Ferrum Phos
Banned
Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression
Highlights
Abstract
Non-thermal microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Calcium channel blockers block EMF effects and several types of additional evidence confirm this mechanism. Low intensity microwave EMFs have been proposed to produce neuropsychiatric effects, sometimes called microwave syndrome, and the focus of this review is whether these are indeed well documented and consistent with the known mechanism(s) of action of such EMFs. VGCCs occur in very high densities throughout the nervous system and have near universal roles in release of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. Soviet and Western literature shows that much of the impact of non-thermal microwave exposures in experimental animals occurs in the brain and peripheral nervous system, such that nervous system histology and function show diverse and substantial changes. These may be generated through roles of VGCC activation, producing excessive neurotransmitter/neuroendocrine release as well as oxidative/nitrosative stress and other responses. Excessive VGCC activity has been shown from genetic polymorphism studies to have roles in producing neuropsychiatric changes in humans. Two U.S. government reports from the 1970s to 1980s provide evidence for many neuropsychiatric effects of non-thermal microwave EMFs, based on occupational exposure studies. 18 more recent epidemiological studies, provide substantial evidence that microwave EMFs from cell/mobile phone base stations, excessive cell/mobile phone usage and from wireless smart meters can each produce similar patterns of neuropsychiatric effects, with several of these studies showing clear dose–response relationships. Lesser evidence from 6 additional studies suggests that short wave, radio station, occupational and digital TV antenna exposures may produce similar neuropsychiatric effects. Among the more commonly reported changes are sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, depression/depressive symptoms, fatigue/tiredness, dysesthesia, concentration/attention dysfunction, memory changes, dizziness, irritability, loss of appetite/body weight, restlessness/anxiety, nausea, skin burning/tingling/dermographism and EEG changes. In summary, then, the mechanism of action of microwave EMFs, the role of the VGCCs in the brain, the impact of non-thermal EMFs on the brain, extensive epidemiological studies performed over the past 50 years, and five criteria testing for causality, all collectively show that various non-thermal microwave EMF exposures produce diverse neuropsychiatric effects.
1. Introduction
The goal here is not just to review the epidemiology, however, but more importantly to consider the issue of possible physiological mechanism(s). Hennekens and Buring (1989), on p. 40 in their textbook Epidemiology in Medicine state “The belief in the existence of a cause and effect relationship is enhanced if there is a known or postulated biologic mechanism by which the exposure might reasonably alter risk of developing disease.” It is of critical importance therefore to assess possible biological mechanism before considering the epidemiological evidence.
Accordingly, this paper considers the mechanism by which low intensity microwave EMFs impact the cells of our bodies, how that mechanism may be predicted to impact the nervous system, evidence for such impact from experimental animal studies, genetic polymorphism evidence for that mechanism acting in humans to produce neuropsychiatric effects and finally, the epidemiological evidence for such effects in human populations with repeated low level microwave EMF exposure. Consideration of each of these types of evidence influences the overall interpretation presented in this paper.
2. Microwave/lower frequency EMFs act to activate voltage-gated calcium channels
In 24 different studies reviewed earlier (Pall, 2013) and two additional studies (Li et al., 2014 ; Lisi et al., 2006), microwave and lower frequency low intensity EMF effects were blocked or greatly lowered by calcium channel blockers, agents thought to be specific for blocking voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). In these 26 studies, a total of 5 distinct types of channel blockers were used, with each type having a distinct structure and binding to a distinct site, such that it is essentially certain that these must be acting by blocking VGCCs, which is their only known common property. In each of these 26 studies, each of the responses studied, were blocked or greatly lowered by calcium channel blockers, showing that VGCC activation has roles in producing a wide variety of EMF effects. There is a large literature on changes in calcium fluxes and in calcium signaling following microwave EMF exposure (partially reviewed in Walleczek, 1992 ; Adey, 1993); each of these, including calcium efflux changes, can be explained as being due to VGCC activation, again suggesting a widespread role of VGCC activation in producing biological responses to EMFs. Pilla (2012) showed that pulsed microwave field exposure, produced an almost instantaneous increase in calcium/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide (NO) signaling, providing strong evidence that these fields can produce an almost instantaneous VGCC activation. It is likely, that these EMFs act directly on the voltage sensor of the VGCCs to produce VGCC activation (Pall, 2015) with the voltage sensor being exquisitely sensitive to these EMFs because of its physical properties and location in the plasma membrane.
EMFs have been proposed to act to produce a wide variety of responses in the cell, via downstream effects of VGCC activation (Pall, 2013; Pall, 2014 ; Pall, 2015), including elevated intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, excessive calcium and nitric oxide signaling and also excessive peroxynitrite, free radicals and oxidative stress.
VGCC activation has been shown to have a universal or near-universal role in the release of neurotransmitters in the brain and also in the release of hormones by neuroendocrine cells (Berridge, 1998; Dunlap et al., 1995 ; Wheeler et al., 1994), with such release being produced by calcium signaling. There are high densities of diverse VGCCs occurring in neurons throughout the nervous system. Both the high VGCC density and their function in neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine release throughout the nervous system suggests that the nervous system is likely to be highly sensitive to low intensity EMFs.
8. Discussion and conclusions
In the previous section, each of the five criteria for assessing whether an epidemiological association is causal, were considered. Those five are (Hennekens and Buring, 1989): (1) strength of association; (2) biological credibility; (3) consistency; (4) time sequence; (5) dose–response relationship. Each of these five provide strong support for causality such that the combination of all five provides compelling evidence for causality. Low-intensity microwave frequency EMFs do cause diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms. While each of these five is important here, the one that is most important is the criterion of biological credibility.
Three related sets of biological observations each predict that low-intensity microwave EMFs produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects:
1. Such EMFs act via activation of VGCCs, acting through the VGCC voltage sensor which is predicted to be exquisitely sensitive to these EMFs (Pall, 2015). VGCCs occur in high densities throughout the nervous system and have essential roles throughout the nervous system in releasing neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. These properties predict, therefore, that these low intensity non-thermal microwave EMFs cause widespread changes in the nervous system, causing, in turn, diverse neuropsychiatric effects.
2. Elevated VGCC activity, produced by an allele of the CACNA1C gene which encodes the channel of the main L-type VGCC in the brain, produces various neuropsychiatric effects (Table 1). This predicts, that low intensity non-thermal microwave frequency EMFs which also produce elevated L-type and other VGCC activity, therefore produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects.
3. Studies reviewed in the Tolgskaya and Gordon, 1973 publication (Table 2) have shown that the cells of the mammalian nervous system show high sensitivity to various non-thermal microwave and lower frequency EMFs, being apparently more sensitive than any other organ in the body of rodents. These studies predict that the human nervous system is likely to be similarly sensitive to these EMFs, predicting, therefore, widespread neuropsychiatric effects in humans.
Highlights
- Microwave EMFs activate voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) concentrated in the brain.
- Animal studies show such low level MWV EMFs have diverse high impacts in the brain.
- VGCC activity causes widespread neuropsychiatric effects in humans (genetic studies).
- 26 studies have EMFs assoc. with neuropsychiatric effects; 5 criteria show causality.
- MWV EMFs cause at least 13 neuropsychiatric effects including depression in humans.
Abstract
Non-thermal microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Calcium channel blockers block EMF effects and several types of additional evidence confirm this mechanism. Low intensity microwave EMFs have been proposed to produce neuropsychiatric effects, sometimes called microwave syndrome, and the focus of this review is whether these are indeed well documented and consistent with the known mechanism(s) of action of such EMFs. VGCCs occur in very high densities throughout the nervous system and have near universal roles in release of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. Soviet and Western literature shows that much of the impact of non-thermal microwave exposures in experimental animals occurs in the brain and peripheral nervous system, such that nervous system histology and function show diverse and substantial changes. These may be generated through roles of VGCC activation, producing excessive neurotransmitter/neuroendocrine release as well as oxidative/nitrosative stress and other responses. Excessive VGCC activity has been shown from genetic polymorphism studies to have roles in producing neuropsychiatric changes in humans. Two U.S. government reports from the 1970s to 1980s provide evidence for many neuropsychiatric effects of non-thermal microwave EMFs, based on occupational exposure studies. 18 more recent epidemiological studies, provide substantial evidence that microwave EMFs from cell/mobile phone base stations, excessive cell/mobile phone usage and from wireless smart meters can each produce similar patterns of neuropsychiatric effects, with several of these studies showing clear dose–response relationships. Lesser evidence from 6 additional studies suggests that short wave, radio station, occupational and digital TV antenna exposures may produce similar neuropsychiatric effects. Among the more commonly reported changes are sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, depression/depressive symptoms, fatigue/tiredness, dysesthesia, concentration/attention dysfunction, memory changes, dizziness, irritability, loss of appetite/body weight, restlessness/anxiety, nausea, skin burning/tingling/dermographism and EEG changes. In summary, then, the mechanism of action of microwave EMFs, the role of the VGCCs in the brain, the impact of non-thermal EMFs on the brain, extensive epidemiological studies performed over the past 50 years, and five criteria testing for causality, all collectively show that various non-thermal microwave EMF exposures produce diverse neuropsychiatric effects.
1. Introduction
The goal here is not just to review the epidemiology, however, but more importantly to consider the issue of possible physiological mechanism(s). Hennekens and Buring (1989), on p. 40 in their textbook Epidemiology in Medicine state “The belief in the existence of a cause and effect relationship is enhanced if there is a known or postulated biologic mechanism by which the exposure might reasonably alter risk of developing disease.” It is of critical importance therefore to assess possible biological mechanism before considering the epidemiological evidence.
Accordingly, this paper considers the mechanism by which low intensity microwave EMFs impact the cells of our bodies, how that mechanism may be predicted to impact the nervous system, evidence for such impact from experimental animal studies, genetic polymorphism evidence for that mechanism acting in humans to produce neuropsychiatric effects and finally, the epidemiological evidence for such effects in human populations with repeated low level microwave EMF exposure. Consideration of each of these types of evidence influences the overall interpretation presented in this paper.
2. Microwave/lower frequency EMFs act to activate voltage-gated calcium channels
In 24 different studies reviewed earlier (Pall, 2013) and two additional studies (Li et al., 2014 ; Lisi et al., 2006), microwave and lower frequency low intensity EMF effects were blocked or greatly lowered by calcium channel blockers, agents thought to be specific for blocking voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). In these 26 studies, a total of 5 distinct types of channel blockers were used, with each type having a distinct structure and binding to a distinct site, such that it is essentially certain that these must be acting by blocking VGCCs, which is their only known common property. In each of these 26 studies, each of the responses studied, were blocked or greatly lowered by calcium channel blockers, showing that VGCC activation has roles in producing a wide variety of EMF effects. There is a large literature on changes in calcium fluxes and in calcium signaling following microwave EMF exposure (partially reviewed in Walleczek, 1992 ; Adey, 1993); each of these, including calcium efflux changes, can be explained as being due to VGCC activation, again suggesting a widespread role of VGCC activation in producing biological responses to EMFs. Pilla (2012) showed that pulsed microwave field exposure, produced an almost instantaneous increase in calcium/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide (NO) signaling, providing strong evidence that these fields can produce an almost instantaneous VGCC activation. It is likely, that these EMFs act directly on the voltage sensor of the VGCCs to produce VGCC activation (Pall, 2015) with the voltage sensor being exquisitely sensitive to these EMFs because of its physical properties and location in the plasma membrane.
EMFs have been proposed to act to produce a wide variety of responses in the cell, via downstream effects of VGCC activation (Pall, 2013; Pall, 2014 ; Pall, 2015), including elevated intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, excessive calcium and nitric oxide signaling and also excessive peroxynitrite, free radicals and oxidative stress.
VGCC activation has been shown to have a universal or near-universal role in the release of neurotransmitters in the brain and also in the release of hormones by neuroendocrine cells (Berridge, 1998; Dunlap et al., 1995 ; Wheeler et al., 1994), with such release being produced by calcium signaling. There are high densities of diverse VGCCs occurring in neurons throughout the nervous system. Both the high VGCC density and their function in neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine release throughout the nervous system suggests that the nervous system is likely to be highly sensitive to low intensity EMFs.
8. Discussion and conclusions
In the previous section, each of the five criteria for assessing whether an epidemiological association is causal, were considered. Those five are (Hennekens and Buring, 1989): (1) strength of association; (2) biological credibility; (3) consistency; (4) time sequence; (5) dose–response relationship. Each of these five provide strong support for causality such that the combination of all five provides compelling evidence for causality. Low-intensity microwave frequency EMFs do cause diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms. While each of these five is important here, the one that is most important is the criterion of biological credibility.
Three related sets of biological observations each predict that low-intensity microwave EMFs produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects:
1. Such EMFs act via activation of VGCCs, acting through the VGCC voltage sensor which is predicted to be exquisitely sensitive to these EMFs (Pall, 2015). VGCCs occur in high densities throughout the nervous system and have essential roles throughout the nervous system in releasing neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. These properties predict, therefore, that these low intensity non-thermal microwave EMFs cause widespread changes in the nervous system, causing, in turn, diverse neuropsychiatric effects.
2. Elevated VGCC activity, produced by an allele of the CACNA1C gene which encodes the channel of the main L-type VGCC in the brain, produces various neuropsychiatric effects (Table 1). This predicts, that low intensity non-thermal microwave frequency EMFs which also produce elevated L-type and other VGCC activity, therefore produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects.
3. Studies reviewed in the Tolgskaya and Gordon, 1973 publication (Table 2) have shown that the cells of the mammalian nervous system show high sensitivity to various non-thermal microwave and lower frequency EMFs, being apparently more sensitive than any other organ in the body of rodents. These studies predict that the human nervous system is likely to be similarly sensitive to these EMFs, predicting, therefore, widespread neuropsychiatric effects in humans.