ASPECTS OF THE MOBILE TELEPHONE EMISSION SYSTEM'S IMPACT OVER THE POPULATION'S HEALTH STATE

ASPECTS OF THE MOBILE TELEPHONE EMISSION SYSTEM'S IMPACT OVER THE POPULATION'S HEALTH STATE

Authors: sef lucr. univ. Dr. A. Fleancu, sef lucr. univ. Dr. G Sechel,

stud. Calin Fleancu, stud. Costin Bold, stud. V. Barbieru, stud. Alexandru Banuta

I. Introduction

Radiations represent physical environmental factors, necessary to life, with a complexity lower than air, water and aliments. Most of the unionized radiations are formed by a field which spreads in transversal waves, with variable amplitude according to its nature.

In contrast with other electromagnetic radiations, the wave length of the radiations with radio electrics frequencies extend on a waste category of dimensions, from where the variety of actions on the human body.

The purpose of our study consists in the analyze of radiations effects on humans and the influence they have on their health state. The population of maximum interest is the one that live in the vicinity of mobile phone antennas placed on the ROMTELECOM buildings in Brasov. These persons are exposed to electromagnetic radiations generated by these antennas over a long period of time.

II. Data from specialized literature

The new mobile phone systems are operating with radio systems having frequencies of approximately 900 MHz (GSM) and 1800 MHz (DCS 1800), frequencies that correspond to waves length of 30cm, respectively 15cm.

The entire power generated could reach even a m 11211w2210l aximum of 100W

From the wide scale of hertz waves (wave length of 1 mm -several kilometers) -from the biological point of view, a certain practical importance have the ones with wave length between 1mm and 1m, which apply to frequencies between 3GHz and 300MHz. These are called "hiperfrequency radiations", microwaves (MW) and high frequency currents (HFC).A more less influence have the radiations with radioelectrical frequency of 100-300 MHz

Numerous governmental as well as nongovernmental organizations are studying the influence of these radiations on human body- a yet, not very well known field. From these organizations the most significant ones are:

- Federal Communications Commission Office of Engineering and Technology

- International Agency for Research of Cancer - IACR

- International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

- International Labor Office - ILO

- NATO etc.

There is a constant huge promotion of research programs at national and international level, from which, by far one the most important if the The International EMF Project.

Back to our study- the influence of REM on human body- we are going to list the principal so far known effects on health as well as the categories of population exposed and some of the clinical and paraclinical symptoms.

This is a report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer regarding jobs with chronical exposure to electromagnetic fields and incurable diseases.

These informations are presented as a result of a study made from 1996 to 2000.

It is well known that the factors of major importance in the study of REM influence on the body are: the distance from the source, the exposure periods, the intensity of electromagnetic field and last but not least the capacity of absorption of different tissues and organs.

The biological effects of these radiations are of two categories: thermic and non thermic.

The thermic ones are exerted principally against sensitive organs as crystalline lens, testicle, ovary and nervous system. The non thermic effects are due to electromagnetical fields and by this reason they exert actions on those organs in which there is present an electrical modulated activity. The possible phenomenon is demodulations, pointed out by constant modifications in the electric activity investigations (electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, etc). A significant special approach should be given to psychological effects, too.

In the specialized literature appears more and more often a new concept, namely: ELECTROSTRESS.

There should not be forgotten the effects of this kind of environment solicitation on the human body.

Some of the most important biological effects are:

Hyperthermia - rise of body temperature

Ocular effects-rise of eye temperature, opacifierea crystalline, cataract

Neuro-endocrine effects- hypophysis, hypothalamus affections that causes homeostatic disturbances.

Effects on the nervous system and behavior changes- have been demonstrated to be caused by exposure to low power densities( 1-5 mW/cmp) of REM for a long period

Hematopoietic and immune effects- as for example the lymphatic stimulation caused by densities with a power higher that 15 mW/cmp.

Genetic effects- chromosomal aberrations and mitosis alteration were observed due to an REM exposure with densities higher that 10mW/ cmp.

Effects on reproduction - altering spermatogenesis, lesion of testicles (exposure to more than 10 mW/ cmp).

Persons than wear glasses are more exposed because of the phenomena of reflexion and focalization. There have been described discrete crystalline lesions, which can be considered as side effects by way of rapid ageing of the crystalline that leads to loss of visual acuteness. Some studies show also simultaneously appearance of retina damage by blood circulation disturbances in the eye.

These effects, mentioned in the specialized literature and validated more or less in time are caused by high levels of exposure. (levels over the maximum admitted limit and of variable length of time).

All this facts determined us to investigate an environment exposed to this type of solicitation. The primary purpose was to observe an eventually risk as well as to promote specific preventive measures.

III. Material and method

For our study we used a retrospective study (2002-2006) for health state evaluation made on people with high risk from Brasov. The analyze implied a comparative estimation of diseases incidence classified on human systems and apparatus than could be affected by long exposure to REM.  

In order to evaluate the health state of exposed population we resorted to a study of incidence of the main diseases that can be determined by exposure to REM for a large period of time.

The utilized data have been reported by Family Medical cabinets where many of the studied persons are registered.

The statistic processing has utilized the hypothesis that a complementary exposure to electromagnetical radiations generated by mobile phone antennas would not put to risk human health. In this concern there has been created new variables, from which we recall the variable "exposure". This variable has been utilized in the statistic calculation for adjusting the results, in accordance with the electromagnetic radiation frequency and to the mobile phone dBm level (outside, inside, car, suburban, geographic area). 

There has been utilized specific morbidity data from 1996 (before GSM CONNEX-DIALOG appearance) and from 2004 and 2006. The data from 1996 was used as a base-line, whereas values from 2004 - 2006 were used to forecast the followed indicatives.

The statistic model did not render evident disconcordance of processing for the variables specific to exposure (model with 13 grouped observations, a Hosmer-Lemeshovv) an X²= 0, 64 and probability > X²=0, 4253). The stable limit of 0, 5 resulted a specificity of 50% and a sensibility of 61, 54 with a correct classification of the model of 56%.

IV. Results

The results obtained are placed in graphic number 1

The values of the incidence calculus (number of new cases at 10000 persons) of different types of diseases for years 2002 and 2006 are:

Figure nr 1. shows the incidence of diseases that can be caused by long exposure to electromagnetic field, that were classified on systems. The graphic makes a comparison between year 2002 and 2006. After processing the data we can say that the most significant values are for eye diseases, arterial hypertension and angina pectoris. There could also be observed the increasing of these diseases in 2006 towards 2002.

The values of variables as electromagnetical radiations frequencies in the antennas level as well as at telephone area (informations provided by IntraRom Company) are characterized by a uniform distribution (relatively flat-Kurtosis 1.443073, a little shifted to left- the median lower than the media).

The advanced processing regarding possible negative influences of electromagnetic radiations transmitted by GSM antennas over specific indicatives haven't attained powerful and significant statistical correlations. The statistical interpretation utilized for specific variables for exposure haven't showed calculus discordance.

V.Conclusion

Based on the existing informations we could say that the possibility of a significant risk for human health associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiations generated by radio frequence antennas is low, in what concerns the interest group taken into account.

As a result drawn from the incidence study the most important categories of diseases associated with this kind of exposure are: blood diseases, immune diseases but mostly diseases corelated with eye disturbances and ocular affection.

However there could not be made an analogy between the mentioned diseases and exposure to electric field.

All these conclusions make us confirm the lack of knowledge in what concerns the relation "cause-effect" of the nonionized REM exposure. Therefore it is an obligation to quantificate and study thoroughly the health monitorization of those exposed as well as enhancing the general and specific prophylactic measures.

It is extremely important to evaluate the population perception associated with electromagnetic radiation exposure due to mobile telephones, in order to elaborate a strategy for communication. The primary aim is to demonstrate that this type of exposure is included in the accepted risk levels in what concerns human health. For this purpose one of the leading parts belongs to social marketing, and by this we refer to an adequate health education concept.

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