Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Fact or fiction?

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.11.008

Science of The Total Environment

Volume 414, 1 January 2012, Pages 103-112

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.11.008 Get rights and content

Abstract

As the prevalence of wireless telecommunication escalates throughout the world, health professionals are faced with the challenge of patients who report symptoms they claim are connected with exposure to some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Some scientists and clinicians acknowledge the phenomenon of hypersensitivity to EMR resulting from common exposures such as wireless systems and electrical devices in the home or workplace; others suggest that electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is psychosomatic or fictitious. Various organizations including the World Health Organization as well as some nation states are carefully exploring this clinical phenomenon in order to better explain the rising prevalence of non-specific, multi-system, often debilitating symptoms associated with non-ionizing EMR exposure. As well as an assortment of physiological complaints, patients diagnosed with EHS also report profound social and personal challenges, impairing their ability to function normally in society. This paper offers a review of the sparse literature on this perplexing condition and a discussion of the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the EHS diagnosis. Recommendations are provided to assist health professionals in caring for individuals complaining of EHS.

Highlights

► Many people report symptoms when near devices emanating electromagnetic fields(EMF). ► Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) research has generated conflicting outcomes. ► Recent evidence suggests pathophysiological change in some individuals with EHS. ► EHS patients consistently report profound social and personal challenges. ► Clinicians need to be apprised of the EHS condition and potential interventions.

Introduction

In the early years of the 21st century, there are increasing reports throughout the world of individuals and clusters of people complaining of various clinical symptoms in response to minimal exposure to everyday levels of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Some individuals experience difficulty around wireless systems, when using cordless or cell phones, when exposed to some types of artificial light, or in response to various other common electromagnetic exposures. Once exposed, such vulnerable individuals often develop a variety of symptoms involving various organ systems. Although originally thought to be psychogenic in origin, such symptoms are being reported by ever-increasing numbers of previously healthy individuals (Hallberg and Oberfeld, 2006) — a phenomenon which has generated a closer assessment of the origins of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) complaints.

In this paper, a review of the emerging literature related to the perplexing EHS condition will be presented along with a case history detailing the development of EHS and subsequent recovery in an otherwise healthy individual. Consideration of physical, psychological and social aspects of this disorder will be presented. As well as an exploration of the polarizing debate that surrounds the EHS issue, recommendations are provided as to how clinicians might empower patients with EHS to regain their health and improve their wellbeing.

Section snippets

Background

The surge of wireless telecommunication throughout the world is provoking many people to question whether various EMR frequencies can have adverse effects on human health. It is widely accepted that ionizing high-frequency radiation from X-rays or emissions from radioactive materials are hazardous, with high energy levels capable of harming humans; (Ramirez et al., 2005, Brenner et al., 2003) the detrimental impact of non-ionizing radiation on humans, however, is not widely accepted.

A variety

Management of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

With appropriate care, it is possible for patients with EHS to improve considerably and be restored to normal functioning. By understanding the pathway to the development of SRI, by practicing avoidance of triggers and further toxicant exposure, and by instituting appropriate therapeutic measures when necessary, patients consistently improve. An overall environmental approach to managing exposure related illness, such as EHS, is depicted in Fig. 3 (Genuis, 2010a). Details of this management

Case history of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

A 35 year-old previously healthy, well-educated and highly functioning married mother of two children noticed an abrupt decline in her health and ability to function within three weeks of moving into a newly renovated house. She developed progressive fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive decline, anxiety, and uncharacteristic memory impairment — to the point where she forgot to pick up her children from elementary school on multiple occasions. Despite seeing multiple physicians and undergoing

Quality of life considerations

For individuals suffering from EHS, there are a number of issues that consistently arise. A major challenge of EHS is the imperceptible nature of EMR to otherwise healthy people. The absence of perceptible stimuli inclines physicians, family members, friends, employers, and insurance companies to classify the symptoms of EHS as psychogenic or psychiatric in origin (Rubin et al., 2010, Kanaan et al., 2007, Das-Munshi et al., 2006, Rubin et al., 2011). As a result, patients with EHS frequently

Debate about the legitimacy of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Despite increasing reports in the world literature recognizing EHS as a legitimate clinical entity, (World Health Organization, 2011a, McCarty et al., 2011, Havas et al., 2010, Havas, 2000, World Health Organization, 2011b, Chemical Sensitivity Network, 2011) many people remain skeptical about the veracity of the idea that a subsection of the population experiences illness and disability as a result of intolerance of ordinary everyday levels of EMR (Levallois, 2002). Some consider the EHS

Conclusion

Over the last 50 years, there has been an anthropogenic electromagnetic revolution with the widespread release of electronic equipment, wireless systems, electrical machines as well as pervasive high voltage power lines and telecommunication emitters; in the next 50 years we will begin to witness the consequences of these developments. We have an ethical responsibility to define the impact of such technology on the human organism and to develop methodologies to investigate and manage adverse

Acknowledgment

Sincere thanks to Angela Hobbs for her kind assistance and contribution to the development of this paper. We are also very grateful to Dr. Meg Sears and Dr. Don Hillman for invaluable recommendations on the final draft.

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Citation Excerpt :

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is also commonly termed electrical sensitivity, electrohypersensitivity, idiopathic environmental intolerance, or (historically) microwave sickness. Common symptoms of EHS include headaches, cognitive difficulties, sleep problems, dizziness, depression, fatigue, skin rashes, tinnitus and flu-like symptoms [93,94]. Adverse reactions to wireless devices range from mild and readily reversible to severe and disabling, and individuals must greatly reduce their exposures to sources of electromagnetic radiation [95,96,97].

Radiofrequency radiation (RFR), used for wireless communications and “smart” building technologies, including the “Internet of Things,” is increasing rapidly. As both RFR exposures and scientific evidence of harmful effects increase apace, it is timely to heed calls to include low RFR levels as a performance indicator for the health, safety and well-being of occupants and the environment.

Adverse biochemical and biological effects at commonly experienced RFR levels indicate that exposure guidelines for the U.S., Canada and other countries are inadequate to protect public health and the environment.

Some industry liability insurance providers do not offer coverage against adverse health effects from radiation emitted by wireless technologies, and insurance authorities deem potential liability as “high.” Internationally, governments have enacted laws, and medical and public health authorities have issued recommendations, to reduce and limit exposure to RFR.

There is an urgent need to implement strategies for no- or low-RFR emitting technologies, and shielding, in building design and retrofitting. These strategies include installing wired (not wireless) Internet networks, corded rather than cordless phones, and cable or wired connections in building systems (e.g., mechanical, lighting, security). Building science can profit from decades of work to institute performance parameters, operationalizing prudent guidelines and best practices. The goal is to achieve RFR exposures that are ALARA, “As Low As Reasonably Achievable.”

We also challenge the business case of wireless systems, because wired or cabled connections are faster, more reliable and secure, emit substantially less RFR, and consume less energy in a sector with rapidly escalating greenhouse gas emissions.
Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) on honey bee queen development and mating success

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Provided that this market will be further growing in the future, concerns are rising about the emission of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from these devices and their broadcasting network, i.e. antennas and base stations, perceived as environmental pollution (Balmori, 2015). Radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic fields, and unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays, they can neither break chemical bonds nor cause ionization in the living tissue (Genuis and Lipp, 2012). They are usually ranging from 30 kHz–300 GHz with cell phones operating mainly between 800 MHz and 3 GHz, pulsed at low frequencies (Hardell, 2017).

Mobile phones can be found almost everywhere across the globe, upholding a direct point-to-point connection between the device and the broadcast tower. The emission of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) puts the surrounding environment inevitably into contact with this radiation. We have therefore exposed honey bee queen larvae to the radiation of a common mobile phone device (GSM band at 900 MHz) during all stages of their pre-adult development including pupation. After 14 days of exposure, hatching of adult queens was assessed and mating success after further 11 days, respectively. Moreover, full colonies were established of five of the untreated and four of the treated queens to contrast population dynamics. We found that mobile phone radiation had significantly reduced the hatching ratio but not the mating success. If treated queens had successfully mated, colony development was not adversely affected. We provide evidence that mobile phone radiation may alter pupal development, once succeeded this point, no further impairment has manifested in adulthood. Our results are discussed against the background of long-lasting consequences for colony performance and the possible implication on periodic colony losses.
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Une étude qualitative a été réalisée auprès de 13 personnes se déclarant atteintes de « maladie de Lyme chronique ». Les entretiens ont été analysés par 2 internes en médecine générale, encadrés par un médecin généraliste diplômé en socio-anthropologie et un infectiologue.

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Une meilleure prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique des personnes pensant être atteintes de « maladie de Lyme chronique » apparaît indispensable pour limiter leur errance médicale et leur parcours douloureux. Celle-ci pourrait s’inspirer des recommandations émises pour les symptômes médicalement inexpliqués dont la problématique de la « maladie de Lyme chronique » se rapproche en de nombreux points.

Chronic Lyme disease is a subject of scientific and social controversy in both Europe and the United States. The aim of our study was to analyze the pathway to diagnosis of patients believing they were affected by the disease, and to describe their real-life experience.

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^☆: There are no conflicts of interest. No funding has been received for any part of this work.

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Review Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Fact or fiction?☆

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Background

Management of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Case history of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Quality of life considerations

Debate about the legitimacy of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Conclusion

Acknowledgment

Prog Brain Res

Sci Total Environ

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol

Sci Total Environ

Toxicol Lett

Life Sci

Med Hypotheses

Public Health

Sci Total Environ

Public Health

Lancet

J Psychosom Res

Biochem Biophys Res Commun

Is academic medicine for sale?

N Engl J Med

Brain plasticity and cognitive neurorehabilitation

Neuropsychol Rehabil

Cancer risks attributable to low doses of ionizing radiation: assessing what we really know

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

Changes of clinically important neurotransmitters under the influence of modulated RF fields — a long-term study under real-life conditions

Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft

Use of filters to treat visual-perception problem creates adherents and sceptics

CMAJ: Can Med Assoc J

Immunotropic effects in cultured human blood mononuclear cells pre-exposed to low-level 1300 MHz pulse-modulated microwave field

Electromagn Biol Med

Blood laboratory findings in patients suffering from self-perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)

Bioelectromagnetics

Non-thermal heat-shock response to microwaves

Nature

Dirty electricity, cellular telephone base stations and neoplasia

Sci Total Environ

History of evidence-based medicine. Oranges, chloride of lime and leeches: barriers to teaching old dogs new tricks

Emerg Med Australas

Microwave effects on the nervous system

Bioelectromagnetics

Occupational exposures to high frequency electromagnetic fields in the intermediate range (> 300 Hz–10 MHz)

Bioelectromagnetics

Cardiac and neural effects of modulated RF energy

Comparison perception of singular transcranial magnetic stimuli by subjectively electrosensitive subjects and general population controls

Bioelectromagnetics

What's out there making us sick?

J Environ Public Health

Elimination of persistent toxicants from the human body

Hum Exp Toxicol

Exploring the continuum: medical information to effective clinical practice: Paper 1. The translation of knowledge into clinical practice

J Eval Clin Pract

Letter to the editor: will we all become electrosensitive?

Electromagn Biol Med

Increased concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants in subjects with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity — a pilot study

Electromagn Biol Med

Biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy: a critical review of the reports by the US National Research Council and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences as they relate to the broad realm of EMF bioeffects

Environ Rev

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: biological effects of dirty electricity with emphasis on diabetes and multiple sclerosis

Electromagn Biol Med

Provocation study using heart rate variability shows microwave radiation from DECT phone affects atunomic nervous system

Cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with electric sensitivity — a multidisciplinary approach in a controlled study

Psychother Psychosom

Prevalence of self-reported hypersensitivity to electric or magnetic fields in a population-based questionnaire survey

Scand J Work Environ Health

Sleep-powered wellness

Review
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Fact or fiction?☆