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A new law in France forbids cellphone use in schools

According to a new law recently passed in France (08/2018) students in kindergartens, elementary schools and middle schools are prohibited from using cellphones or any other end user device in school or for “any activity associated with studies beyond school grounds” (translation of the law’s wording).

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The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is updating its guidelines on limiting exposure to RF radiation

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has published draft guidelines on limiting exposure to RF (radiofrequency) radiation. These guidelines, based on updated scientific knowledge should replace the previous guidelines published in 1998.

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Cellular Fifth Generation (5G)

  • The term cellular generation refers to cellular communication technology. The dominant cellular generations today are the third generation (3G) and predominantly the fourth generation (4G). The fifth generation (5G) is the next generation of cellular communication, expected to be launched across the world by 2020.
  • The cellular fifth generation is intended to facilitate technological solutions to improve smart phones’ capabilities (for example improving transfer of big data on cellular networks) and to support Internet of Things (IoT) systems to allow the connection capacity of many “smart things” on the internet which are intended to gather data from a distance, analyze it and manage this data.
  • The fifth generation will operate on the current generations’ frequencies, but also on frequencies that are ten or more times higher, mostly within the range of millimeter waves. Radiation at these frequencies has relatively low depth of penetration to the human body (the penetration is mainly to skin tissues).
  • 5G is characterized by use of a very large number of very small cells, which “cover” different areas together, in combination with larger cells positioned in intermediate areas. “Beam steering” technology will be implemented in these cells, directing the beams towards the user and as a result of this the exposure to “environmental” radiation from the cellular site will be reduced for people who are not using it.

Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and brain tumor development

In July 2018 a scientific article was published evaluating the possible association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and brain tumor development. The article addresses intermediate frequency (IF) non-ionizing radiation, defined as the range between 3 KHz and 10 MHz and radiofrequency (RF) radiation defined as between 10 MHz and 300 GHz.

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Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and brain tumor development

  • In July 2018, a scientific article was published by the INTEROCC research group on the possible association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and brain tumor development.
  • The study’s results did not show an increased risk of developing malignant or benign brain tumors due to occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields. The study results do not support a positive association between occupational exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields and either glioma or meningioma risk. However, an indication of increased risk of developing glioma was observed (and less so meningioma) for the highest exposure level (upper percentile) to radiofrequency (RF) when the exposure occurred in the 4 years prior to the disease.
  • An improved method of personal radiation exposure estimation was developed in this study, which constitutes a very important progress in the field.
  • Based on the observed indication and the need of evaluating possible interactions between various occupational exposures, researchers are calling for further research on the association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and brain tumor development.

A new General Director Statement of the Ministry of Education sets guidelines concerning students’ use of end user devices for educational purposes

On 01 SEP 2016 a new Ministry of Education General Director Statement (Hebrew) took effect regulating the use of end user devices such as laptop and desktop computers, tablets etc. by teachers and students for instructional, educational and assessment processes (Directive 3.6-12 “Students’ Use of End User Devices for Educational Purposes”).

 

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Addiction to Computer Games will be Included in the Updated World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases Guide (ICD-11)

The World Health Organization has published (18 JUN 2018) the new edition of its disease classification guide (ICD-11: International Classification of Diseases). This guide defines all existing diseases and disorders and it constitutes an international standard for defining diagnoses and reporting on the diseases and health conditions.

In the new edition, addiction to computer games has been added as a new diagnosis in the category of disorders due to addictive behavior.

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A new and unique study being conducted by the Cancer & Radiation Epidemiology Unit at the Gertner Institute, will evaluate the possible effects of fetal exposure to MRI on neurodevelopmental, behavioral & hearing outcomes

In the past few years, MRI scans have constituted an important diagnostic tool in the field of fetal medicine. The preference for MRI over CT in young populations occurred, amongst other reasons, following the recognition of risks associated with ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, the assumption that MRI technology does not involve exposure to radiation is incorrect and knowledge regarding long term outcomes of this radiation is limited.

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Initial results published from a new study by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP), reported an association between exposure to radiation from cellphones and cancer development in rats

In June 2016 a report was published reviewing the partial findings of a comprehensive study conducted by the US National Toxicology Program to evaluate the association between exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RF) and cancer in rats. The study findings point towards a mild increase in risk of developing two types of tumors as a result of exposure to RF radiation.

 

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Dose Response

Situation where the risk increases with the level of exposure. A dose-response relationship supports causality, but the lack of this relationship does not necessarily rule out a causal relationship.

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