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Scientists serious about 'electricity sickness' claims
The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | January 24, 2005 | by Nic Fleming, Health Correspondent

Posted on 01/23/2005 7:05:01 PM PST by aculeus

Scientists and health advisers are taking the claims of people who say electricity makes them ill seriously for the first time.

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is carrying out a review of existing scientific studies into "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" (EHS).

Two studies into the condition, funded with £750,000 from the Department of Health and the telecommunications industry, are already under way.

Sir William Stewart, the government's adviser on radiation, has called for more research into the issue.

Some researchers believe a proportion of the population suffers ill health, with symptoms including fatigue, severe headaches and skin problems, because of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Other scientists say there is no evidence.

The Swedish government, which recognised EHS as a physical impairment in 2000, calculates that 3.1 per cent of its population – 200,000 people – suffer from the condition. A recent warning by Sir William, head of the NRPB and the Health Protection Agency, that parents should limit their children's use of mobile phones received widespread publicity.

However, his suggestion that another section of the population, as well as the young, could have extra sensitivity to exposure to either radio frequency fields from mobiles or electromagnetic fields in general did not.

The NRPB has commissioned Dr Neil Irvine, of the Health Protection Agency, to carry out a review of existing scientific literature on EHS.

His report, focusing on symptoms, prognosis and treatment, will be published in the summer.

The Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme, funded by the Government and the telecommunications industry, is spending £8.6 million on 29 studies, two of which will investigate EHS.

A team at King's College, London, is looking at whether mobile phones cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea and fatigue in those who claim to be hypersensitive and those who do not.

Researchers at the University of Essex are exposing two groups of volunteers to signals from a mobile mast to test if cognitive functions such as attention span and memory are affected. Half will be people who say they suffer EHS.

Dr David Dowson, a former GP who is now a complementary medicine specialist based in Bath, said he had seen around 10 patients he believed to be suffering from EHS. "I think the condition is increasing in prevalence, because we are living in a more electrically polluted environment."

Olle Johansson, associate professor of neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, has been studying EHS for 20 years.

He has shown in experiments that there is an increase in the number of mast cells near the surface of skin when exposed to electromagnetic fields, a similar reaction to that when it is exposed to radioactive material.

He said: "If you put a radio near a source of EMFs you will get interference. The human brain has an electric field so if you put sources of EMFs nearby, it is not surprising that you get interference, interaction with systems and damage to cells and molecules.''

Others say the condition is in the mind.

Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright


TOPICS: Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: electricity; emfs; energy; environment; junkscience; mentalhealth; psychosomatic
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1 posted on 01/23/2005 7:05:01 PM PST by aculeus
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To: aculeus

We had a huge case of "stray radiation" case here in Michigan a few years ago. A local farmer sued the electric company, claiming that buried electrical lines were affecting his cows.

He won round one. He got stomped after the utility got a better atty in subsequent rounds.

This is pure bunk.


2 posted on 01/23/2005 7:09:28 PM PST by TWohlford
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To: aculeus

about 50 como types died in 1979. they were in good shape and all worked in screen rooms.


3 posted on 01/23/2005 7:09:29 PM PST by camas
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To: aculeus

I'm sickened by the bill.


4 posted on 01/23/2005 7:10:15 PM PST by nuconvert (No More Axis of Evil by Christmas ! TLR)
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To: aculeus

Will my tinfoil hat help? I mean the CIA sends me messages without a phone, but...


5 posted on 01/23/2005 7:10:31 PM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: aculeus

It has been know for over a century that high-power RF transmissions can have a harmful effect on humans.

Why should the theory that lower power electromagnetic radiation, used more frequently and in closer contact to the brain, could also be dangerous come as any surprise?


6 posted on 01/23/2005 7:11:15 PM PST by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: TWohlford

See # 6


7 posted on 01/23/2005 7:12:29 PM PST by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: clee1

OK. maybe we better stop thinking. Since, like the artical says, the brain gives off EMF too.


8 posted on 01/23/2005 7:13:53 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: camas
"about 50 como types died in 1979. they were in good shape and all worked in screen rooms."

I'm really trying to decipher your message.

9 posted on 01/23/2005 7:15:24 PM PST by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: aculeus
Yes this is true, That's why since electricity became a part of everyday life a century ago the average human lifespan has declined rapidly.

Yes, I'm kidding

10 posted on 01/23/2005 7:15:55 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: camas
about 50 como types died in 1979

I seem to have misplaced my secret decoder ring......

What the hell is "como types" - ?

LVM

11 posted on 01/23/2005 7:16:14 PM PST by LasVegasMac (Political head butting is nothing compared to tectonic plate head butting.)
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To: aculeus

If this qualifies as medical science can anyone imagine how high taxes would have to be to pay for a Hillary,Kennedy socialist health care plan.


12 posted on 01/23/2005 7:17:48 PM PST by carlr
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To: aculeus
about 50 como types died in 1979

Perry Como died in 2001, a week before his 89th birthday.


13 posted on 01/23/2005 7:17:49 PM PST by FoxInSocks
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To: mamelukesabre

Just what we need more "scientific" studies to give lazy people another unprovable illness to fake in order to sit home and collect a welfare check, free housing,and free narcotics for the imaginary pain it no doubt causes.
Or even worse, another excuse to murder someone.


14 posted on 01/23/2005 7:19:39 PM PST by Nuzcruizer
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To: mamelukesabre

Naaa. Most people never start thinking.

I remember as a youngster, a cop friend demonstrated his radar gun to us. Putting your hand 3 feet in front of the emitter would result in a warm, tingly feeling on your skin.

Every few years, you hear about a technician or trespasser being "cooked" by a microwave tower's emissions.

I personally have gotten minor RF burns from being too close to an antenna pumping out 1500 watts.

I can easily believe that long-term exposure to EM emissions, even on low power, can be damaging to your health.


15 posted on 01/23/2005 7:19:57 PM PST by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: LasVegasMac
They all looked like this...

Pretty scary if'n ya ask me.

16 posted on 01/23/2005 7:20:22 PM PST by uglybiker (The most popular guy at a nudist camp can carry 2 cups of coffee and a dozen doughnuts)
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To: clee1
Why should the theory that lower power electromagnetic radiation, used more frequently and in closer contact to the brain, could also be dangerous come as any surprise?

Must be that pesky lack of evidence of same.

17 posted on 01/23/2005 7:20:46 PM PST by balrog666 (A myth by any other name is still inane.)
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To: aculeus

I work with C-band, Ku-band, Ka-band Xmission products and my nuts still work. It's my choices for a date that need some careful attention.


18 posted on 01/23/2005 7:21:02 PM PST by BobS
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To: FoxInSocks

Wow!! He looked like that at 89?


19 posted on 01/23/2005 7:23:20 PM PST by DLfromthedesert
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To: farmfriend


20 posted on 01/23/2005 7:23:46 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP (Make all taxes truly voluntary)
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