BEMS Newsletter #132

[The first meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the International EMF Project at the World Health Organization, was held May 30-31, 1996, in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives of 23 countries and six international organizations took part in the meeting. They included: Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, as well as the European Union (EU), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP).]

• Summary of Project •

Potential effects of exposure to static and time varying electric and magnetic fields are causing significant public and occupational health concerns and need scientific clarification. Electromagnetic fields represent one of the most common and the fastest growing environmental influences in our lives, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. Health effects such as cancer, changes in behavior, memory loss, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, AIDs, sudden infant death syndrome and many others, including increases in suicide rates have been suggested as resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields. The World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with international agencies and organizations, governmental agencies, research institutions, and similar organizations to pool resources and knowledge concerning effects of exposure to these fields.

The 5-year Project will assess health and environmental effects of exposure to static and time varying electric and magnetic fields in the frequency range 0-300 GHz. This range is divided into: static (0 Hz), extremely low frequency (ELF, >0-300 Hz) and radiofrequency (RF, 300 Hz-300 GHz) fields.

• Objectives •

(i) Pool resources of international and national agencies and key scientific institutions in the environmental health domain working on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields.

(ii) Identify gaps in scientific knowledge, provide protocols for the conduct of this research and encourage research in those areas that will lead to better health risk assessments.

(iii) Provide authoritative, independent, scientific, peer-review of the scientific literature, with fully substantiated recommendations.

(iv) Publish three Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) monographs giving a health risk assessment using results obtained during the Project on health effects of exposure to static, ELF and RF fields.

(v) Publish an EHC monograph on risk perception, risk communication and risk management, and public and occupational health policy.

(vi) Publish reports on appropriate topics to assist and support national health programs.

(vii) Use modern efficient means of communicating essential research information and findings which develop during the Project.

• International Management •

An International Advisory Committee was established from among the international and national collaborating agencies as well as from key scientific and research institutions, to provide a forum for a coordinated international response and approach to the scientific, occupational, public and environmental management of the issue. The terms of reference for this committee are as follows:

1. To provide oversight on the conduct of the Project.
2. To review output of each of the major activities.
3. To make recommendations on gaps in scientific knowledge needing to be researched to make better health risk assessments, and to provide encouragement to the conduct of research in appropriate areas.
4. To make recommendations on policy.

• Outputs •

(i) Database on research literature, scientists and projects, available on Email bulletin boards, diskette and hard copy (once a year or more frequently, if necessary).

(ii) Interim reports on substantiated, important findings.

(iii) Detailed international scientific reviews and guidance documents published as EHC monographs or reports, including publications in the scientific peer reviewed literature where appropriate. The EHC monographs, with summaries in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish will be:
• RF fields
• ELF static and magnetic fields
• Static electric and magnetic fields
• Risk perception, risk communication and risk management, and public and occupational health policy

(iv) Summary guidance documents on policy development, risk perception, risk communication, risk management, and others as recommended by the collaborating institutions.

(v) General information brochures in various languages.

(vi) Training programs and materials in various languages.

(vii) Provision of responses to inquiries.

• Budget •

Total 5-year budget of international project - US, $3,330,000.00

[For further information, contact: Dr. T. Kjellström, Director, Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (Fax: +41-22-791-4123; Tel: +41-22-791-3760; Email: kjellstromt@who.ch) - or - Dr. M. H. Repacholi, Radiation Specialist, Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (Fax: +41-22-791-4123; Tel: +41-22-791-3427; Email: repacholim@who.ch)]

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STUCHLY DELIVERS COMMISSION K TUTORIAL - ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF URSI

Dr. Maria Stuchly, a Past President of BEMS, was elected a Vice President of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) at the XXVth General Assembly held in Lille, France, August 28-September 5, 1996. URSI has four Vice Presidents and a President. This is the first time that any woman has been elected to such a high position in the Union.

At the same meeting, Dr. Stuchly had the honor of presenting the Commission K (Electromagnetics in Biology and Medicine) tutorial on "Personal Communication Services - Technology and Health Concerns - Is There a Common Solution?" Her audience exceeded some 400 of the international scientific participants, which included many BEMS members.

In the introduction to her talk, Dr. Stuchly noted that with the expansion in the use of cellular telephones and other personal communication services (PCS) hand-sets, there is considerable interest in the interactions between antennas on hand-sets and the human body. She added that the motivating factor for research in this area was due to two factors - one from a technology point of view, the other from a health point of view. From the technology viewpoint - many of the PCS devices are used close to the human body, resulting in a deterioration of the antenna performance, which may require operating with increased power or other means that prevent the deterioration of communication. From the health viewpoint - there is concern that the deposition of microwave power in some locations may be excessive and therefore lead to detrimental health effects.

[photo of Dr. Stuchly]

The tutorial covered the progress made in understanding the interactions of RF microwave fields with living systems and the effort devoted to modeling interactions of cellular telephones with their user body, mainly the head and the hand. Dr. Stuchly described both the laboratory experiments that have been performed at various institutions and the numerical modeling which is now believed to be capable of greater accuracy. She added that although other methods of analysis have been used, the FDTD method has become the numerical method of choice. Modeling results obtained in her laboratory at the University of Victoria, Canada, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, were discussed in detail.

Dr. Stuchly concluded by saying that for low power cellular telephones such as those in use today, the SARs are very low compared to the standards and the existing evidence does not indicate any detrimental health effects. However, considerable amounts of output power, up to 50% in some cases, are deposited in the user's body. This leads to commonality of goals from the communications and health points of view, limiting the power deposited in the body. Improvements can be achieved through new antenna designs and handsets.

[Dr. Stuchly's complete paper may be found in Modern Radio Science 1996, Edited by J. Hamelin, published for the URSI by Oxford University Press, 1996. URSI edition ISBN 0 19 856529 1. ]

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[Photo of Dr. Martin Blank]

PROFILE

Dr. Martin Blank is The Bioelectromagnetics Society's newly elected Vice President (President Elect). He is an Associate Professor of Physiology at Columbia University. Dr. Blank received a B.S. from City College, New York, a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Colloid Science from Cambridge University. He has studied biological membranes and biopolymers for over 35 years in the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University, as well as other academic, industrial and U.S. government settings. His appointments include Cambridge University (England), Weizmann Institute (Israel), University of California at Berkeley, Hebrew University (Israel), Monash University (Australia), Frumkin Institute of Electrochemistry (USSR), University of Warsaw (Poland), Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (India), University of the Negev (Israel) and University of Victoria (Canada). Industrial research experience has included California Research Corporation, Esso Research and Engineering, and Unilever Research Laboratories in England and the Netherlands. He has worked for the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) in London and in Arlington, Virginia, where he developed a research program on biomembrane electrochemistry. He has also consulted for many agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, ONR and the Electric Power Research Institute on research programs.

His research has focused on biophysics of membrane transport and electrochemistry of proteins, and he has developed theoretical models of ion transport, hemoglobin equilibria and ion channel function during electrical excitation of nerves. Recently, he has used this background to study the effects of environmental electromagnetic fields on protein synthesis in cells and on the function of the "ion pump" transport enzyme. His publications include over 200 papers and reviews, as well as twelve edited books on electrical properties of biological systems. In the last few years, he was editor-in-chief of the Proceedings of the First World Congress on Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine, and edited books on the ONR program he developed, "Biomembrane Electrochemistry," and the fourth Erice (Italy) course on "Nerve-Muscle Function" that he organized. He has also just completed editing a book , "Electromagnetic Fields: Biological Interactions and Mechanisms," which focuses on signal transduction and cellular mechanisms.

Over the years, he has had many leadership roles in interdisciplinary biophysical sciences, including terms as President of the Bioelectrochemical Society, and Chairman of the Organic and Biological Division of the Electrochemical Society. He has also served on editorial boards of several journals, including Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Divisional Editor for Biology) and Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics (North America Editor). He has organized many meetings, including the first Gordon Research Conference on Bioelectrochem-istry, and he is currently the Scientific Program Chairman for the Second World Congress on Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine which will be held in Bologna, Italy, in June 1997.

Dr. Blank lives in Tenafly, New Jersey with his wife, Marion, a clinical psychologist who has developed prize-winning programs for the learning disabled. They have three children. A married daughter, Donna, is a business manager for a large corporation. Son Jonathan is a movie director in Los Angeles, and Ari is spending his junior year abroad at Cambridge University.

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FILM ON ELECTROMAGNETIC POLLUTIONS

A 36-minute video film on "Electromagnetic Pollutions - Biological Risks and Radioprotection" has been produced by Dr. Roger Santini and AGORA films (Lyon-France).

The film presents cases of exposures to non ionizing radiations (i.e., extremely low frequency, microwaves, high frequency) in working places (i.e., hospitals, railway and electrical workers, video display units and radio telephone users), at home (i.e., appliances, house transformer-stations), and in schools.

The film includes reports on biological effects and risks of cancers for animals, men and children. Hypotheses for mechanisms are presented and radioprotection (prudent avoidance, ALARA) and legislation are proposed.

This film, in French, is based on three standards: SECAM, PAL or NTSC. An English translation will be proposed as soon as possible. For additional information, contact: R. Santini, National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) - Batiment 406, 20, Avenue Albert Einstein - 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France. (Tel: +33-72-43-81-96; Fax: +33-72-43-85-24; Email: santini@insa.insa-lyon.fr)

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BRAIN TUMOR INCIDENCE IN RATS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO DIGITAL CELLULAR TELEPHONE FIELDS IN AN INITIATION-PROMOTION MODEL

[W. R. Adey,1 C. V. Byus,2 C. D. Cain,1 W. Haggren,*1 R. J. Higgins,*3 R. A. Jones,1 C. J. Kean,*1 N. Kuster,*5 A. MacMurray,*1 J. L. Phillips,1 R. B. Stagg,*1 and G. Zimmerman.*4 1J. L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center, Loma Linda, California 92357, USA. 2University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA. 3University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. 4Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions, California 92350, USA. 5Central Technological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland. Abstract of paper presented at the Eighteenth Annual BEMS Meeting, held in Victoria, B.C., Canada, June 9-14, 1996.]

Risk ratios > 10 for malignant brain tumors have been reported in microwave workers after 20 years' occupational exposure in environments with electronic solvents or soldering fumes. Portable cellular phones produce near-fields at the user's head with surface incident energies around 1mW/cm2 in the 800 MHz spectrum. Digital phone systems, replacing older FM technology, operate in a packet mode, producing pulsed fields at the user's head [North American Digital Cellular (NADC) standard, 50/sec, 33% duty cycle]. Body tissues absorb up to 40% of the radiated signal.

Objective.....Since this mode of personal communication is expected to be life-long, it will be important to evaluate possible brain tumor risk in suitable animal models. We have therefore sought evidence of brain tumor promotion by digital phone fields in rats exposed to a single dose of the short-lived carcinogen ENU in utero, and thereafter, exposed intermittently to digital phone fields for 24 months. (Mean life span 26 months.) Low ENU dosage was selected to give maximum sensitivity to possible tumor promotion by phone fields over the lifetime of the animals.

Methods......We tested an 836.55 MHz signal with a 3:1 multiplexed TDMA (Time-Division-Multiple-Access) modulation conforming to the NADC standard: Pregnant Fischer 344 rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups. They received either a single tail-vein injection of the carcinogen ethyl nitrosourea (ENU, 4 mg/kg) or inert buffer solution on pregnancy Day 18. Far-field exposures (horn radiator, 836 MHz circularly polarized) began on Day 19 and continued after parturition until weaning at age 23 days. Offspring (n = 236) of the 4 maternal groups then became treatment cohorts: 1) ENU/Field (EF), n = 56, 30M, 26F); 2) ENU/Sham (ES), n = 60, 30M, 30F; 3) Sham/Field (SF), n = 60, 30M, 30F; 4) Sham/Sham (SS), n = 60, 30M, 30F. Near-field exposures simulating user's head began at 35 days, and continued for the next 22 months, 4 days weekly. Exposures were for 2h daily, field-on 7.5 min, field-off 7.5 min. Far-field time-averaged SARs (modeled): pregnant dam (uterus) 0.3 W/kg; fetus (brain) 0.29 W/kg; isolated pup (brain) 0.035 W/kg; young rat (brain) 0.13 W/kg. Time averaged near-field thermographic SARs: larger males, 0.75 W/kg (1.0 W/kg localized maximum); smaller females, 0.58 W/kg (0.75 W/kg localized maximum). Survivors (n = 182, 77%) of the original 236 rats were sacrificed at age 709-712 days.

Results.....The TDMA field had no enhancing effect on incidence, type or location of spontaneous nervous system tumors. At experiment termination, the TDMA field appeared to reduce incidence of brain malignant glial cell tumors in Group EF vs Group ES (4 vs 13). The TDMA field also appeared to reduce incidence of spontaneous glial tumors in Group SF vs Group SS (2 vs 7). Tumors in exposed rats were smaller in volume. There were no gender differences in tumor incidence. In rats not surviving to full term (n = 54, 22%), the TDMA field appeared to prolong latency of appearance of both spontaneous and ENU-induced glial cell tumors, but did not alter histological criteria of tumor types. In comparison of survival rates, consistent nonsignificant differences were noted between groups throughout the experiment: higher death rates were in a progression SF-SS-EF-ES.

Discussion.....Small experimental numbers emphasize caution in interpreting these data. However, all findings are clear and consistent in showing no tumor-enhancing field effect. Our experiment design and low ENU dosage were predicated on a promotional field effect. Therefore, apparent "protective" field effects do not gain statistical support. ENU has a brain half-life of 8-10 min and causes irreversible alkylation of DNA 0-6 guanine. Ionizing radiation at the time of rat ENU dosage has been reported to reduce brain glial tumor incidence. Consistent with that model, an interpretation of this study may suggest an action of TDMA fields in mechanisms of DNA repair.

This study was supported by the Motorola Corporation.

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BIOELECTROMAGNETICS AT URSI

The International Union of Radio Science (URSI) holds a General Assembly every three years. The General Assembly organizes meetings of all of its ten Commissions, including Commission K which represents electromagnetics in biology and medicine. The 1996 General Assembly was held in Lille, France from August 28 to September 5, 1996.

While much of the work reported at the General Assembly has previously been presented at annual BEMS meetings, there were also contributions from institutions in parts of the world we have not regularly heard from. Below are some abstracts, culled from the Abstract Book, by scientists who are probably new to BEMS members. In places, an attempt has been made to improve the English in the abstracts where the Editor felt reasonably sure of the author's intent. In other instances, the original text has been left alone owing to some uncertainty in what was intended.

To encourage the participation of young scientists, URSI provided support for travel to the General Assembly. At the Lille meeting there were 120 such young scientists. Commission K young scientists who received support included: Marta Cavagnaro (Italy), Dr. Gianluca Lazzi (USA), Dina Simunic (Croatia), and Adam D. Tinniswood (UK).

MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
[Co-Chaired by K. M. Reineck (South Africa) and S. Ueno (Japan)]

RECENT ADVANCES IN SQUID TECHNOLOGY AND MEASUREMENTS

[T. Katila, Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, 02150 Espoo; BioMag Research Centre, Helsinki, University Central Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland (Tel: +358-0-451-3172; Fax: +358-0-451-3182; Email: toivo.katila@hut.fi)]

Introduction.....During about the twenty last years, a revolutionary development in medical imaging has taken place. Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging produce 2-dimensional pictures of the human body. Using computer based image processing and visualization, 3-dimensional anatomical pictures from the human body are obtained. However, frequently also functional information on human tissue is needed in vivo. The conventional methods to study bioelectric sources inside the brain and the heart have been the electroencephalography (EEG) and the electrocardiography (ECG), correspondingly. In addition, functional information can be obtained by using functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography or single photon emission tomography.

Biomagnetic studies.....Recently, the magnetic counterparts of the bioelectric studies, the magnetoencephalo-graphy (MEG) and the magnetocardiography (MCG), have drawn much attention. Real multichannel MEG- and MCG-instruments, suitable for mapping of the weak magnetic fields produced by the underlying bioelectric activity, have been available for a few years only. These instruments utilize low (helium) temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to sense extremely weak magnetic fields caused by the human body. To avoid the external magnetic noise, the measurements are performed inside a magnetically shielded room. Advanced mathematical methods are needed to solve the inverse problem: i.e., to calculate the bioelectric sources from the measured bioelectromagnetic fields. Anatomically accurate geometric models are extracted from CT and MR images. The geometrical and func-tional data are combined, e.g., to localize bioelectric sources.

The first high-temperature superconductors (HTS) were discovered ten years ago. HTS-SQUIDs, working at liquid nitrogen temperature, are naturally very tempting as sensors of biomagnetic fields. They could make the instrumentation of the biomagnetic functional imaging simpler, cheaper and smaller in size. So far, the problem has been the higher noise of the HTS-sensors. However, several groups have recently been able to produce HTS-SQUIDs with noise levels low enough for biomagnetic studies. Critical requirements for the success of the HTS-SQUIDs are easy manufacturing, reliable operation and low noise level.

Conclusion.....Presently, multichannel bioelectromagentic source imaging (MSI) investigations are performed in several research centers. Recent studies using SQUID sensors, made of high temperature superconducting materials, offer exciting new instrumental possibilities in MSI studies.

APPLICATION OF INTERFERENTIAL CURRENT IN PSORIASIS-THERAPY AND SUPPORTIVE CANCER TREATMENT

[H. Dertinger, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institut für Toxikologie, POB 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe; E. G. Jung and B. Wold, Hautklinik der Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, D-68167 Mannheim; L. Keilholz and U. Randoll, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und chirurg. Klinik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitatsstrabe,
D-91054 Erlangen]

Results of a clinical study are presented in which interferential current (IFC) was used (1) to treat Psoriasis vulgaris and (2) to support radiotherapy of advanced tumors in the head-neck-region. IFC (alternating current of 4 kHz with low frequency amplitude modulation) was applied locally via electrically conducting rubber electrodes at a current density of 100 mA/cm2. Duration of treatment was 15 minutes. Under all conditions, IFC-treatment was free of side effects and any discomfort for the patients.

As documented by clinical investigations and sonography, IFC-treatment with optimized modulation frequency caused remission of Psoriasis plaques after 15 sessions (one per day) to the same extent as conventional antipsoriatic agents. Analgesia and tumor oxygenation were investigated in response to IFC-treatment of the tumors. Therapy-associated pain resulting from inflammatory radiation reactions was relieved in the group of patients receiving IFC-treatment. Polarographic measurements of oxygen partial pressure revealed a marked improvement of oxygenation in approximately 50% of the tumors after IFC-treatment. Accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy performed immediately after the IFC-sessions did, however, not result in improved tumor control, in contrast to what should be expected from hypoxic cell oxygenation.

The study protocols were based upon experimental investigation of the cellular mode of action of IFC. Improved strategies for IFC-therapy will be tested in further studies.

(Supported by the Manfred und Ursula Müller-Stiftung im Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, Essen)

SIDE-EFFECTS OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

[Dina Simunic, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia (Tel: +385-1-6129-789; Fax: +385-1-6129-606; Email: dina.simunic@fer.hr)]

Introduction.....Since radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (responsible for energy deposition in human tissues) and low frequency (LF) fields (responsible for eliciting stimulation process in the human excitable tissue) are present in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the effects of both have been studied.

Modeling.....A careful numerical analysis of eddy currents and concomitant energy deposition in the model of the human body in the simulated conditions of exposure to two different kinds of time-varying fields has been performed by Finite Element Method using isopara-metric formulation. The human body has been modeled from MR-scans. Head and body have been modeled separately, because this corresponds to the real exposure conditions. The head has been modeled by 3256 elements with assigned 11 different dielectric properties of tissues; surrounding 1164 elements have been necessary to be modeled because of the used A, V and F formulation; the model of the torso consists of 1960 elements described with 13 different kinds of tissues with 636 elements needed for fulfilling the boundary condition (F = 0 at the farthest boundaries). Several different coil systems have been simulated: three gradient coil systems (so-called x-, y- and z-gradients) generating LF switched magnetic field gradients of 10 mT/m (linearity deviation: 5% in the region +/- 0.26 m for the z-gradients; 2.55% in the region +/- 0.235 m for the x- and y-gradients); RF saddle-shaped coils - head-coil and body-coil; RF bird-cage resonator. It has been proven that at the simulated LF of the switched trapezoidal gradients (rise time 0.3 ms, plateau 0.8 ms, period 2.8 ms) the real part of the complex conductivity is much greater than the imaginary part, enabling therefore taking into account only the real part. At RF frequencies (64 and 170 MHz) this is not the case: there the complex conductivity describes dielectric properties of the tissues. At low frequencies, the attention has been paid to the region of the heart muscle, because of the possible stimulation; at higher frequencies, the more detailed model of the torso, containing the geometry of liver, lungs, heart muscle, spleen, kidneys, intestines, bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and spine, has been introduced.

Results.....The results of the head in the saddle-shaped head-coil have shown that there exists some regions inside the head with more pronounced energy deposition (so-called 'hot spots'). In the case of RF energy deposition in the model of the human torso no considerable 'hot-spots' have occurred, except in the region of muscles below the low-conductive bones. Although the taken sequence in the case of the torso has been only an academic one, the 'worst-case' temperature elevation and the calculated SA and SAR-values are within the values given in [1,2]. Finally a calculation at 170 MHz has given also very encouraging results and speaks for non-invasiveness of MRI in terms of 'thermal hazard,' even at this very high frequency. Investigating a possible stimulation problem in the heart-muscle region led to the distinction of macro- (numerical simulation of the model of the human torso) and micro-level (analysis of the heart muscle cell membrane threshold). The results of eddy currents' distribution, their magnitudes, the negligible elliptical polarization, finding the 'worst-case' exposure (all the three gradients switched at the same time) and the 'worst-worst case' induced current density (found by investigating different cross-sections of the heart muscle), as a result of the macroanalysis have been an input for the microanalysis, based on a simplified level (only the linear cell membrane model), showing that also for the 'worst-case' exposure the stimulation of the heart muscles is not possible with nowadays used MRI-machine. Of course, the simulations should be repeated for the higher rates of the switched gradients.

[1] Documents of the NRPB. (1991). Board statement on clinical magnetic resonance diagnostic procedures. 2(1). National Radiological Protection Board. Chilton.
[2] IRPA/ INIRC Guidelines. (1991). Protection of the patient undergoing a magnetic resonance imagination. INIRC of the IRPA. Health Phys. 61(6). 923-928.

BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION
[Co-Chaired by A. Chiabrera (Italy) and B. Veyret (France)]

A 50 HZ ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INDUCES INTRACELLULAR CA2+ SIGNALING TYROSINE-KINASE(S) AND PHOSPHOLIPASE Cg - DEPENDENT IN HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

[Jocelyne Bomans, Charles Lambert, Patrick Scarpa, Betty V. Nusgens, Willy Legros and Charles M. Lapière, Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, University of Liège, Tour de Pathologie B23, B-4000 Sart Tilman, Belgium. (Tel: +32-41-66-24-56; Fax: +32-41-66-24-57; Email: LCTBULG@vm1.ulg.ac.be)

The biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) are controversial and their target(s) largely unknown making difficult the interpretation of the epidemiological studies. Modulation of the CA2+ ions has been described as a potential target of EMF in a few established cell lines. We analyzed the effects of EMF on intracellular Ca2+ by LASER confocal microscopy in normal human skin fibroblasts (F) loaded with the CA2+ -sensitive fluorophore Fluo3-AM.

F were exposed to symmetrical, sinusoidal EMF of 50 Hz generated by a coil (30 spires, diameter 8 cm) placed on the stage of the microscope providing a homogenous EMF and controlled conditions of duration and intensity (in the range of 110 to 900 mT, verified by a Gaussmeter). The direction of EMF was perpendicular to the cell layer. The exposure was performed at 22o, 28o, or 37oC and the temperature of the culture medium was recorded by a thermocouple. In our experimental conditions, the warming up was less than 0.1oC at the maximum intensity. The level of vibrations measured with a piezo-electric based accelerometer type 4381 placed on the microscope stage was similar with and without exposure to EMF. A microscope field taken at random in the culture dish was observed with the 60x objective and the fluorescence reflecting the concentration of [Ca2+]i was measured in each individual F during a 250 sec exposure with data acquisition every 5 sec. A significant proportion of the EMF-exposed F showed an increased intracellular Ca2+[Ca2+ ]i lasting for 40-60 seconds before returning to the baseline and waving from the perinuclear area towards the nucleus. The proportion of cells responding to ELF increased proportionally from 17% at 110 mT up to a maximum of 69% at 450 mT and leveled off at 900 mT. A pulse of 25 sec induced a response similar to a permanent exposure. Mitomycin-growth arrested cells responded as well indicating that the [Ca2+ ]i did not depend on the stage of the cell cycle. The addition of EGTA for 5 min in the culture medium or of lanthanum chloride, but not of nifedipine, suppressed the [Ca2+ ]i suggesting that the plasma membrane Ca2+ channels of the T-type were at least in part involved in the process. The calcium stores also participated in [Ca2+]i increase since thapsigargin, an inhibitor of ATPase-dependent Ca2+ pump, suppressed it. F deprived of serum or supplemented with heated serum or plasma lost their capacity to respond to EMF suggesting that heat labile components of serum and the occupancy of their receptors participated to the process. This was further supported by the suppression of the EMF induced [Ca2+ ]i by inhibitors of tyrosine kinases (TK), with a broad spectrum activity as genistein and herbimycin A or specific to TK-receptors as tyrophostin 23. PLCg, known to be activated and phosphorylated by TK, also participated to the EMF signaling since the [Ca2+ ]i was inhibited by D609. F plated on glass, fibronectin or collagen type I displayed the [Ca2+ ]i but not F plated on poly-lysine.

These data indicate that EMF are able to induce an intracellular signaling by Ca2+ in fibroblasts attached to extracellular matrix proteins and made permissive by activation of (a) receptor(s)-mediated TK activity.

A POSSIBLE INTERACTION OF ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELD TO THE BODY -- SWITCHING THE WATER-CHARGED PARTICLE AGGREGATE

[W. K. Wang, Y. Chaing, and C. K. Bao and C.B. Lin, Biophysics Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 115; and Y. Y. Lin Wang, Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan (Tel: +886-2-789-9618; Fax: +886-2-783-4187)]

Introduction.....Liquid water is a group of large aggregates of water molecules connected by a random network of hydrogen bonds [1]. When charged particles are added to this, the aggregates become much smaller and free to make a dipole rotation. This rotation, as well as the movement of the charged particle-water complex, may be clearly detected by applying a field as low as 4 mV/cm. We suggest that this is the first interaction of the low frequency electromagnetic field to the biological system. This will disturb the specific biological reaction such as antigen binding to antibody, subtract binding to enzyme, and etc.

Experiments....(1) Fluorimmuno test: Goat anti HBsAg antibody (Medix Biotech Inc., USA) was diluted to 0.1 g/L with isotonic saline. A 10 m 1 drop (making spots ~ 3 mm in diameter) was put on the surface of a Nickel coated (~ 1.0 nm) glass slide; after incubation, the slide was rinsed and air dried. A drop of 10 m 1 diluted HBsAg standard (Mitsubishi Kasei Co., Japan) was applied to the same spot on this activated slide with a monolayer of antibody. After incubation for 1 hour at 25o C in a moisture chamber, the same spot was stained with FITC conjugated Goat anti-HBsAg antibody (Chemicon Temecula, USA). This slide was rinsed and dried and then read with the space resolved fluorometer to measure the HBsAg in the standard [2]. The tests were performed in different intensities of EM field from the power line. It was found that the EM fields reduce the resolution of the immunotest by increasing the counts in low antigen serum and decreasing the counts in high antigen serum; the EM fields also increase the CV of the tests at the same time.

(2) The Enzyme tests were performed on Lactate Dehydrogenase. The kit is from Sigma, while the EM field is from the power line. We found the absorbency at 525 nm in the low enzyme concentration solution after the incubation to be lower, while high enzyme concentration solution is higher. This indicates the EM field will reduce the specificity of the enzyme and increase the CV of the tests also. All these results are similar to that of the immunotests.

Conclusion.....The low frequency EM field will disturb the biological system by continuously switching the water aggregates in the body, which may interact with the movement of charged particle-water complex. This may influence the affinity of the enzyme to its subtract, antigen to its antibody. The mechanism is similar to increasing the height of the wave when a ship is trying to dock. When the wave is low, the effect is moderate. When the wave is high, it will increase the chance of accidents and reduce the efficiency of docking.

[1] F. Scirrtino et al., Nature 354, pp 218-221, 1991.
[2] W. K. Wang et al., Clinical Chemistry 39/8, pp 1659-1661. 1993.

ELECTROMAGNETIC MODELING IN BIOELECTROMAGNETICS
[Co-Chaired by O. P. Gandhi (USA) and P. Excell (UK)]

HANDSET ANTENNAS AND HUMANS IN PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

[Y. Rahmat-Samii, Electrical Engineering Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1595. (Tel: 310-206-3847; Fax: 310-206-8495; Email: rahmat@ee.ucla.edu)]

Introduction.....The ever-increasingly using of the personal communications technology has resulted in a widespread awareness of the critical role that wireless services play in today's communication-centered marketplace. Antennas play a paramount role in an optimal design of the handset units used in these services. In designing these antennas, the electromagnetic interaction between the antenna, the handset unit and the human operator are a major factor to be considered. The main advances in this arena have been the utilization of as realistic antenna and human models as possible. This realistic modeling is critically important in order to provide proper guidelines to the designers and engineers of this technology for both the terrestrial and satellite applications. There are two important issues which necessitate in-depth evaluations: (a) how adversely does the presence of the human affect the antenna performance? and (b) what are the total absorbed power, the field distributions and SAR in the human tissues?

Modeling.....The application of modern numerical techniques for the design and simulation of handset antennas in the presence of the human has been the focus of several recent studies. Two popular techniques used in these applications are Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) [1] and volume/surface Method of Moments (MOM) [2]. The diversity of these two techniques offer a broad range of simulation capabilities and simultaneously provide an effective way to assess the accuracy of the results obtained.

Discussion.....This presentation examines the characteristics of various real-life candidate handset antennas for both terrestrial and satellite personal communications applications. Both the near field and SAR parameters are evaluated for an in-depth characterization of the handset antenna and human interactions. The important topics of polarization, impedance and radiation performances are examined in a parametric fashion based on the antenna topology and its location with respect to the human. Among the antenna configurations studied are monopole, planar inverted F antenna (PIFA), helices, patches, etc. The human model is characterized by using MRI images and complex tissue characterizations.

[1] M. A. Jensen and Y. Rahmat-Samii, Proceedings of IEEE, 83, pp. 7-17, 1995.
[2] J. S. Colburn and Y. Rahmat-Samii, JEWA, 9, pp. 1249-1277, 1995.

USING THE GENERALIZED MULTIPOLE TECHNIQUE TO STUDY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AND DIELECTRIC OBJECTS

[A. Martin, R. Villar, M. Martinez-Búrdalo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Instituto de Física Aplicada, Dpto. Radiación Electromagnética, C./Serrano 144, 28006-Madrid, Spain. (Tel: +34-1-561-88-06; Fax: +34-1-563-13-71; Email: agustin@iec.csic.es)]

Introduction.....In personal communications, the electromagnetic interaction between handset antennas and the nearby biological tissues has to be considered. In this work, we study this interaction using the generalized multipole technique (GMT), and the behavior of fields close to an operator of a cordless telephone is investigated. The effect of the dielectric model of the phone user on the antenna radiation pattern degradation is presented. In order to estimate the specific absorption rate (SAR), the fields induced inside the dielectric are studied. Different graphical representations showing the results obtained are presented and compared with FDTD results [1], [2].

Study of antenna-dielectric interaction.....According to the GMT, when the interest is to know the far field radiation pattern of the antenna, multipoles need to be introduced inside the head model. Due to its spherical symmetry, a normal expansion (Bessel function) is used together with Hankel functions of several orders and degrees to get accurate results.

In order to study the electromagnetic field induced inside the head, a previous model has to be modified and spherical multipoles have to be placed outside head limits in such a way that all the matching points defining head contour are influenced by the local behavior of Hankel functions.

Results and conclusions.....The far field radiation pattern of a dipole antenna has been computed when it is isolated and when it is in the presence of the human head model (Figure 1) filled with different dielectric

[Fig. 1-- Problem Geometry]

tissues (bone, brain and muscle). The radiation patterns obtained, for the main polarizations of the electric field, when the antenna is rotated 60¥ from upright, are presented and compared with results from FDTD. Even though computations are not made with the same models, the agreement between the two methods is very good and, with this technique, the computer time is clearly reduced.

The distribution of electric field inside and around the head model, as computed by GMT, is also shown and gives an averaged SAR below ANSI/IEEE standard limits [2].

In conclusion, we have to point out that the use of GMT is well suited to study precisely the interaction between the antennas used in mobile communications and the dielectric objects simulating a human body, and the computation time is small, as compared with other numerical techniques, being a useful method for calculating the SAR.

[1] L. Martens, Electromagnetic field calculations for wireless telephones, The Radio Science Bulletin, No. 271, pp. 9-11, December 1994.
[2] M. A. Jensen and Y. Rahmat-Samii, EM interaction of handset antennas and humans in personal communications, Proc. IEEE, 83, No. 1., pp. 7-17, January 1995.

SAFETY AND WIRELESS COMMUN ICATION
[Co-Chaired by N. Kuster (Switzerland) and J. C. Lin (USA)]

INFLUENCE OF RF FIELDS EMITTED BY CELLULAR PHONES ON THE HUMAN EEG

[Maila Hietanen, Tero Kovala, Anna-Maija Hämäläinen, Riitta Velin, and Patrick von Nandelstadh, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 4 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. (Tel: +358-0-47471; Fax: +358-0-890 713; Email: mhie@occuphealth.fi)

Introduction.....With the rapidly expanding use of wireless technologies, concern has been raised about potential harmful effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by hand-held cellular phones. The specific aim of this study was to evaluate whether RF exposure has the potential to influence the electric functions of the human brain. The study is part of the European COST 244-project.

Subjects and Methods.....The exposed study population included 20 healthy volunteers: 10 males (28-48 years) and 10 females (32-57 years). The radiofrequency exposure was generated by six various types of mobile phones which included both analog and digital models. The brain function was investigated using quantitative analysis of electroencephalograms (Q-EEG). During the EEG recordings, the exposed persons were sitting comfortably, resting, and their eyes were closed but they were awake all the time.

For each volunteer, seven EEG-recordings were made, one of which was a null recording with sham exposure. Each EEG-recording lasted 30 minutes consisting of 20 minutes field exposure and 10 minutes sham exposure. The phones were operated via a computer in order to avoid the exposed persons being aware whether the phone was on or off. All registrations were recorded on an optical mass storage device for later analyses.

Results.....The preliminary analyses have not indicated any adverse effects on the EEG recordings. The final results of the study will be available during the year 1996, and presented at the URSI Conference.

EM FIELD DISTRIBUTION IN WAVEGUIDES FOR CELL EXPOSITION AT 1.8 GHZ

[P. Nevermann, A. Bahr, T. Becks, U. Kullnick and I. Wolff, Institut für Mobil- und Satellitenfunktechnik, Carl-Friedrich-Gaub-Str. 2, D-47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany (Tel: 49-2842-981 380; Fax: 49-2842-981 398; Email: nevermann@imst.uni-duisburg.de)]

Introduction.....For biologic experiments, field strength inside the probes have to be known. In practice, waveguides used for exposition of cells with electromagnetic fields in the high frequency range show field distributions far away from simple theoretical approximations. Practical restriction due to nonideal adapters, holes in the waveguide wall (for cell air condition) and the probes itself (partially inhomogeneous filled waveguide) influence the field pattern. So the field strength applied to different samples varies with position. The objective of this contribution is to discuss the main effects and give some hints for designing experiments on the basis of numerical simulations and S-parameter measurements.

Waveguide Simulation.....For the investigation of a waveguide, it becomes necessary to create a complete model including the adapters. As an example, Figure 1 shows our discretization scheme used to model a coax-

[Figure 1. Discretization of the coax-waveguide adapter.]

waveguide adapter. Using an in-house FDTD simulation tool, we can get information about the field strength at any position as well as about the S-parameters at well defined ports in order to perform a comparison with measured results. Furthermore, by using the results in the time domain it is possible to see whether the probe transition or the samples itself influence the wave propagation through the waveguide. Due to the restriction in length of the waveguide and the inhomogeneity caused by the samples inside, there will be a frequency dependent, inhomogeneous field distribution like that shown in Figure 2. In result, the overall sample mass (depending on the conductivity of the material) must be minimized and the position of each sample has to be well defined. The extreme low field intensities at certain positions can be used to place reference samples for low exposure.

[Figure 2. Distribution of the electric field (E2) in a plane parallel to the larger side of a 64-cmlong waveguide WR 510 and the resulting SAR distribution in the sample holder.]

Conclusion.....The field distribution in a waveguide used for cell exposition has been presented. There exists a need for an analysis of the whole equipment in order to avoid questionable experimental results due to the extreme inhomogeneous field strength applied to different samples. Moreover using the analysis it becomes possible to introduce reference samples at positions with near zero field exposure for comparison.

CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SOURCES AND DESIGN OF EQUIPMENT FOR MINIMUM COUPLING WITH THE HUMAN BODY
[Co-Chaired by R. De Leo (Italy) and H. R. Korniewicz (Poland)]

THE USE OF FLEXIBLE SHIELDING MATERIALS TO REDUCE THE EM COUPLING

[Prof. Johan Catrysse, KHBO, Dept. IW&T, Laboratory for EMC, Zeedijk 101, B 8400 Oostende, Belgium]

Abstract.....During the last three years, a new generation of flexible shielding materials has been created, with a high shielding effectiveness value. These materials are based on the coating of both woven and non-woven basic materials. They offer a wide variety of possible applications for shielding EM sources and/or victims at a low cost.

This paper will give an overview of possible applications, based on these shielding materials and will also address some problems in characterizing and evaluating the shielding characteristics for some typical applications:

• the use of small, flexible and/or mobile screened rooms
• the use of envelopes in shielding some sources of EM radiation
• The use of screening suits (or clothes) for human beings

Flexible and/or mobile screened rooms......Using coating woven/non-woven shielding materials, a very flexible system can be built for designing screened rooms. The materials can be handled mainly in two ways. (1) They can be handled as wall-paper. In this way, existing rooms can be shielded for EM waves. Both sources and victims can be shielded in this manner. This method is very convenient for retrofitting existing rooms and/or for architectural shielding. (2) Wooden or plastic frames can be used, in order to build small (modular) enclosures. These enclosures can contain either the source, either the victim of EM waves. This method can be used where only a small shielding enclosure is needed, within a larger construction. The advantage of this method is also that the construction can easily be moved.

In both cases, a lot of extra components are needed such as main-power filters, data/signal filters, feedthrough system for cables and heating pipes, shielding door, shielded window, etc. Typical characterization is done, based on MIL STD 285 method.

Small envelopes for shielding....Combining the basic shielding material with an insulating layer, a materiel is obtained that can easily be used to make envelopes around sources/victims of EM waves. The insulating layer is needed in order to avoid short-circuits in the electronic circuits and systems. Envelopes can be wrapped around PCB boards. Using special conductive glue, the envelope is folded and held together.

A typical problem for these envelopes is to find a good measuring method for the characterization of the shielding performance.

Screened suits and clothes.....The same basic material can be used to manufacture screened suits or clothes. These suits will protect, for example, maintenance technicians for radio stations, basic stations for mobile communications and telephone, etc. A typical screening suit will be described. Important in this application is the flexibility of the material, the light weight and the possibility of a transparent protection of the visage. A typical problem is the lack of a measuring standard for the characterization of the shielding performance.

SAFETY OF ELF AND LF APPLICATIONS
[Co-Chaired by C. Polk (USA) and L. D. Szabo (Hungary)]

PROTECTION FROM ELF AND LF FIELDS AND RISK PERCEPTION

[Barnabas Kunsch, Austrian Research Centre Seibersdorf, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria (Tel: +43-2254-780 3103; Fax: +43-2254-74060; Email: kunsch@zdfzs.arcs.ac.at)]

Introduction.....In non-ionizing radiation protection it is customary to distinguish between low and high frequency fields. The border line is drawn somewhere between 10 kHz and 100 kHz as suggested by the two main established biological effects. These are stimulation of nerves and excitable tissues by induced current densities at low and heating by radiation absorption at high frequencies. Furthermore, strong electric fields at low frequencies can be felt and become annoying with body hair movement and microdischarges between skin and clothing. In such fields even more intense indirect effects can result from contacting isolated conductors. Beside these high field effects various effects of weak electric and magnetic fields were observed in vitro at cell and organ level as well as in some laboratory experiments at animal and human level. The health relevance of these findings cannot, however, be assessed at present. Particular public concern was aroused by a number of epidemiological studies linking cancer and weak magnetic fields [1].

Protection policies.....A number of countries have already developed national documents about exposure limits ranging from guidelines to standards. There are, however, very few legally binding regulations. Of great importance are the guidelines of ICNIRP and its predecessors [2]. In Europe, CENELEC issued the European Prestandard ENV 50166 in January 1995. In pursuance of its obligations in the field of occupational health and safety, the General Directorate in charge of the European Commission DG V published a draft Directive in August 1994. Although there are some significant differences in detail, all regulations are based on the above mentioned established short term effects of strong fields. However much they are improving, present epidemiological investigations lack a standard which is required to base restrictions on them. The main problems are statistics, exposure assessment and failure to control confounders [3].

Public risk perception.....Although there is very little chance that the general public and even workers are exposed to field levels which are close to or exceed the limits, apprehensions are widespread. Risk perception research has identified a lack of trust in authorities and experts, a feel of involuntary exposure and of an imbalance between risk and benefit among the factors responsible [4].

Conclusion.....It appears that the current protection policy is adequate in the light of present knowledge about the biological effects of low frequency fields. However, much remains to be done to clarify the risk, if any, of long term exposure to weak fields and to adequately communicate with the public.

[1] A. F. McKinley (ed.) et al, Non Ionizing Radiation, CEC/V/F1/LUX/35/95, 14.9.1995.
[2] INIRC/IRPA, Health Physics, 58, pp. 113-122, 1990.
[3] NRPB, Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 3., No. 1, 1992.
[4] P. Slovic, Science, 236, pp. 280-285, 1987.

[Source: XXVth General Assembly of the International Union of Radio Science, Abstracts, Lille, France - with permission]

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ELECTION OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EBEA

At the General Assembly of the European Bioelectromagnetics Association (EBEA) in Nancy, 29 February - 3 March 1996, the results of the election of new members of the Council were announced. The composition of the new Council is given below.

G. D'Inzeo (Italy) President
B. R. R. Persson (Sweden) Vice-President
B. Veyret (France) Sec./Treasurer

R. Cadossi (Italy) M.D./Biologist
L. A. Coulton (U.K.) M.D./Biologist
B. Floderus (Sweden) M.D./Biologist
P. Semm(Germany) M.D./Biologist
F. Bersani (Italy) Eng./Physicist
Y. Hamnerius (Sweden) Eng./Physicist
D. Miklavcic (Slovenia) Eng./Physicist
R. deSeze (France) At large
O. Kolomitkin (Russia)* At large

(*in replacement of Vodovnik, Slovenia)

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BOOKS

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SAFETY

Edited by Q. Balzano, Motorola, USA, N. Kuster, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, and J. C. Lin, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. Published by Chapman and Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London, SE1 8HN, U.K., November 1996, approx. 288 pages, approx. £35.00 (Tel: +44-0171-865 0066; Fax: +44-0171-522 9623) (ISBN 0-412-75000-7)

Recently, there has been interest by regulators, the public and the manufacturers of wireless devices in the issues relating to the safety of radio frequency (RF) energy. These issues require an understanding of the scientific underpinnings of both physics of RF energy and cellular biology. This book is designed to provide precisely such cross-functional expertise.

All the contributors to this book are at the forefront of their particular fields. All of them have been conducting specific research into the safety of mobile communications for a number of years and their combined experience provides the reader with an authoritative view of the issues involved.

Contents: Preface. Technology: Mobile communications in the 90's - R. Millington. State of knowledge: Experimental and numerical dosimetry - N. Kuster and Q. Balzano. RF interference of medical devices - H. I. Bassen. Bioeffects of mobile communications fields - R. Adey. Additional considerations about the bioeffects - C. V. Byus and L. Hawel. Review of epidemiological studies - U. Berqvist. Biological research activities: Biological research in North America - A. R. Sheppard. European research on effects of RF fields - B. Veyret and P. Semm. Biological research in the Asia-Pacific area - M. H. Repacholi and M. Taki. Regulation activities and standards. Regulatory activities in the USA - R. F. Cleveland, Jr. Regulatory environment in the EU - M. Bogers. Regulatory activities in the Asia-Pacific area - M. Taki and M. H. Repacholi. Final considerations. Criteria for the assessment of EMF literature - M. H. Repacholi and M. Taki.

ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS: INVISIBLE RISKS?

Authored by Leonard A. Sagan, M.D. Published in The Netherlands under license by Gordon and Breach Science Publishers SA. (ISBN 2-88449-217-8). Paperback, 214 pages (1996).

Dr. Sagan's book is an attempt to make accessible the discussion of EMF, its sources and measurements, and laboratory research, and also to provide a balanced perspective on interpreting documentation of apparently negative health effects. Dr. Sagan explores the possibility of developing cancer from EMF exposure and the potential effects on reproduction and behavior, as well as providing background material to epidemiology and laboratory sciences.

The book's sixteen chapters include: recent emergence of the EMF issue; electric power and EMF; EMF exposure assessment; mechanisms and dose - how does EMF interact with biological systems; EMF in the laboratory; what is risk assessment; epidemiology - a history; epidemiology - a guide to establishing cause; residential studies - EMF and cancer; occupational studies - EMF and cancer; disease clusters; EMF and reproduction; EMF and neurobehavior; quantifying the risks of EMF - a preliminary effort; reviews by government agencies; and, what should we do? EMF management options.

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MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

THE SECOND WORLD CONGRESS FOR ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE: June 8-13, 1997, Bologna Congressi S.P.A., Bologna, Italy.

A preliminary announcement has been issued by the sponsors of this meeting - The Bioelectromagnetics Society, Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, Bioelectrochemical Society, and the European Bioelectromagnetics Association. The IEEE EMBS, IEEE SCC28, IEEE COMAR, URSI Commission K and the AEI will participate. The preliminary schedule includes a Call for Abstracts to be mailed in October-November, 1996; a deadline for receipt of abstracts, January 1997, and a program and registration mailing in March 1997.

For further information contact: Congress Chair: Dr. Jørgen Bach Andersen, Aalborg University, Fr. Bajers Vej 7A, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Tel: +45-98-15-85-22; Fax: +45-98-15-15-83; Email: jba@kom.auc.dk); Program Chair: Dr. Martin Blank, Columbia University, Department of Physics and Cellular Biophysics, 630 W 168 Street, New York, NY 10032 (Tel: 212-305-3644; Fax: 212-305-5775; Email: mb32@columbia.edu); or Logistics and Management: W/L Associates, Ltd., 7519 Ridge Road, Frederick, MD 21702 (Tel: 301-663-4252; Fax: 301-371-8955; Email: 75230,1222@compuserve.com).

THIRD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGICALLY CLOSED ELECTRIC CIRCUITS IN BIOMEDICINE (IABC) AND THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER: May 23-25, 1997, Beijing, China. Contact: Yu-ling Xin, M.D., Professor, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. [Tel: +86-10-64227535 (Mme. Yihua Li); Fax: +86-10-64217749; Email: gzliu@hns.cjfh.ac.cn]

1997 IEEE AP-S INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AND URSI NORTH AMERICAN RADIO SCIENCE MEETING: July 13-18, 1997, Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Canada.

The 1997 URSI North American Radio Science Meeting, sponsored by the USNC and CNC for URSI, and the IEEE/AP-S International Symposium sponsored by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada, July 13-18, 1997. The technical sessions, workshops, and short courses will be coordinated among the two symposia to provide a comprehensive well-balanced program.

Suggested URSI topics for Commission K (EM in Biology and Medicine) include: bioelectromagnetic phenomena, biological effects of electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic modeling of biological systems, environmental fields, therapeutic and diagnostic applications. and wireless communication and health issues. Among the many suggested topics for AP-S are: biomedical applications, FDTD methods and applications, mobile antennas and personal communications, numerical methods, etc.

General inquiries regarding the conference may be directed to Mrs. Doris Ruest, Conference Manager, 1997 URSI and IEEE/AP-S Meeting, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 [Tel: (613) 993-9228; Fax: (613) 993-7250; Email: doris.ruest@nrc.ca]. IEEE/AP-S technical program inquiries may be directed to Dr. Prakash Bhartia [Tel: 902-426-3100, ext. 133; Fax: 902-426-9654; Email: bhartia@drea.dnd.ca]. URSI inquiries may be directed to Dr. Lot Shafai [Tel: 204-474-9615; Fax: 204-261-4639; Email: shafai@ee.umanitoba.ca]. WWW address is: http://www.nrc.ca/confserv/apsursi97/welcome.html.

Abstracts and summaries must be received no later than January 10, 1997.

GENETIC TOXICOLOGY OF NON IONIZING RADIATIONS: Genetic- and Epigenetic Effects, Carcinogenesis, Developmental Effects, etc.: September 15-17, 1997, Holiday Inn Crown Plaza, Bruges, Belgium. Organized by the Belgian Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS) and VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research). A satellite meeting of the International Environmental Mutagen Conference.

Man has been exposed to natural "non ionizing radiations" (NIRs) for centuries. However, the exposure has increased dramatically in the past few decades. Although the biological effects of electromagnetic fields have been the subject of research for many years, there is still uncertainty. Contradictory reports serve to confuse the general public.

As cancer has been identified as one of the most striking possible effects, genetic toxicology is one of the important research fields. Therefore, the satellite meeting of the International EMS conference meets a need. As concern runs high about the possible adverse health effects of extremely low frequency (e.g., power lines) and radio-frequency (e.g., mobile communication) fields, the symposium will deal with them. It will mainly address the following topics: mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, cancer epidemiology, biomonitoring of exposed subjects, developmental biology and teratogenicity, synergism with (chemical or physical) mutagens/carcinogens, and electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

For further information, please contact: Dr. Luc Verschaeve, VITO, Environment Division, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. [Tel: +31-14 33-52-17; Fax: +31-14-32-03-72; Email: verschal@vitoosfl.vito.be]

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September/October 1996 Number 132

A Publication of The Bioelectromagnetics Society

September/October 1996
Number 132