Magnetic Fields and Your Health
by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has just released
a major report dealing with the health risks of strong electromagnetic fields
generated by appliances and power lines (50-60 Hz). The first indication that
strong electromagnetic fields may be linked to cancer came in 1979 when
American researchers discovered that children living near high-power wiring
had double or triple the chance of developing leukemia, lymphoma, or tumors of
the nervous system. Since then many studies have refuted this finding while
others have supported it. Recently though, the number of studies supporting
the connection have started to significantly outweigh the studies denying it.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that workers at an aluminum
plant who were regularly exposed to high currents died from leukemia and
lymphoma at five times the expected rate. A study of 223,000 electric utility
workers found that workers with a high exposure to strong currents had a
three-fold increase in their risk of developing leukemia and a twelve-fold
increase in the risk of developing certain brain cancers. Researchers at the
University of North Carolina concluded that female electrical workers were 40
per cent more likely to die from breast cancer than were women in non-
electrical jobs. A four- to six-fold increase in breast cancer among male
electricity and telephone workers has also been observed. In a study released
in the summer of 1994, American and Finnish researchers discovered that
dressmakers have a three times higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
than does the general population. Dressmakers are routinely exposed to
electromagnetic fields from their sewing machines which give them about three
times the occupational exposure of power line workers.
Laboratory work has shown that exposure to electromagnetic fields slows the
outflow of calcium in chicken brain cells. Field exposure also speeds up the
copying of DNA strands, a potential cancer-causing mechanism. Electromagnetic
fields also disrupt the lipid membranes of the cell; this would change the
cell's control over what chemicals enter and leave it. A very recent study of
breast cancer cells found that cancer cells react to exposure by
electromagnetic fields by proliferating. Healthy cells do not show this
reaction.
The increased interest in electromagnetic fields has also had some benefits.
Some hospitals are now using strongly pulsed fields to stimulate the healing
of broken bones.
While the connection between electromagnetic field exposure and cancer is
still not acknowledged by the medical community, progressive researchers are
recommending prudent precautions. They point out that many appliances in the
home and office generate potent fields; among them: electric blankets, TV
screens and computer terminals, electric clocks, hair dryers, electric shavers
and toothbrushes, photocopiers, ovens and microwave ovens, dishwashers,
clothes dryers, and fluorescent lights. Other sources of powerful fields are
electric closets, entry boxes, and wiring. Faulty wiring can cause extremely
high fields and can be discovered by checking out your home with a gauss
meter. Office buildings frequently expose workers to very high fields. Some
companies have decided to vacate their office space rather than risk their
employees' health. According to an article in Microwave News several
offices in the Chrysler Building and at Gateway Plaza in New York were
recently vacated because of very high fields.
So what can you do to minimize your exposure to harmful electromagnetic
fields?
- Have your home evaluated for electromagnetic hotspots and elmininate them
or try to stay away from them even if it means rearranging the bedroom.
- Replace your electric blanket with a down-filled comforter or turn it off
(remove plug from outlet) when you get into bed.
- Replace your computer monitor with one that meets Swedish safety standards
(MPR II standards).
- Use your electric razor and hair dryer sparingly, if at all.
- Move electric clocks and telephone answering machines so that they are at
least 1.5 meters away from the bed.
- Move your bed away from walls with major appliances or wiring on the other
side and away from measured hotspots.
- Sit at least at arm's length distance from your computer monitor; at least
1.5 meters from the back of another monitor, and at least 2 meters away from
your television screen.
REFERENCE: Perry, Tekla S. Today's view of magnetic fields. IEEE Spectrum, December
1994, pp. 14-23
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