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Could Radio Frequency radiation impair the auditory system?

 

 

 

 אישה מדברת בטלפון סלולרי כשהוא צמוד לאוזןIllustrative picture: a woman speaking on cellphone placed next to her ear    

 

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, about 5% of the world’s population has  hearing loss caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Because cellphones are mostly located next to the head during a call - specifically next to the ear - and the auditory system absorbs the radiation emitted by them, the possibility that exposure to cellphones might cause auditory system impairment or development of tinnitus (a phenomenon where “ringing in the ears” is experienced in the absence of external auditory stimulus) has been investigated.

 

 
 

The scientific literature includes studies where people or animals were exposed to RF radiation for relatively short periods of time and the effect on the auditory system was assessed using various hearing tests. There are also observational epidemiological studies that investigated the possible association between RF radiation exposure and hearing impairment.

The results of existing research on this subject are not conclusive. Considering the small amount of studies in this field and methodological problems affecting some of the studies we recommend acting according to the precautionary principle and minimizing exposure of the ear to RF radiation emitted from cellphones. The most efficient way of minimizing exposure is distancing the phone from the head.

 

Smart Meters

 

Smart Meters are digital devices installed outside of homes that provide data on electricity, water or gas consumption to the consumer and to the service provider at set intervals.

Smart meters allow continuous measurement of energy consumption and additional electrical parameters, information storage and two way communication.

Data is transferred from the smart meter in two possible ways:

  1. Wirelessly, by sending radio wave frequency signals via cellular communication networks, internet networks or Wi-Fi.
  2. Using existing wired networks belonging to the electric grid, telephone, etc.

This article only deals with the wireless smart meter.

 

IF- Intermediate Frequency

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  • The intermediate frequency (IF) range is found above the low frequency range and below the range of most radio frequencies.
  
  • Human exposure to radiation and fields in this range has been uncommon until now, and therefore research in this area is still sparse, in contrast to the many studies that have been performed for more common exposures, in the electric grid frequencies, communications equipment, etc.
  
  • The IARC classification of magnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation in the radio frequency range as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” does not refer to the IF range, however it is possible that it may be addressed in the future when sufficient studies have been conducted.
  
  • In recent years the exposure to IF has been increasing, for example exposure to wireless electrical charging and induction cooktops. Therefore research interest in the possible health effects of exposure to this frequency range has increased.
  

 

Extent of cellphone usage by children and teens worldwide

איור של ילדים על הגלובוס

Children and teens are amongst the first to adopt new technologies and are considered enthusiastic users. They spend long hours using their cellphones for a variety of purposes (communications, surfing the internet, games, watching movies, taking photographs, etc.) Just as in adults, the rate of cellphone usage by children and teens around the world is increasing.

Various studies carried out around the world in the past few years show increasing cellphone usage by children and teens, along with additional trends such as a drop in the age at which children start using cellphones, an increase in the use of cellphones for surfing the internet and more widespread use of smartphones (versus “regular” phone usage).

The following review presents data on cellphone usage by children and teens, in different countries around the world, published in the past few years.

Health Effects of Exposure to Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation

In today's world we commonly use a variety of devices and technologies that emit RF radiation, such as cell phones, tablets etc.

Along with the advantages provided by this technology, we must ask ourselves what are the possible health effects of this exposure?

  

Brain tumors in children & adolescents

  

Sperm cells
         

Auditory system

  
  • What do we know about the association between exposure to RF radiation and the development of cancer?
  • Can keeping a cell phone in men's pants pockets harm their fertility?
  • Does RF radiation cause hearing impairment?
  • Are children more sensitive to this type of radiation?
  

Health effects on children & adolescents
         

The Tnuda Center’s research field is expanding…

health effects of non-ionizing radiation

  

What are the boundaries of the debate concerning the range of health effects?

  • Should health effects that are not necessarily associated with radiation exposure be examined?

  • Can we differentiate between effects related to exposure and those related to technology usage?

Worldwide Recommendations and Guidelines on Wi-Fi use in Schools

 

Research methods for assessment of exposure to magnetic fields at the electric grid frequency in epidemiological studies

The majority of epidemiological studies that have investigated exposure to electromagnetic radiation from the electric grid have focused on the association between exposure to magnetic fields from high voltage lines in residential areas and the risk of developing childhood leukemia.The difficulty in evaluating exposure to magnetic fields is partly a consequence of their physical features and partly due to the wide variety of different sources of exposure that we encounter daily

Cellular Antennas

 

 

Who doesn’t get annoyed when a call is suddenly cut off, or when there is no reception and every second sentence is cut off? Most of us use cellular phones, which have become a central tool in our daily lives. But, when it comes to cellular antennas, without which it would be impossible to conduct a cellular phone call, the public is suspicious and there is public resistance to the placing of antennas in residential areas or close to education institutions / preschools etc.

However, in contradiction to the widely held public opinion, the use of a large number of low power antennas, rather than increasing the overall exposure to radiation, in general actually limits it. When there is a lack of suitable cellular antennas coverage, cellular phone capacity to transmit and receive signals is low. In these circumstances, reception quality is poor and the amount of radiation emitted by the phone that is “trying” to communicate with the base station increases, exposing the user to unnecessarily high exposure levels of radiation.

  

אנטנה סלולרית על גג בית

Cellular antenna on the roof of a house

The Israeli Guidelines for exposure to non-ionizing radiation from antennas determine that the threshold for exposure levels to radiation from broadcasting sites should not exceed 10% of the exposure level determined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)  recommendations in areas where people spend prolonged time periods, such as residential areas, offices etc. The exposure threshold should not exceed 30% of the exposure level determined in the World Health Organization recommendations in areas where people spend short time periods, such as sidewalks, roads etc.

One of the ways to reduce the public’s exposure to radiation emitted by antennas is via joint distribution of cellular antennas. This means participation of various sites via placement of their antennas and communication equipment in one common location. This enables the cellular companies to reduce the number of placement sites, to optimally plan distribution of the transmission facilities and to minimize the public’s exposure.

 

Citizens who are interested in receiving information regarding specific cellular antennas can apply to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. An interactive map can also be found on the Ministry website containing information on the date of establishment, activation and the most recent test for all antennas (in Hebrew).

 

A reliable test of the electromagnetic radiation level can be performed via a certified surveyor from the Ministry of Environmental Protection (link in Hebrew) or using measuring equipment approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Ministry of Environmental Protection website publishes a list of individuals certified to perform radiation tests and a list of companies that sell radiation measuring equipment approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

 

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