Wireless radiation harms the body and health care practitioners need to do something about it, say Australian researchers in a paper published just before Christmas.
The researchers, from the Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA), conducted an analysis of studies that have been conducted on the effects of real-world wireless radiation on the body, from a database of research the organisation compiled over many years.
‘Two-thirds of the relevant epidemiology papers selected from ODEB [the ORSAA database] showed effects associated with increased exposures,’ the authors said.
One of the key effects the authors observed was that wireless radiation causes oxidative stress – the generation of free radicals. ‘Oxidative stress is now recognized as an underlying cause of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and depression,’ they say. Furthermore, ‘Health conditions promoted by electromagnetic-induced oxidative stress include allergies and atopic dermatitis, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, eye conditions, and fertility effects.’
The authors also found compelling evidence that wireless radiation causes cancer. They refer to the decision by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to classify wireless radiation as a Class 2B (‘possible’) carcinogen, to large animal studies confirming a link with cancer and to the recent determination by an Italian court that mobile phone radiation caused a plaintiff’s brain tumour.
The ORSAA team also found evidence that wireless radiation caused changes to enzymes and protein damage, biochemical changes, changes to cell function or morphology, effects on sperm/testicles, neurobehavioural/cognitive effects, changes to gene expression, haematological effects, cell death, changes to brain waves, immune system damage, hormonal changes, thyroid effects, liver effects and changes in brain development and/or neurodegeneration.
They also pointed out evidence that wireless radiation causes electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) – the experience of unpleasant symptoms as a result of exposure.
‘These symptoms include headaches (not the typical headache), head pressure, chest pressure, dysesthesia (skin irritation) and paraesthesia (tingling, prickling, burning sensations), insomnia, concentration difficulties, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), memory issues, dizziness, heart problems such as arrhythmia/palpitations/tachycardia, anxiety, joint pain, chronic fatigue, muscle pain and dermatological effects such as rashes,’ they say.
The study provides compelling evidence that humans ‘interact with electromagnetic fields even at low power levels.’
The authors say that international Guidelines for radiation protection (ICNIRP* Guidelines) and health practitioners generally do not adequately protect the public from the harmful effects of exposure. This is because there is a need to: