Abstract: | Electromagnetic fields (EMF) became increasingly common constituent of the general and workplace environments early in the 20th century, but some lifestyles and occupations are associated with more than the average amount of exposure to electromagnetic fields. May patterns of exposure in the general and workplace environments be able to be identified with increased intensity and duration of exposure to electromagnetic field. The exaggerated rise on Na rates, K-ATPase, when the organism is subjected to EMF of 50-60 Hz, results in the increase of stress level on population subjected to this kind of produced radiation, mainly, by the proper home electrics or by workplace environment (Blank; Soo; Papstein, 1995). There is conflicting evidence about whether exposure to electromagnetic fields can directly alter the structure of DNA and chromatin. Most reviews have concluded that mutational and neoplasic transformation effects are not expected to happen (NRPB, 1992; ORAU, 1992; Tenforde, 1996; NRC, 1996). However, some reports suggest that electromagnetic fields may cause direct effects on the DNA (Lai and Singh, 1997).
Even so, the population is not free of the low frequency EMF action, radiated from household appliances.
At the last decade, there have been many studies of the possible relation between different kinds of cancer, like the child leukemia, brain tumors, lung cancer, breast cancer and lymphomas, among others and residential exposure to electromagnetic fields (Balcer; Elizabeth, 1995; Erren, 1997; Loomis, et al, 1994). Different studies reported epidemiological studies about the risks of cancer related to exposure to electromagnetic field (50/60 Hz) from powerlines (NRPB 1992; ORAU, 1992; Savitz, 1993; Health, 1996; Steveans; Davis, 1996; Tenford, 1996; NAS, 1996). Similar studies reported the risk of adverse effects on human reproduction associated to electromagnetic field (Chernoff, et al, 1992; Brent, et al, 1993; Shaw; Croen, 1993; NAS, 1996; Tenford, 1996). In later, more rigorous studies, Juutilainen et al. (1993) report significant early pregnancy loss from exposure to residential 50 Hz magnetic fields, but low numbers in the high-exposure group limit conclusions from this study. The truth is that, if it won't possible to confirm this correlation, it's not also conclusive the fact of that the electromagnetic waves are harmless when fall on live organisms, between a specific potency and frequency (Goldberg, 2000). Several reports have shown that exposure of rodents to ELF magnetic fields reduces the production, secretion or both of melatonin from the pineal gland (Reviewed by Reiter, 1997). Exposure of rats for 42 days to circularly polarized magnetic fields (0.02 and 0.1µT) reduced both day time and night time melatonin levels by 20-25% (Kato, 1994).
The reduction on melatonin secretion and the increase on the ACTH and cortisol release are suggestive that the exposed builds to low frequency electromagnetic waves are more liable to high levels of stress and consequently, more liable to develop illness or organic imbalance. |
