Gary

Here it is. Responses to sundayletters@independent.co.uk


Radiation from baby monitors 'poses risk'
Infants being harmed by safety devices, say scientists

By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor

Published: 20 May 2007

Baby monitors, bought by parents to keep their children safe, may instead be harming them, some scientists fear. They warn that the devices are bathing the infants in radiation at an age when they are most vulnerable to it.

The radiation, similar to that given off by modern cordless phones, is part of the increasing electronic smog to which mobile phones, their masts and Wi-Fi systems also contribute. The monitors use the same digitally enhanced cordless telecommunication (Dect) technology as cordless phones.

Over recent weeks The Independent on Sunday has exclusively reported growing concern that the smog may be damaging human health. The paper reported that Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, has been privately pressing an investigation into the effects on children of installing Wi-Fi networks in schools.

Baby monitors are typically placed close to infants, who are particularly at risk from radiation. An inquiry by Sir William into mobile phones seven years ago reported that a one-year-old child could absorb about twice as much per kilogram of body weight as an adult.

Babies are especially vulnerable because their bodies and nervous systems are still developing and because they will have more time to accumulate exposure to the radiation and for any delayed effects to develop.

Professor Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol said the monitors are "being marketed without any checks and balances or even studies into their effects".

Professor Olle Johansson of Sweden's Karolinska Institute said that the cells of a growing baby are "very susceptible". Powerwatch, an information service on radiation, says: "A Dect monitor placed in your baby's bedroom will expose them to more pulsing microwave radiation than living near to a mobile phone mast would do. We have had a number of reports from parents that their babies did not sleep well and cried a lot when they used Dect monitors." It added that older wired and analogue monitors do not raise the same concerns.

Dr Roger Coghill, who runs a laboratory specialising in the radiation, suggested that the Dect monitors should be placed at least 10 feet from infants. He said, "You want to hear what a baby is up to, but you don't want to harm him or her."

A spokesman for one company which sells the monitors said it did not believe that there was any danger from the monitors, which more than meet international safety standards.

© 2007 Independent News and Media Limited

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2562761.ece


Informant: Sarah Dacre/Mast Sanity/Sandi

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Baby monitors....900 MHz, DECT, 2.4 GHz, powerful sensor pads
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/3725950/



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http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Geoffrey+Lean

Aus: Kurzmittteilung Nr.8 der Bürgerinitiative gegen den Mobilfunkmast Bismarckstr.57, Stuttgart

Nach dem sarkastischen Spiegel-Artikel, der wie die Industrie behauptet: „Es liegen keine Erkenntnisse über Schädigungen durch Mobilfunk-Strahlung vor“, und dabei einzig und allein auf die Unkenntnis der Bevölkerung setzt, haben wir einige aktuelle Studien v.a. aus den Datenbank der RWTH Aachen zusammengestellt. Sie sind v.a. für Männer, die ihr Handy am Gürtel oder in der Hosentasche tragen, eine Warnung: Drei neue Studien zur Schädigung der männlichen Spermien durch Mobilfunbestrahlung. Zum Download die offiziellen Summarys, und noch zwei Studien zur Brutschädigung bei Störchen und Fliegen, zwei Studien zur Auswirkung in den menschlichen Zellen.

http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/es_liegen_keine_erkenntnisse_ueber_schaedigungen_durch_mf_strahlung_vor.htm

Aus: Kurzmittteilung Nr.8 der Bürgerinitiative Mobilfunk Stuttgart-West

Wir bekamen eine einstmals in der DDR durchgeführte geheime Studie von 1967.

„Die Problematik des Einflusses von Mikrowellen auf den Gesundheitszustand des Funkmesspersonals der Nationalen Volksarmee“ Dissertation, Autor: Klaus–Peter Wenzel, Greifswald 1967 Institut für Luftfahrtmedizin, Militärhygiene und Feldepidemiologie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität

Die Wahrheit liegt auf dem Tisch. Lesen Sie unsere Darstellung und Interpretation dieser Dissertation. Die Gesamtstudie, Teile davon und zwei Auswertungen stehen zum Download.

http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/vertrauliche_verschlusssache_nr.c_13937.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/194065.stm


Informant: Art Kab



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Immune+system+mobile+phones
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Roger+Coghill

Abstract

Public and occupational exposures to microwave (RF) are of two main types. The first type of exposures are those connected with military and industrial uses and, to some extent broadcast exposures. It is this type that most of the data cited in this study draw upon. The second type, cellular telephones and their associated broadcast requirements, have raised concerns about current exposures because of their increasingly widespread use. Four types of effects were originally reported in multiple studies: increased spontaneous abortion, shifts in red and white blood cell counts, increased somatic mutation rates in lymphocytes, and increased childhood, testicular, and other cancers. In addition, there is evidence of generalized increased disability rates from a variety of causes in one study and symptoms of sensitivity reactions and lenticular opacity in at least one other. These findings suggest that RF exposures are potentially carcinogenic and have other health effects. Therefore, prudent avoidance of unneeded exposures is recommended as a precautionary measure. Epidemiologic studies of occupational groups such as military users and air traffic controllers should have high priority because their exposures can be reasonably well characterized and the effects reported are suitable for epidemiologic monitoring. Additional community studies are needed.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1469943


Informant: Art Kab

[Article in Chinese]

* Xie Y,
* Jiang HH,
* Gong QF,
* Zhang GB,
* Yu JH,
* Yu ZP.

Department of Military Labor Hygiene, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.

OBJECTIVE: To explore molecular controlling mechanism of mitochondrial injury induced by different density of microwave irradiation.

METHODS: Rats were exposed to microwave irradiation for 1 hour at average power density of 3 mW/cm(2) or 30 mW/cm(2). After microwave irradiation, the changes of pathological ultrastructure of rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus were observed by electron microscope, and mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) mRNA expression level were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS: After 3 mW/cm(2) microwave irradiation for 0, 3, 24 h, mitochondrial ultrastructure and mtTFA mRNA expression level didn't significantly change in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. After 30 mW/cm(2) microwave irradiation for 0, 3, 24 h, mitochondrial ultrastructure obviously changed, mtTFA mRNA expression in rat hippocampus significantly increased by 67.00%, 80.00%, 30.00% respectively, and in rat cerebral cortex by 133.00%, 86.00%, 233.00% respectively. There were significant differences between the corresponding groups of hippocampus and cerebral cortex (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: No obvious change in mitochondria was found after 3 mW/cm(2) microwave irradiation, but it was found after 30 mW/cm(2) microwave irradiation. Mitochondria injury in cerebral cortex was more severe than that in hippocampus. mtTFA mRNA may have certain regulation in mitochondrial energy metabolism.

PMID: 15130438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15130438&dopt=Abstract


Informant: Art Kab

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Mitochondria

Regarding this study : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15130438&dopt=Abstract I discovered something interesting at this address : http://www.sante.univ-nantes.fr/med/biolcell/mitochondrie/index.htm in bottom of the page, there are two tables giving the diseases in English. Well, EMF are acting everywhere and activating so much kind of diseases that it's easy to the operators to say: this is impossible... prove it... By the way, WHO is organizing a workshop, look: http://www.who.int/peh-emf/meetings/elf_emf_workshop_2007/en/index.html


Philippe Hug
CP 17
CH-1454 L'Auberson
Switzerland
http://www.alerte.ch



A message to the bona fide EMF research community:

The premise of the study that WHO is proposing for the workshop cited below is wrong......

Their Invitation states that the "goals" of the workshop are limited to: "low cost health economics" recommendations. .... "To discuss the cost and feasibility of different options."

Doesn't that put the cart before the horse? It sounds like George Bush's criterion in the Global Warming scenario...... Only those options which do not disturb the "economic development" parameters will be pursued. That is code word language for:

PROFITS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE.

It is the exact opposite of the premise that should guide mankind's attack on such global 'health and environmental' threatening matters -- which includes the EMF scenario.

Until mankind succeeds in reversing that premise to something like, "PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROFITS," ... very little progress will be made.

If mankind cannot rely on WHO to turn such "global" health and environmental threats to criteria that put people ahead of profits -- then, I ask, who will???


Cheerio......

Roy Beavers (EMFguru)
http://www.emfguru.org/



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=World+Health+Organization

http://whale.to/b/cit_disease.html


Informant: Art Kab



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=disease+electromagnetic+radiation

Two minutes of exposure to emissions from mobile phones can disable a safety barrier in blood causing proteins and toxins to leak into the brain, could increase chances of developing Alzheimer’s multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. (Scientists at Sweden’s Lund University). Scientists say exposure to the phones’ low-level radiation causes red blood cells to leak haemoglobin and can lead to heart disease and kidney stones. Recent studies suggesting a link between cell-phone use and brain tumors, and the possibility that the microwaves could ignite petroleum fumes at gas stations. A cell phone unit, or communications tower, has so many of thee radiation emanating gadgets. This can be a problem for its immediate environment.

http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/at_your_own_risk.pdf


Informant: Art Kab

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Warning for Drivers: Cell Phone fires at Gasstations
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1377013/



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Alzheimer
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=toxins+leak+brain
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=multiple+sclerosis
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Parkinson
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=haemoglobin
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=brain+tumors
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=safety+barrier+in+blood
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Lund+University

Cellular phone use for one continuous hour exacerbates allergic responses to dust and pollen in adults with eczema, according to a new study in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology (2002;129:348¨C50). The findings of the study, while only preliminary, suggest that the microwave radiation emitted from cell phones may increase sensitivity to specific allergens, potentially making allergy symptoms worse.

http://bastyrcenter.org/content/view/313/


Informant: Art Kab



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=eczema

ISIS Press Release 17/05/07

Wireless communication takes over in homes, offices, and public places, as evidence of microwave health hazards multiply for humans and species across the living world Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

A fully referenced version of this article is posted on ISIS members’ website.


To be or not to be wireless

To be “wireless” has replaced “wired-up” for being connected and cool. Wi-fi is now in hotels, airport departure lounges, universities, schools, homes, and entire cities. You cannot get away from it. We shall all be submerged in a sea of microwaves, whether we choose to go wireless or not. Soon, all one can do is to lock oneself away in a shielded room, an electro-smog-proof yellow submarine. And for the estimated 1.5 – 3 percent of populations worldwide that are “electromagnetic hypersensitive” [1], that may well be the only option open. Unlike cigarette smoke, passive involuntary exposure to electromagnetic radiation cannot be avoided easily.

Box 1

What is wi-fi?

Wi-fi (Wireless-fidelity) was originally developed to be embedded in local area network (wLAN), and used for mobile computing devices such as laptops, but is now increasingly used for more services including the internet and connection to consumer electronics such as TV, DVD player and digital camera [2]. A user can connect to the internet via an enabled device, such as a personal computer, when in range of an ‘access point' (AP). A region covered by one or more APs is called a ‘hotspot'. Hotspots can range from a single room to many square miles of overlapping hotspots. Wi-fi can also be used to create a mesh network, and allow devices to connect directly with each other in peer-to-peer ( ad-hoc network) mode, as in consumer electronics and gaming applications.

A typical wi-fi consists of one or more APs and one or more clients. An AP broadcasts its SSID (Service Set Identifier, or network name) in small (short-duration) packets, called beacons, every 100 ms. Wi-fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 G Hz microwave bands, with an 11 Mbps (Megabytes per second) or 54 Mbps data transmission rate, or both (dual band), and clients can choose which service to use.

Wi-fi has the advantage that it operates without cables, and is built into most modern laptops, and rapidly expanding into other devices as prices continue to drop. It operates on a global set of standards, so it can work in different countries. However, the operational limitations are not consistent around the world and power consumption is fairly high. Wi-fi is not secure, and worries about health risks of microwaves from mobile phones are growing (see main text).


Wireless explosion out of control

There are now more than 250 000 public hotspots for wi-fi worldwide [2]. Wi-fi is available in millions of homes, corporations, and university campuses. According to one estimate, wi-fi use has increased 74 percent in Europe and 75 percent in the UK between the first and second half of 2006 [3]. Birmingham is to have Britain's first city wide wireless communication by early 2007, and Manchester is planning the largest European wi-fi zone covering 400 square miles. Norwich and Milton Keynes already have wi-fi, and Brighton is set to follow [4]. Most worrying of all, wi-fi has been installed in up to 80 percent of secondary schools in the UK and more than half of the primary schools [5] , exposing the most vulnerable populations to microwave irradiation.

The increasing popularity of wi-fi comes on the heels of the explosive growth in wireless mobile telephones, and amid heightened concerns over the health hazards of saturating levels of electromagnetic radiation [6] ( Cancer Risks from Microwaves Confirmed , SiS 34). Microwaves at current exposure levels are linked to brain damage, DNA damage, brain tumours, cancers, microwave sickness, impairment of cognitive functions, impairment of reproduction and fertility, affecting humans, rodents, birds, and bees (Box 2).


Box 2

Health hazards of microwave radiation

Rats exposed to microwave radiation from mobile phones for two hours showed signs of brain damage due to leakage of the blood brain barrier that persisted 50 days later [7] ( Mobile Phones & Brain Damage , SiS 24).

DNA breaks and chromosomal abnormalities were found in animal and human cells exposed to low levels of microwaves [8] ( Confirmed: Mobile Phones Break DNA & Scramble Genomes , SiS 25)

Risk of cancers – breast, prostate, bowel, skin (melanoma), lung and blood - trebled with microwave exposure in the Southern German town of Naila 5 to 10 years after the mobile phone transmitter was installed [6].

Risk of cancers quadrupled in area exposed to microwave radiation in Netanya, an female cancers 10.5 fold compared with the general population in Israel [6].

Risk of acoustic neuroma and glioma increased 2 to 3 fold on
10 years or more of mobile phone use [6].

Mobile phone use correlates strongly with chronic illnesses [9]; Sweden has had a seven-fold increase in the long-term ill since 1981.

Men who used mobile phones more than 4 hours a day had lower sperm count and poorer quality sperm compared to those who did not use mobile phones [10].

A study in Greece showed that mice exposed to mobile phone microwaves at 1.68 m W/m 2 became completely sterile after five generations, while those exposed to 10.53 mW/m 2 became completely sterile after three generations [11]

Reproduction and breeding success of sparrows and white storks are reduced near mobile phone transmitters, and exposure to microwaves in the laboratory caused high mortality rates in chick embryos [12] ( Mobile Phones and Vanishing Birds , SiS 34).

Bees fail to return to their hives when cordless phone base- stations were installed, raising strong suspicion that microwave radiation may be responsible for the colony collapse disorder now devastating beekeepers and farmers in the United States and Europe [13] ( Mobile Phones and Vanishing Bees , SiS 34).

Up to 3.5 percent of people suffer a range of symptoms including headache, nausea, lack of concentration, depression and allergy, known collectively as microwave sickness syndrome when in proximity of mobile phone transmitters (see Box 3).


Sir William Stewart, Chair of the Health Protection Agency and former chief scientific adviser to the Government, has issued the most authoritative warning on mobile phones in successive reports and public statements to the press [7], which have been ignored by the government. He is becoming worried about the rapid spread of wi-fi, and is privately pressing for an official investigation into the risks. He is not alone among government scientists to be concerned. Dr. Ian Gibson, former Chair of the Commons Science and Technology Committee, called on the Department of Health to conduct an enquiry into potential health risks of wireless computer networks [14]. Gibson is an honorary Professor and former Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

Read the rest of this article here http://www.i-sis.org.uk/DSOM.php



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