Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Evidence for a Novel Neurological Syndrome
Just accepted by International Journal of Neuroscience
Objective : We sought direct evidence that acute exposure to environmental-strength electromagnetic fields could induce somatic reactions (EMF hypersensitivity).
Methods
The subject, a female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity, was exposed to an average (over the head) 60-Hz electric field of 300 V/m (comparable to typical environmental-strength EMFs) during controlled provocation and behavioral studies.
Results
In a double-blinded EMF provocation procedure specifically designed to minimize unintentional sensor y cues, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle-twitching, and skipped hear tbeats within 100 s after initiation of EMF exposure (P < 0.05). The symptoms were caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the presence of the field, as assessed by comparing the frequency and severity of the effects of pulsed and continuous fields in relation to sham exposure. The subject had no conscious perception of the field as judged by her inability to report its presence more often than in the sham control.
Discussion
The subject demonstrated statistically reliable somatic reactions in response to exposure to subliminal EMFs under conditions that reasonably excluded a causative role for psychological processes.
Conclusion
EMF hypersensitivity can occur as a bona fide environmentally-inducible neurological syndrome.
Texte intégral
http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org/Electromagnetic-Hypersensitivity-Evidence-for-a-Novel-Neurological-Syndrome,2,1206
Un dermatologue suédois émet cette mise en garde au sujet des dangers des compteurs intelligents (émettant des micro-ondes) :
http://www.hese-project.org/uk_forum/index.php?id=216
Voir aussi
Abstracts from the 15th Annual International Symposium on Man and His Environment 1997
The 1997 Annual International Symposium focused on the Environmental Aspects of EMF and Bioelectricity. This Conference explored some of the latest data and provided a forum for discussion as well as case studies to help the professional.
"Electrical Sensitivity in Workers in a Hospital with Indoor Air Quality Problems"
Roy A. Fox, M.D., FRCPC
Nova Scotia Environmental Health Centre, Dalhousie University
An earlier study of a group of chemically sensitive disabled workers from Camp Hill Hospital revealed that about half were also electrically sensitive. For only one worker, electrical sensitivity (ES) was one of the major presenting complaints. For most of the other individuals, intolerance of electrical appliances or exacerbation of symptoms by exposure to electromagnetic fields was not included in the presenting history. However, direct questioning revealed that about half of the patients did have symptoms of ES and that most had made significant lifestyle changes to cope with the problem. Lessening of ES appeared to parallel improvement in health and reduction of chemical sensitivity. More that five years after the onset of environmental illness more that 100 workers from this hospital remain disabled and unable to pursue any gainful employment. Chemical sensitivity is the most important aspect of the illness that limits employment potential, and ES does not appear to be a major issue affecting lifestyle for any of these patients. However, a significant proportion admit to perturbation of well-being by exposure to various electrical appliances. Some of the recovered workers report the ability to sense coherent electromagnetic radiations and use this to avoid prolonged exposures. In this situation the heightened awareness might be considered an asset as a defense mechanism rather than a trigger for physiological dysfunction.
All patients who are seen in consultation in the NS Environmental Health Centre are asked about ES. At the present time this does not appear to be a significant problem for the majority of patients and does not appear to warrant specific treatment. In the patients where this has been identified as a major factor, addressing total body load or the use of desensitization techniques to lessen chemical sensitivity and allergy has resulted in significant amelioration of ES symptoms.
The patients or hospital workers with or without ES need to be looked at more closely to determine if there are differences in exposures or in biotransformation abilities that might account for the development of ES in some. Within the hospital workers, it is known that many problems contributed to the IAQ problems. The most significant appears to have been their exposure to mixtures of amines added to the boiler and steam supply for their anticorrosive properties. This mixture contained cyclohexylamine, morpholine, and other amines. These substances have profound effects on nervous system function by competitive inhibition of biogenic amine metabolism and interaction with the NMDA receptors. Alteration of biogenic amine synthesis thus changing the ratios of putrescine, spermine, and spermidine can have profound effects on the nerve blood barrier and the blood brain barrier. The negatively charged amines have a more profound effect on membrane functions such as permeability. These changes in membrane function, which occur as a direct effect of the amines, the alteration in biogenic amines, or the increased penetration of other chemicals, are likely to result in altered function and altered electromagnetic characteristics.
