Until a decade earlier, there was a wide belief that low intensity wireless radiation did not have any significant impact on genes, DNA and cells in the body. This belief was based on the assumption that such low intensity wireless radiation did not contain adequate energy to cause biological damage. However, recent studies and researches had clearly established that the strength of the energy of the source does not play a key role in biological damage.
An example is the impact of toxic chemicals on the body, where such chemicals alter the delicate balance that exists in the biological process of human body. Such alterations occur as changes in hormone balances, damage or destruction of cells and various illnesses. Any damage to the DNA changes the genetic structure and design of the DNA. The genetic structure and design of the DNA plays a crucial role in the growth and development of cells, tissues, organs and the entire body. Hence, any damage to the DNA leads to cell damage, which is the major of different types of cancers.
When DNA damage occurs, damaged cells do not simply die but continue to mutate themselves. When such mutation of damaged DNA cells exceeds the repair rate of such cells, the accumulation of the excess mutated cells leads directly to cancer. A specific research programme named REFLEX in Europe documented the changes that occur in normal biological functions, by collecting and compiling the data and information on the effect of wireless radiation on genes, DNA and cells.
The research programme clearly established that the wireless radiation levels between 0.3 and 2W/Kg in SAR measurement led to substantial increase in breaks of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules and micronuclei frequencies were also altered by such radiations. This DNA damage was found to be the direct effect of wireless radiation and not due to thermal effects as was commonly believed earlier. It was clearly established that DNA damage had nothing to do with heating or thermal effect. Enough evidence had been collected that wireless radiation impacts the DNA molecules in the body, irrespective of their intensity.
Wireless radiations are adverse environmental factors that stimulate automatic physiological response and increase the production of stress proteins. All living organisms inherently have stress response, which is a special protective action initiated by the cells when unfavourable or harmful environmental conditions or toxins attack the living organisms. These responses and stress protein productions occur at even very low radiation levels and scientists had established beyond doubt that such cell responses lead to harmful production of stress proteins, altering the DNA structure.
The REFLEX programme clearly demonstrated that the generation of free radicals and production of genotoxic effects in HL-60 cells, neural progenitor cells, granulosa cells and fibroblasts resulted due to exposure to wireless radiation. Further, DNA damage was significantly higher in elderly persons, showing that the efficiency of DNA repair decreased with age and the risk of breaks in DNA strands increased. This programme established that the exposure to wireless radiation led to genotoxic damage, cell proliferation due to mutated genes, apoptosis and modification in the expressions of proteins and genes, which are the major causes of several chronic diseases.
The effect of exposure to chronic low intensity wireless radiation was the subject of a study, which revealed that such exposure resulted in oxidative and DNA damage over longer periods (Garaj-Vrhovac, 2009). The reason for such DNA damage is the diminishing of the protective effect due to reduced response when long-term exposure to wireless radiation, even if the radiation is of low intensity. As such, SAR absorption rate is not considered relevant as a radiation exposure safety standard, as SAR measures only thermal damage. The impact of wireless radiation exists at levels far lower than heating (thermal) risks, causing changes in the biochemical pathway and damage to genetic blueprint.
Another review of more than 100 publications on the effects of wireless radiation maintained that such radiation has the capacity to alter the genetic structure of cells, whether they were exposed in vitro, in vivo and in any other manner (Ruediger, 2009). This review not only showed that the genotoxic actions of physical and chemical agents were enhanced by wireless radiation but also revealed that such exposure led to the generation of free radicals, interference with the mechanisms of DNA repair and microthermal effects in the structure of cells.
There is ample evidence to conclude that wireless radiation are genotoxic in nature and lead to DNA damage, irrespective of the intensity of such radiations, even if the radiation levels are well below the accepted safety limits, particularly if such exposures are long-term in nature.
Wireless EMF Radiation Protection – All Homes and Workplaces Should Be Tested
Most homes and workplaces will have hot spots that emit constant wireless radiation (eg. near Wi-Fi routers, cordless phones, game consoles, neighbours’ wireless devices etc) that can easily exceed the exposure levels known to impact on you and your family’s health. EMF Safe recommends all homes and workplaces be tested for EMF exposures. Often simple changes can be made to reduce or avoid elevated exposures when they are found. EMF Safe rents EMF Detection Kits nationwide that are excellent for this purpose and come with easy to follow instructions including safety reference levels.
References:
Garaj-Vrhovac V et al (2009), Evaluation of basal DNA damage and oxidative stress in Wistar rat leukocytes after exposure to microwave radiation Toxicology 259(3):107-12.
Ruediger HW (2009), Genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields Pathophysiology 16(2-3):89-102.
