EMF EMF (electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic radiation

fields)fields)Findings on Health DangersFindings on Health Dangers

Click onClick on http://emfct.comhttp://emfct.com and watch first videoand watch first videoPresentation on findings to the Fresno County Board

of Supervisors

Dr. Kathryn J. BiacindoDr. Kathryn J. Biacindo

California State University, FresnoCalifornia State University, Fresno

April 08, 2008April 08, 2008

EMF Probabilty of RiskEMF Probabilty of RiskBased on research findings in Ellen Based on research findings in Ellen

Sugarman (2008, 4Sugarman (2008, 4thth ed.), ed.), Warning: Warning: Electricity Around You May Be Electricity Around You May Be Hazardous to Your HealthHazardous to Your Health

Supported by EPA studies, director Supported by EPA studies, director Michael Halper, stated, “In all my years Michael Halper, stated, “In all my years of looking at chemicals, I have never of looking at chemicals, I have never seen a set of epidemiological studies seen a set of epidemiological studies that remotely approached the weight of that remotely approached the weight of evidence that we’re seeing with ELF evidence that we’re seeing with ELF electromagnetic fields.” electromagnetic fields.”

Supported by the $7 million study Supported by the $7 million study performed by the California Department performed by the California Department of Health Services, in which all DHS of Health Services, in which all DHS scientists believe that EMF can cause scientists believe that EMF can cause some degree of increased risk for some degree of increased risk for childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, amyotrophic Lou Gehrig’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and miscarriage. lateral sclerosis, and miscarriage.

NOTE: Lobbying from PUCs have NOTE: Lobbying from PUCs have forced the change of wording from forced the change of wording from “probable increased risk” to “possible” “probable increased risk” to “possible” increased risk.increased risk.

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EMF is a Class 2 EMF is a Class 2 CarcinogenCarcinogen

IARC, division of the IARC, division of the World Health World Health Organization, classified Organization, classified low frequency EMF as a low frequency EMF as a Group 2B carcinogen Group 2B carcinogen (cigarettes are in the (cigarettes are in the class)class)

EPA (1990) had EPA (1990) had categorized EMF as a categorized EMF as a Class 2 carcinogenClass 2 carcinogen

Based on a 25 year Based on a 25 year longitudinal study in longitudinal study in Sweden, EMF was Sweden, EMF was classified as a Class 2 classified as a Class 2 carcinogenic as early as carcinogenic as early as 19891989

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EMF—SOME FACTSEMF—SOME FACTS Safe levelsSafe levels for EMF exposure have been set at for EMF exposure have been set at 2 2

milli Gaussmilli Gauss Property valuesProperty values around transmission lines are around transmission lines are

reduced by an average of 30%reduced by an average of 30% Transmission linesTransmission lines emit an average of emit an average of 100 milli 100 milli

GaussGauss The EPAThe EPA concluded, after a 15 year study, that concluded, after a 15 year study, that

there was a there was a positive associationpositive association between EMF between EMF and site specific cancer, cancer of the central and site specific cancer, cancer of the central nervous system, and lymphomasnervous system, and lymphomas

Animals, birds, and fishAnimals, birds, and fish exposed to transmission exposed to transmission lines do lines do not migrate properlynot migrate properly, have mating cycles , have mating cycles disrupted, and fail to eat properly disrupted, and fail to eat properly

Studies cited by power companies Studies cited by power companies that there is no risk from EMF that there is no risk from EMF

have been reversedhave been reversedORIGINAL INTERPRETATION ORIGINAL INTERPRETATION

OF RESEARCH FINDINGS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS (Peter A. Valberg, 2001)(Peter A. Valberg, 2001)

To see report, click on To see report, click on http://wwww.www.powerlinefacts.com/Experthttp://wwww.www.powerlinefacts.com/Expert%20Testimony/Valberg%20testimony.htm%20Testimony/Valberg%20testimony.htm

Associations between wire Associations between wire code classification of homes code classification of homes and disease showed no causal and disease showed no causal effects from EMFeffects from EMF

As the steady magnetic field As the steady magnetic field of the earth is 570 mG, and of the earth is 570 mG, and has no measurable adverse has no measurable adverse effects, it can be assumed effects, it can be assumed that the lower magnetic field that the lower magnetic field levels of power lines would levels of power lines would also have no ill effects also have no ill effects

U.S. EMF RAPID program U.S. EMF RAPID program found negative outcomes found negative outcomes between EMF and health between EMF and health effectseffects

National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Sciences on EMF on EMF “Science can’t prove “Science can’t prove that anything is safe. But so that anything is safe. But so far we have failed to find a far we have failed to find a hazard.”hazard.”

UPDATED FINDINGSUPDATED FINDINGS EMF lowers melatonin to a non-beneficial level EMF lowers melatonin to a non-beneficial level

in the body (low levels predispose one to in the body (low levels predispose one to cancer, stress, and depression) [Dr. Neil cancer, stress, and depression) [Dr. Neil Cherry, 1997]Cherry, 1997]

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ELF causes breast cancer --a cell that is 5% ELF causes breast cancer --a cell that is 5% active with cancer will become 95% active after active with cancer will become 95% active after exposure to as little as 5 mG; this is true for exposure to as little as 5 mG; this is true for both men and women (ELF acts as a co-both men and women (ELF acts as a co-carcinogen)carcinogen)

A review of 35 international research studies A review of 35 international research studies had 33 establish a conclusive link between had 33 establish a conclusive link between brain tumors, leukemia, and other forms of brain tumors, leukemia, and other forms of cancer. Policy recommendations place a cancer. Policy recommendations place a warning not to live any closer than 200 yards of warning not to live any closer than 200 yards of transmission lines.transmission lines.

Russian scientists have done more studies on Russian scientists have done more studies on EMF than any other country, and report EMF EMF than any other country, and report EMF is connected with high blood pressure, chronic is connected with high blood pressure, chronic stress, immune system dysfunction, changes in stress, immune system dysfunction, changes in white and red blood cell counts, metabolic white and red blood cell counts, metabolic changes, and headaches. (Havas, 2002)changes, and headaches. (Havas, 2002)

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SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ON SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ON HOW EMF EFFECTS THE HOW EMF EFFECTS THE

PHYSICAL BODYPHYSICAL BODY Deteriorates Deteriorates

melatonin in the bodymelatonin in the body Destroys healthy Destroys healthy

blood cellsblood cells Breaks apart DNA Breaks apart DNA

strandsstrands Changes firing rates Changes firing rates

in brain cellsin brain cells Leaks calcium ions in Leaks calcium ions in

brain and cellsbrain and cells Alters EEGsAlters EEGs Most studies conducted at UCLAMost studies conducted at UCLA http://www.equilibra.uk.com/emfsbio.shttp://www.equilibra.uk.com/emfsbio.s

htmlhtml Goldsworthy, Andrew (2007), The Goldsworthy, Andrew (2007), The biological effects of weak biological effects of weak electromagnetic fields.electromagnetic fields.

It is impossible to It is impossible to argue, with these argue, with these findings, that EMF findings, that EMF is safe, as the is safe, as the power companies power companies have repeatedly have repeatedly stated.stated.

SOME CURRENT HEALTH STATISTICSSOME CURRENT HEALTH STATISTICS BASED ON EMF RESEARCH BASED ON EMF RESEARCH

11 of 65 workers on the 111 of 65 workers on the 1stst floor of floor of a telephone company developed a telephone company developed cancer from the electric equipment cancer from the electric equipment housed in the room adjacent to housed in the room adjacent to their officetheir office

A San Francisco elementary school A San Francisco elementary school had 22 cases of cancer among staff had 22 cases of cancer among staff who worked in the front of the who worked in the front of the building near overhead high building near overhead high voltage power lines and four pole voltage power lines and four pole mounted transformers [Fresno’s mounted transformers [Fresno’s Slater elementary school has been Slater elementary school has been closed due to parallel findings.]closed due to parallel findings.]

Clinical research showed that Clinical research showed that human cancer cells in a lab human cancer cells in a lab experiment exposed to 60hz experiment exposed to 60hz electric fields proliferated and electric fields proliferated and within one week were cloning six within one week were cloning six times as fast as normal.times as fast as normal.

Children whose mothers had used Children whose mothers had used electric blankets during pregnancy electric blankets during pregnancy showed a 300% increase in brain showed a 300% increase in brain tumors.tumors.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL RECENT INTERNATIONAL EVENT on March 28, 2008EVENT on March 28, 2008

Hundreds of thousands of Hundreds of thousands of households worldwide households worldwide shut off their electrical shut off their electrical power for an hour on power for an hour on the night of March 28the night of March 28thth. . This was in protest of This was in protest of the effects EMF has on the effects EMF has on the ionization of the the ionization of the atmosphere, destroying atmosphere, destroying negative ions and negative ions and thereby being a major thereby being a major contributing factor to contributing factor to global warming.global warming.

AA BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE EFFECTS BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF EMF AS RELATED TO CANCEROF EMF AS RELATED TO CANCER

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Electricity VDTs Cell phones

Before EMFLow EMFEMF Today

WHAT DO THE PUCs DO WHEN AN WHAT DO THE PUCs DO WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL’S HEALTH IS ADVERSELY INDIVIDUAL’S HEALTH IS ADVERSELY

AFFECTED BY EMF?AFFECTED BY EMF? Two major health problemsTwo major health problems

—— Pacemakers (heart Pacemakers (heart

problems)problems) – EMF – EMF disrupts the pacemakerdisrupts the pacemaker

EMFSS EMFSS (electromagnetic field (electromagnetic field sensitivity syndrome)—sensitivity syndrome)—disabling symptoms disabling symptoms include vertigo and include vertigo and fainting, confusion, fainting, confusion, fatigue and weakness, fatigue and weakness, headache, spasms, and headache, spasms, and nauseanausea

James A. Beal, EMF James A. Beal, EMF Consulting, Wimberly, Consulting, Wimberly, TXTX

ANSWER:ANSWER:NOTHINGNOTHINGThey hold fast to their They hold fast to their

interpretation of data interpretation of data that EMF is not the that EMF is not the causal factor.causal factor.

This is based on review of the research with the This is based on review of the research with the following caveats:following caveats:

Exposure of lab animals to ELF Exposure of lab animals to ELF did not duplicate did not duplicate real life exposures from power lines and real life exposures from power lines and equipment. equipment. High frequency transients were not High frequency transients were not used (this is the energy surge produced by motors used (this is the energy surge produced by motors light switches, electronic controllers going on). light switches, electronic controllers going on). (Maisch, 1998)(Maisch, 1998)

Research is only conducted looking at the safe level Research is only conducted looking at the safe level of EMF, 2mG. So, when the NCI reported no of EMF, 2mG. So, when the NCI reported no evidence of EMF and childhood cancers, it evidence of EMF and childhood cancers, it overlooked the fact that numerous studies overlooked the fact that numerous studies found a statistically significant increase in found a statistically significant increase in leukemia for exposure in excess of 3mGleukemia for exposure in excess of 3mG. . (Maisch, et al., 1998)(Maisch, et al., 1998)

National Academy of Science reviewed research National Academy of Science reviewed research and found no conclusive evidence that exposure to and found no conclusive evidence that exposure to EMF produces cancer, looking at the studies which EMF produces cancer, looking at the studies which showed no effect, and showed no effect, and omitted those papers that omitted those papers that had found a biological responsehad found a biological response. (Mild, K.H., . (Mild, K.H., 1997)1997)

NCRP draft report (National Council on Radiation NCRP draft report (National Council on Radiation Protection and measurements, 1995) supported a Protection and measurements, 1995) supported a plausible connection between ELF/EMF and plausible connection between ELF/EMF and disruption of normal biological processes, with disruption of normal biological processes, with detailed implications for human health—detailed implications for human health—this draft this draft has not been made available to the public.has not been made available to the public.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVESPOSSIBLE ALTERNATIVESAs EMF radiation has been proven to be hazardous, producing As EMF radiation has been proven to be hazardous, producing

more energy is a wrong choice from both a health and more energy is a wrong choice from both a health and environmental standpoint.environmental standpoint.

1.1. Bury the transmission lines. Bury the transmission lines. It has been done in Japan, and significantly lowers the electropollution.

2.2. Finance solar cells for high energy users. Finance solar cells for high energy users. Set limits of kilowatt usage; once these are exceeded, user must resort to solar power..

3.3. Create new laws to reduce energy usage. Create new laws to reduce energy usage. In Japan, all offices must keep their temperature set at 83 degrees, and it has significantly lowered power usage.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FRESNO AREAFRESNO AREA

Before any new power lines, Before any new power lines, substations, or transformers substations, or transformers are put up, aggressive are put up, aggressive research must be performed research must be performed to determine the health to determine the health affects on the Fresno affects on the Fresno residents.residents.

A survey should be A survey should be developed, based on research developed, based on research findings to date on EMF, to findings to date on EMF, to measure the health impacts of measure the health impacts of the current exposed the current exposed population.population.

If the PUCs cannot prove that If the PUCs cannot prove that the current power the current power configuration is safe, they configuration is safe, they should devise and implement should devise and implement safer alternatives.safer alternatives.