measure EMFs? Where could I buy such a device / instrument? Thanks for your help Ahmed
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: The line you describe would probably be considered a distribution line, but still may be a source of relatively high magnetic field exposure (the electromagnetic field most are concerned with). Magnetic field intensity is a function of the current passing through the line, the way phases are arranged in the adjacent lines (because phase differences tend to cancel out), and the distance of the line from your residence. The best way to determine the field level you would be exposed to is to measure it at a time of day when current usage is likely to be high (for example, in a residential neighborhood when people are home and air conditioning is turned on the maximum). There are many devices for measuring magnetic field levels on the market (called "gaussmeters") and you could purchase an inexpensive one, or to get more accurate measurements have an engineer or environmental consultant map the field intensity around your prospective house using a professional instrument. In this country, electric utility companies will often make such measurements at the request of a home owner, or house inspectors (people who inspect a home prior to sale for the structural condition) will often be able to make the measurements. If your measurements fall on the high side of average (about 1 milligauss in the US) you may want to do some research on the basis for concern about possible magnetic field health effects. Several good publications are available for sale on our web site. Regards, Bob
June 26, 2002
We are thinking of purchasing a building that is very close to high tension power lines on large/high metal towers running over the parking lot in a north south direction. Do these lines pose a health risk for employees or constitute a mitigating factor on building value?
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Your question to EMF-Link was sent on to me as the project director of IVI's EMF activities. The cumulative evidence suggests that there is a small but significant health risk associated with residential proximity to powerlines (most clearly for childhood leukemia), but there is considerable uncertainty about adverse effects in adults and the exact nature of the exposure that may produce such adverse effects. There are new research results appearing all the time. As a result of a recently concluded EMF program conducted by the California Department of Health for example, evidence emerged for a risk of miscarriage among women exposed to high peak magnetic fields during pregnancy, but the work has not yet been verified by others. The California program also looked into issues like cost of mitigation and decreasing land values as a consequence of powerline exposures. Our publications provide information on the current state of the research and will help you understand the open questions on possible health risks. Magnetic field levels (the exposure most are concerned with) depend on the power capacity of the lines and their precise distance from the occupied areas of the buildings. People frequently approach a question like yours by first making magnetic field measurements to find out how much above average the magnetic field exposures may be at the site of your intended office. It is then easier to reach some decision on potential risk based on those measurements. Many companies will choose to avoid or mitigate magnetic field exposures even though the risks are small or uncertain to protect themselves against future litigation. If you would like to consult with us on this issue, we could either prepare a detailed report focused on your specific needs, or I could recommend some articles from back issues of our EMF Health Report publication that would help bring you up to date on the research on adverse EMF health effects. Regards, Bob
March 13, 2002
Dear Sirs, Few days ago I read an article, in "EXPRESSEN"-Swedish magazine, about EMF in my VOLVO S60 car and possible bad effects in our health. Volvo cars company answered that in chest and head the produced EMF are lower than the recommended by EU levels and the car is absolutely safe. but the article was referring to driver's floor because the battery is located in the back of the car and wires are coming from back to front under the car ( 16-18 Tesla !!!!). Can EMF produced by a car battery be of that enormous big frequency? What can I do to protect myself and my family? Waiting for your kind reply.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: I also saw a news report indicating very high magnetic field levels in the Volvo due to its new design, but there were obvious errors in the news report such as indicating that the engine is in the rear. Since, as you point out, it is the battery that is in the rear (which I believe is a safety measure to prevent spark ignition of gas from the battery if the car is jump started), the design issue is the effect of running a connection under the floor. The battery itself draws a lot of current during starting, and that would account for a brief period of high exposure. Once the car is running, there would also be some current associated with recharging the battery, and that is probably makes the larger contribution to overall exposure. I have not seen any details to know exactly how high the measurements are or if they are reliable, but I would expect it is quite possible that fields are high only near the cable (perhaps milliTesla, but I think it is very unlikely to be Tesla). There are many other contributions to electromagnetic fields in an automobile from motors and electronics and, perhaps unexpectedly, from the steel-belted radial tires that have a residual (static) magnetic field from the wire manufacture process that becomes a time-varying (extremely low frequency) field as the wheels rotate. Since recommended exposure guidelines are well above the levels produced by these and most other appliance sources, I am not surprised that the car meets EU standards.
Coincidently, we just purchased a new Volvo S60 which my wife chose carefully based on safety considerations; protective features that help in a collision. Unfortunately, there is no way of assuming it is safe or unsafe regarding electromagnetic field exposure. The epidemiology studies suggest a low but significant risk increase for certain exposures (over 0.3-0.4 microtesla for childhood leukemia), but have not shown an obviously stronger risk for individuals in industrial occupations exposed to much stronger fields. In fact the overall message seems to be a small risk increase that cannot be explained away, but also cannot be better defined by finding specific exposure conditions or groups of susceptible individuals that show a clearly higher risk. Regards, Bob
Reply from Reader: First of all I would like to thank you for your concern. My latest information is that EMF at chest height is 0,9 microtesla (¼¤) and at head height is 0,6 microtesla (¼¤). At driver's floor EMF are 12..18 microtesla (¼¤). The safety level if you want not to be characterised "exposed" in EMF is 0,2 microtesla (¼¤). according to US Department of Energy,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and other U.S organizations. Volvo's answer is that EU recommendations lie at 100 microtesla (¼¤). Where is the truth ?? Imagine my anxiety having two kids(46 and 16 months old) concering leukemia. If you find out something about it please e-mail me. Many thanks.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Thank you for the additional information -- these are what I would guess would be reasonable exposures in this situation. Could you please tell me where they come from (measured yourself with a commercial meter, from a testing laboratory, etc.)? If an inexpensive commercial meter designed for power frequency (50 or 60 Hz) was used, there could be substantial inaccuracy if it was not weighted correctly for higher and lower frequencies (the car environment would be expected to show a much more complex mix of frequencies than a home setting).
The high level at the floor under the driver (12.18 uT or 121.8 mG) indicates that a cable probably runs at that point. I would expect that the magnetic field level would also change at different times; higher when starting the car and when the battery is first charging, and lower after the car has run for some time. Levels of 0.6 uT (6 mG) which you get at head level are high for a residential setting (in the US averages run 1-2 mG), but readings easily this high occur around common appliances in the home and elsewhere. I would suspect many other cars have similar levels, except for the high point source on the floor. Certain types of public transportation, electric rail for example, have much higher levels of exposure from the floor due to motors and power rails and lines located there.
I understand your concern for your children, but I don't think anyone can give you a definitive answer about the "truth" of the risk. If you look at the scientific evidence for a childhood leukemia association with magnetic field exposures over 3 or 4 mG you will see it is associated with average fields of that intensity from power distribution and transmission sources averaged over an extended period of time. There is really no good information on the effects of shorter exposures at similar or higher levels from appliances, and we don't know if those exposures are fundamentally different in their effects. We can presume that children living near power lines would have no greater or less exposure to fields from appliances or transportation systems than children who do not live near lines, yet the leukemia association appears in spite of any averaging effect of appliance exposures. Studies of electric rail workers have shown some cancer associations, but at about the same levels as other EMF-exposed workers. This is not proof of safety, but it also does not indicate an especially strong level of risk that makes these workers stand out from others.
Since EMF exposures are everywhere, one possible suggestion would be to compare the exposure for the location in the Volvo where your children sit (in a child's car seat on the back) to levels in other common environments and other automobiles. Any final decision would have to depend on what uncertain risk you are willing to accept, but a comparison would help you determine how unusual the exposure is in the Volvo. My personal feeling is that the demonstrated benefits of safer design for collision (accidents) would outweigh moderate differences in EMF exposure, unless I am wrong on my guess about the EMF levels in the Volvo passenger areas. Regards, Bob
Reply from Reader: I am obliged to you. Please have in mind that VOLVO does not say a word about EMF at driver's side floor. The information I have concerning driver's floor side is from articles in Swedish magazines "Vi Biligare" & "Expressen" and from an U.K. magazine's internet site (http://www.e4engineering.com/item.asp?id=44888&type=News&pub=eng) which is reffering to JAGUAR cars as well as VOLVO cars. The rest of information is directly from VOLVO (please sign and you will easily find it yourself) articles dated 15 February 2002 and 20 February 2002. (http://www.media.volvocars.com/vcc/media/frameset). The EMF in floor is from 12 to 18 microtesla not 12.18 microtesla ( 80 times higher than regural 0,2 microtesla) Please read the articles. Regards.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Thank you for the URL references and for clearing up my misreading of the magnetic field levels you indicated. The account from The Engineer is the most clear description of the problem I have seen. Regards, Bob
Reply from Kjell Attback, Senior Technical Specialist Electro Magnetic Compatibility, Volvo Cars: Thank you for the informative mail. I am involved in the technology behind the discussion of ELF fields and human effects. I understand that there is a lot of questions. I will try to comment some of them. If you have any more specific question please let me know. At this time I do not want to comment about the possible link between low level magnetic fields and different health effects basically because it is out of my expertise. This is discussed in many other places. I think you are close to an "average and balanced understanding" from the answers I have seen. Your reference to the rest of the society is also very good. Comments about the measured field in different cars. The level 12 to 18 uT is measured at the floor level on the left side of the car. The cable running from the battey in the back through the passenger compartment is the main source. The maximum number is measured very close to the cable. The field decays very quickly. Typical numbers for the field where the driver is sitting is: Driver left foot 18, right foot 3, chest 1.2, head 0.8 uTesla. These numbers are at idle. When the car is moving the numbers are reduced by a factor of 2 to 3. This can be explained by studying the current on the cable. The levels on the right side is typical more than 10 times lower. The main frequency components are in the ELF (extremly low frequency) range 10 to 300 Hz as defined by WHO. For these frequencies the level in the proposed (under voting) legal requirement (ICNIRP) is round 100uT. The result is typical for measurements taken close to this type of cable. Volvo is not alone to use this system solution. Even cars with battery in the front can have levels round a couple of uTesla. Regards, Kjell Attback
January 03, 2002
Is there a website to reference concerning the emissions of a phone you are considering purchasing?
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Take a look at the FCC's Radio Frequency (RF) Safety Page . It lists guidelines for testing and evaluation portable and mobile devices for compliance with FCC limits for human exposure to RF emissions and has other resources for RF safety. Regards, Bob
August 31, 2001
I hope you can help shed some light on my problem. To start my dad just recently died of a tumor (cancer) and 2 days ago my mum was told also she has cancer. After what our family went through in 6 weeks of finding out dad had it and pass away so quick, now we are all going through it again so quick. This brings to mind the sub-station directly behind my parents house. They built the house 44 years ago and me and my two older brothers were all brought up there. Me and one brother are now quite concerned that it might be why this is happening. My mother has asked me and my husband and 2 children to come and live with her as she is on her own. We are moving in 3 weeks from now, but we are worried about the stories about electromagnetic radiation that has been coming up in the news stories lately. If you have any ideas or information about this it would be great. Also 3 of the other neighbours have already died from cancer in the past and one was two days before my dad. thank u
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: As you may know from looking at the articles on our web site, there are suggestions that exposure to electromagnetic fields from sources such as substation may be associated with a small increase in the risk of cancer. Evidence is strongest for childhood leukemia with exposures to power line fields characterized by average magnetic field intensities of 4 milligauss (0.4 microtesla) or more, but there are suggestions of increased cancer risk in adults as well, mainly with occupational exposures to much higher fields. There really is more that we don't know about this association than what we clearly understand, and many experts feel it is most likely that there is no real risk at all based on the substantially unsuccessful efforts that have gone into trying to pin down an effect in animal experiments. Unfortunately, cancer is a fairly common disease in older people and there are many neighborhoods or workplaces that experience cancer "clusters" (unusually high rates) for no apparent cause. It is impossible to determine exactly what risk you might be taking in moving into your mother's home. As a starting point, you might consider getting some measurements made by the utility company or a private contractor to see if you are really getting elevated exposures from the substation. The most reliable risk estimates for childhood leukemia suggest a doubling in the risk of leukemia, which in the US would mean about 2 more cases per 100,000 children, with relatively high exposures (2 to 4 times higher than exposures typical in the average home). There are many things we all do that have much more substantial and well established risks associated with them, like driving a car. You will have to decide for yourself the best course of action for your family, based on personal and financial considerations and your own assessment of the indications of possible electromagnetic field risks that might be involved. Regards, Bob
June 12, 2001
Dear Sir, We are currently building a new home and one possible route for the primary line (19000 volts) is about 10 feet from the side of the house, where our master bedroom is. Also the step down transformer would be about 50 feet from the attached garage. Please let me know if these distances are safe. Thanks, Ron
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Ron, The magnetic field levels produced by a transmission or distribution line depends on certain specific technical characteristics, primarily the amount of current going through the line and the arrangement of the phase conductors. It is not possible to predict the field produced by the line near your future home exactly (the utility company should have the information needed to do it), but a 20 kilovolt line 10 feet from your bedroom is very likely to make a measurable contribution to your exposure. While EMF health risks are not conclusively proven, the situation you describe is likely to result in an increased magnetic field exposure that is well above average for people in the US and this is not a situation that I would recommend accepting without examining it further. I think you should start by looking into the field levels produced more closely, and perhaps read some of the information on epidemiological studies that have suggested an increased cancer risk, especially for childhood leukemia, associated with average exposures in excess of 4 milligauss. Some of this information is available without charge on our EMF-Link Website, and additional more detailed material is also available there for purchase. If you are unable to resolve the placement of the line, you might want to consider reconfiguring your house plan so that the room closest to the line is not occupied for as much of the day as a bedroom would be. The transformer situation is a little more ordinary. Transformers are generally wired so that the magnetic fields they produce decrease rapidly as you move away from them. You are unlikely to see any measurable fields from the transformer in your garage area. Again it depends on how much current is passing through it so you might want to confirm my guess with calculations or measurements from the utility company. Regards, Bob
June 12, 2001
Is there any information about the effects of cellular transmission towers on pregnancy? We work on the 3rd floor of an office building approximately 15 feet from a newly constructed cellular tower.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: There are some well-known hazards of radiofrequency non-ionizing radiation for pregnant women, but the best evidence seems to suggest that levels of exposure causing adverse effects must be of high enough intensity to produce significant heating (of the fetus and placenta). There were a few reports of adverse effects at slightly lower levels in some animal studies, but energy is deposited in the body unevenly and even in these cases there was probably localized heating although the average body temperature didn't show an increase. There have been some studies at other frequencies (for example, power frequency exposure of pregnant women from electric blankets) and the more recent results have generally not shown adverse effects. Exposures from cell phone towers, unless you are standing within a few feet of the antenna element, are tens of thousands of times less than radiofrequency exposures that produce any detectable body heating. Most research at the moment assumes that such low level of exposure from cell phone base stations is very unlikely to produce an adverse effect, and laboratory and epidemiology studies have therefore concentrated on the much higher exposure levels produced by the hand-held phone itself (which is used very close to the body and therefore produces much higher levels of human exposure even though the power output is lower than the towers). As far as we know, then, the cell tower exposure you are experiencing is extremely unlikely to produce any adverse effects. The only small element of uncertainty I have in giving you this answer comes from the fact that the wireless technology is relatively new and we don't have a history of uneventful human exposure to look back on. Also there have been very few experiments done using this specific radiofrequency signal or exploring all possibilities (such as drug interactions). In general, it takes a great deal of effort to completely rule out any possible risk but as far as we know, this is unlikely to be a concern. Regards, Bob
May 30, 2001
First let me thank you for providing such an informative web site. I am just starting my research on powerlines and it has helped a great deal. I do have one question for you, however. My family and I are thinking about buying a home that has high voltage power lines buried below the ground in an easement off the back of the property line. I am aware of the information regarding the health issues linked to living close to high tension power lines above the ground but have not been able to find any information on power lines below the ground. Are the risks similar? Also, the house gets all of its water supply from an underground well. Could these power lines also taint the water flowing from streams that may cross the path of the power lines into the well? I appreciate all your help on this matter.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Most people concerned with possible EMF health effects attribute them to the magnetic field produced by power lines. Underground lines generally have the phases and return lines (neutrals) placed fairly close to each other in a common conduit and therefore there is a lot of cancellation of the magnetic fields from the out-of-phase fields. Running a distribution line underground is therefore considered a way of reducing magnetic field exposure (compared to an overhead line of the same capacity) even though you may actually be able to pass closer to the line on your property. Your best approach might be to make some measurements to determine the magnetic field levels on the parts of the property where the house and your family activities will be located (often the utility company will do this for the property owner at little or no charge). As a rule of thumb, one study determined that the average exposure from power and distribution lines for houses in the US is about one milligauss. Flowing water will have some induced electric fields as it passes through a magnetic field, depending on its conductivity and rate of flow. There is some concern, for example, that fish migrating in a stream and exposed to an electric field may become disoriented, but there is no strong evidence for this in wild (as opposed to laboratory experimental) situations. As far as I know, there is no indication that standing well water would be affected by a nearby underground power line: at most you might expect some ion interactions that would change the composition slightly in water passing through an electric or magnetic field. The electric field produced in the flowing water would be rapidly discharged into the soil. Regards, Bob
April 02, 2001
We have a client in California that would like to park new cars under high voltage transmission lines. They are concerned the EMF might damage the electronics and paint finishes of the new cars. We would like any information or the names of any of your members that might be familiar with EMF affects on new cars parked under high voltage lines.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: The issue you raise is an interesting one that, as far as I know, no one has looked at in detail. The type of weak electric and magnetic fields that people are concerned about as a health issue are unlikely to have any effect at all on the cars. There might be a weak buildup of electric charge on the car body which, in extreme cases, can produce a mild shock for someone touching the car body and completing the connection to ground (the car, on rubber tires, is insulated). I would not expect this charge to have any effect on the paint or electronics. Probably more of a concern are air ions that are generated at the line and which could cause corrosive atmospheric pollutants to precipitate in higher concentrations under the line. We have some literature on this, mostly in relation to toxic agents, radon, and infectious microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Corona discharge on the lines also increase ozone levels (ozone would degrade rubber, etc.) but it seems unlikely in an open air situation that there would be a large enough increase in ozone levels at the ground to produce any substantial damage.
The most likely group to have investigated this is the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto, CA. There is also an EPRI group at the High Voltage Transmission Research Center in Lenox, MA, that looks at powerline environmental effects. I am not sure who to contact within that group, but I'm sure someone in either organization could direct you. Regards, Bob
March 07, 2001
I am (as I'm sure there are many) a concerned parent of small children regarding the EMF issue. My husband and I are contemplating making an offer on a house/property in Placerville, CA. This is a beautiful property on 6.8 acres. But there are 2 major metal electrical (SMUD) towers at the back end of this property, about 3 to 4 acres from the house. The "wires" are of 230,000 volts, with double digit magnetic fields. My gut instinct is this is a very risky exposure. I don't know for sure, because I have been told and have read much conflicting information on this. Other than this EMF issue we absolutly love this property, but of course we don't want to put our children/family in any risk/danger of cancer or other health problems. Is there any advice you could give me regarding this??? Should we just move on and forget about this property?? Thanks for any help. Sincerely, Jamie in CA.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Jamie, The concern you raise is a common one and unfortunately there is no simple answer. Some studies suggest an increased cancer risk, while others do not. Most experts feel the risk is low, but in spite of 20 years of studies, there still remains a small unexplained statistically increased risk of childhood leukemia associated with living near a powerline, based on considering the results of all major recent epidemiological studies collectively. This risk seems to be associated with exposures to average magnetic field levels over 4 milligauss, but that does not really establish this reading as a critical safe/unsafe level based on the available research. If you want a quick summary of the risk and one approach to addressing it, try the article I wrote a few years ago available for purchase on our EMF-Link® web site. It is an article from EMF Health Report, Volume 4, Number 5, September/October, 1996 (118 Kb PDF format file) Price $8.00 entitled THREE COMMON QUESTIONS FROM THE REAL WORLD: ONE SCIENTIST'S ANSWERS.
Most concerns about EMF are basic and pragmatic: people worry about the purchase of a house near a power transmission line, a cellular phone tower proposed for their child's elementary school, their computer monitor, or industrial EMF sources. This article describes how one scientist responds to practical questions about the safety of EMFs based on ambiguous scientific data. It can be purchased on line by clicking the "Online Bookstore" button on the EMF-Link home page and looking under "articles from EMF Health Report." There are also detailed articles about some of the epidemiology studies and other research under some of the other buttons, but I think this Health Report article provides the most direct answer to your question. In many cases utility companies will come out and make measurements near your home to let you know if the magnetic field levels are unusually high. I would be very surprised if the readings are really at the 10s of milligauss level if you are beyond the right of way for the 230 kV line (I don't understand what you mean by 3-4 acres from the house since this is a measure of area not distance). Perhaps you should start by confirming the measurement. Making measurements is often harder with a home you are considering buying than one you own because the utility company doesn't want to be in the position of disrupting a sale, but if you get the seller's cooperation it should be possible. In this area, people frequently include an EMF survey in the normal home inspection done before a sale and make the sale conditional on meeting a particular magnetic field level. If you find the levels are no higher than the national average (about 1 milligauss in the US) you may feel better about your powerline. Utility companies also may be able to give you general information on the health effects research. Regards, Bob
Reader Response: Although I don't feel better or know anymore about EMF than I did before. Thank You for replying to my e-mail. I appreciate it.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: The EMF issue is complex and can be confusing, but if you are still concerned I hope you will take advantage of government publications and the material we have available on our web site to learn more about the basis for concern and the evidence supporting or refuting a possible cancer risk associated with powerline exposures. Regards, Bob
February 20, 2001
Thank you for your very useful information. I have not been able to find an estimate of a distance that would be relatively safe when building a house near high density power lines. Would 800 feet away from high density lines be considered safe? 1000 feet? 1200 feet? I realize that no one knows the exact answer but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: There is no simple formula based on distance since the magnetic field intensity of a source depends on the amount of current a line carries and the configuration of the lines. I am not sure exactly what you mean by high density, but multiphase powerlines that are close together tend to produce a field that drops off more rapidly with distance because the phases cancel. Thus a transmission line right of way with many wires may produce lower field exposures for adjacent areas than a high capacity line with fewer wires. When the geometry and current load of the line is known it is possible to predict the field levels in the vicinity and many utility companies have computer programs to do this, but a guess is just not possible. If you want to learn more about the measurement and powerline risk assessment issues I might suggest a couple of EMF Health Report articles available for purchase on our web site.
Dealing with a risk issue in the face of uncertain evidence is discussed in:
EMF Health Report, Volume 4, Number 5, September/October, 1996 (118 Kb PDF format file) Price $8.00 Title: THREE COMMON QUESTIONS FROM THE REAL WORLD: ONE SCIENTIST'S ANSWERS. Most concerns about EMF are basic and pragmatic. People worry about the purchase of a house near a power transmission line, a cellular phone tower proposed for their child's elementary school, their computer monitor, or industrial EMF sources. This article describes how one scientist responds to practical questions about the safety of EMFs based on ambiguous scientific data.
Magnetic field measurements, what they mean and how they are made, are described in a two-part article:
EMF Health Report, Volume 2, Number 3, May/June, 1994 (85 Kb PDF format file) Price $8.00 Title: POWER FREQUENCY EMFs, Part I: THE SCIENCE BEHIND FIELD MEASUREMENTS. The electric shock you get after scuffing across a carpet on a dry day is caused by an electric charge buildup of thousands of volts. This charge could not power even a small appliance, yet wiring that carries only 100-120 volts powers entire households. Understanding such basic principles of electric and magnetic field behavior helps you understand how EMF can be measured and controlled. Here, in part one of a two part series, we explain voltage and current, magnetic fields, how fields are measured, and how sources of magnetic fields are controlled.
EMF Health Report, Volume 2, Number 4, July/August, 1994 (83 Kb PDF format file) Price $8.00 Title: POWER FREQUENCY EMFs, Part II: EMF MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL IN HOME AND OFFICE In early June, 1994, the Real Estate section of the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper ran a feature story on the increasing number of home inspections which now include EMF measurements, and the increasing number of real estate agents who find that sales are conditional on finding acceptable magnetic field levels. Although research results are far from conclusive, home owners and buyers want to know the magnetic field levels to which they are being exposed and how to reduce such exposure. Here, in part two of a two part series, we discuss magnetic field measurements, ground currents, shielding and other methods of reducing exposure, and conclude with a recommendation of EMF measurements.
These articles can be purchased on line by clicking the "Online Bookstore" button on the EMF-Link home page and looking under "articles from EMF Health Report." You may also find some of the other material on the site concerning evidence for health risks worthwhile as you consider your options. Regards, Bob
Reader Response: Dear Dr. Goldberg: Thank you very much for responding to my queries. It turns out the house would be 1600-2000 feet from the power lines. We walked the property with a PSEG representative and he measured the EMF at 0.2 - 0.4 mG on most areas of the property. This seems extremely safe to me (he is the company's EMF specialist and said he essentially never sees levels this low). My wife still remains concerned so any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again. Sincerely, Jay Geller, MD.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Dear Dr. Geller, A survey of 1000 US homes indicated average field levels of about 0.9 mG from external sources, so the PSEG representative is correct in saying the fields measured around your prospective home are relatively low compared with typical exposures in the US. At this point we do not know if such low fields are completely safe, but the most recent summaries of epidemiological evidence suggest that there is no detectable cancer risk with average exposures below about 3-4 mG. If you or your wife are still concerned I can refer you to some of the Health Report articles that discuss the evidence for risk, which will allow you to get a better objective background on the issues and be better able to understand new research as it comes out. As a physician, you may also be interested in the broader range of articles we include in the EMF Health report, including many that deal with medical applications of electromagnetic field exposures. The current issue has a feature article by Dr. Abe Liboff who holds several patents for resonant devices that appear to facilitate bone development for resolving nonunions and speeding recovery following spinal fusion surgery. You can look at the contents of this and earlier issues on our web page under the EMF Health Report button (or directly at http://infoventures.com/emf/hrpt/contents.html). We also cover medical topics in our Database and BENER publications, so you may find topics of professional interest by doing a keyword search from our publications page (at the bottom of the Health Report page) Regards, Bob
January 31, 2001
Discovery of your site while researching RF/EMF exposure is encouraging. I had no idea that working around this sort of thing could be dangerous until I began to experience various symptoms. I worked for a communications company from Oct 1997 through June 2000. About 6 months after beginning work there various physical symptoms such as extreme fatigue (I am usually a very energetic person), burning of the eyes and face, fluctuating blood pressure, insomnia, and finally in January 1999, a burn (hot-spot) on the right top side of my head appeared. There are several transmitting devices in the building where I worked. The company owns several towers with microwave dishes and antennas to provide analog paging, 800mhz radio services for various utilities and governmental agencies, mobile and cellular phone services and other communication services and equipment. There are also 6 large transformers located within 15-20 feet of the building. There was an equipment failure at one of those transformers which remained defective during the 2 year period of my employment. I recently found out that the readings coming from the line outside my office window was -60db. Any technical help you might be able to provide to aid my understanding of how these events could possibly have affected my health would be greatly appreciated.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Our company monitors the international scientific literature on electromagnetic field biological effects and our EMF Database contains a dozen or so papers on RF and microwave burns. The more subtle symptoms of fatigue and blood pressure changes which you describe have been associated with microwave exposure in many reports in the literature, particularly from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, since the early 1970s. When systematic investigations have been made however it proved impossible to verify the association. In the few instances where there are reports of acute burns when a worker accidentally spends time in front of an active antenna, these are usually sensed immediately and resolved with medical care. There is also a body of research dealing with electrical hypersensitivity which suggests that some individuals experience allergic-type reactions when near an EMF source like a computer terminal. Again this is a disputed area of research because, while the medical effects are clearly real, subjects most often show similar effects when they are exposed to devices that they think are emitting EMFs but which are actually inactive. This research suggests that the physical effects of the EMF may not be directly causing the symptoms, but rather a conditioned response may have developed which is triggered by the stimulus of an EMF-producing device.
We could certainly supply you with references to studies reporting adverse effects and studies that generally find little or no indication of adverse long-term effects. Making a case for occupational injury would be difficult without detailed measurements of your workplace showing abnormally high radiofrequency EMF levels. There is also not much convincing medical evidence of a cause and effect relationship regarding the less immediate symptoms (other than the burn) or effects from lower levels of exposure which fall within existing exposure standards. Perhaps it is of some comfort to know that the reports which claim hypersensitivity and neurological symptoms generally indicate that the symptoms tend to go away after a moderate period of time away from the exposure condition. Regards, Bob
January 26, 2001
Hi, May I have some more informations about the relationship between Cactus and EMF. Does exist some publications, research, articles and where I find it? Thank's in advance.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: Some of the messages we get are very odd and hard to figure why they were directed to us. In relation to the following, the only EMF connection I know of is the section in a review (BENER number: 11469) that says: "One of the most bizarre products available to VDT users is a 'radiation eating' cactus, Cereus Peruvianus, which, according to its promotion literature, 'holds the answer to all our fears about dangerous radiation emissions from VDT screens.' The cactus is harmless, but has been found to be ineffective."
January 25, 2001
I am seeking clinical trials and treatment for chronic depression (drug resistant). Can you provide me with any info? Any help would be appreciated.
Reply from Dr. Robert Goldberg: We follow the published research literature on electromagnetic field bioeffects, and there have been some 60 papers on treatment of depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation which were added to our EMF Database from the last few years. Earlier papers go back over a decade. Here are some references to published results from the EMF Database which may provide useful contact information for locating a research group currently conducting a trial. Detailed summaries for some of these studies are available for purchase on our web site:
PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE FOR A BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF LOW-FREQUENCY, REPETITIVE TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION AND SCHIZOPHRENIA. Eng. Feinsod, M.; Kreinin, B.; Chistyakov, A.; Klein, E. Dept. of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, P.O. Box 9602, 31096 Haifa, Israel (RR/E.K., B.K.); Dept. of Neurosurgery, Rambam Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, Israel (M.F., A.C.) Depress Anxiety 7(2):65-68 1998 BENER number: 18946
DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED INVESTIGATION OF TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF RESISTANT MAJOR DEPRESSION. Eng. Loo, C.; Mitchell, P.; Sachdev, P.; McDarmont, B.; Parker, G.; Gandevia, S. Psychiatry Unit, Prince of Wales Hosp., High and Avoca Sts., Randwick, N.S.W. 2031, Australia, e-mail: colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au (RR/C.L.); Mood Disorders Unit, Neuropsychiatric Inst. and Prince of Wales Medical Res. Inst., Prince of Wales Hosp., Randwick, N.S.W., Australia; Sch. of Psychiatry, Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Am J Psychiatry 156(6):946-948 1999 Funding: Australian Natl. Health and Medical Res. Council Mood Disorders Unit Program Grant No. 953208; Peter Joseph; William Loewenthal; New South Wales Inst. of Psychiatry (C.L.) BENER number: 19208
REPETITIVE TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION AS A NEUROPSYCHIATRIC TOOL: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE POTENTIAL. Eng. Post, R. M.; Kimbrell, T. A.; McCann, U. D.; Dunn, R. T.; Osuch, E. A.; Speer, A. M.; Weiss, S. R. B. Biological Psychiatry Branch, Natl. Inst. of Mental Health, NIH, Bldg. 10, Rm. 3N212, 10 Center Dr., MSC 1272, Bethesda, MD 20892-1272 (RR/R.M.P.) J ECT 15(1):39-59 1999 BENER number: 19284
A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL OF REPETITIVE TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION IN THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSION. Eng. Berman, R. M.; Narasimhan, M.; Sanacora, G.; Miano, A. P.; Hoffman, R. E.; Hu, X. S.; Charney, D. S.; Boutros, N. N. Clinical Neuroscience Unit, Rm. 360, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park St., New Haven, CT 06519 (RR/R.M.B.); Yale Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510 (M.N., G.S., A.P.M., R.E.H., X.S.H., D.S.C., N.N.B.) Biol Psychiatry 47(4):332-337 2000 Funding: NNB VA Merit Award; NIMH Program Grant; State of Connecticut BENER number: 20566
STUDY AND MODULATION OF HUMAN CORTICAL EXCITABILITY WITH TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION. Eng. Pascual-Leone, A.; Tormos, J. M.; Keenan, J.; Tarazona, F.; Canete, C.; Catala, M. D. Lab. for Magnetic Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical Sch., 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 01778 (RR/A.P-L., J.K.); Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidad de Valencia, and Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Valencia, Spain (A.P-L., J.M.T., F.T., C.C., M.D.C.); J Clin Neurophysiol 15(4):333-43 1998 Funding: Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (DGICYT); the Milton Fund; the Stanley Vada Foundation BENER number: 18739
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