Might Just Probably

Objectives We performed a re-analysis of the data from Navarro et al (2003) in which health symptoms related to microwave exposure from mobile phone base stations (BSs) were explored, including data obtained in a retrospective inquiry about fear of exposure from BSs.

Design Cross-sectional study.

Setting La Ñora (Murcia), Spain.

Participants Participants with known illness in 2003 were subsequently disregarded: 88 participants instead of 101 (in 2003) were analysed. Since weather circumstances can influence exposure, we restricted data to measurements made under similar weather conditions.

Outcomes and methods A statistical method indifferent to the assumption of normality was employed: namely, binary logistic regression for modelling a binary response (eg, suffering fatigue (1) or not (0)), and so exposure was introduced as a predictor variable. This analysis was carried out on a regular basis and bootstrapping (95% percentile method) was used to provide more accurate CIs.

Results The symptoms most related to exposure were lack of appetite (OR=1.58, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.03); lack of concentration (OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.89); irritability (OR=1.51, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.85); and trouble sleeping (OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.84). Changes in –2 log likelihood showed similar results. Concerns about the BSs were strongly related with trouble sleeping (OR =3.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 8.86). The exposure variable remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. The bootstrapped values were similar to asymptotic CIs.

Conclusions This study confirms our preliminary results. We observed that the incidence of most of the symptoms was related to exposure levels—independently of the demographic variables and some possible risk factors. Concerns about adverse effects from exposure, despite being strongly related with sleep disturbances, do not influence the direct association between exposure and sleep.

The health risk due to exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) continues to be discussed today. The study that led to this debate was initiated after verification that the US embassy in Moscow was being subjected to such radiation from 1953 to May 1975.1Recently, a review of that episode2 reopened the debate about the potential harmfulness of RF EMFs. The increasing number of base stations (BSs) on masts and buildings has increased public awareness. This issue has prompted scientific research to establish to what extent low-intensity EMFs may affect the health of humans and other organisms.3 ,4 Furthermore, the term electromagnetic hypersensitivity has been recently introduced in discussions attributing symptoms to exposure to EMFs.5–8 A review of this topic9 in 2010 found that 8 of the 10 studies evaluated through PubMed had reported increased prevalence of adverse neurobehavioral symptoms or cancer in populations living at distances <500 m from BSs.

We live in a 3 story home. I used to have a wireless 2.4 GHz Router on each floor running 24/7.  When my 11 year old was 2-4 years old, he had all sorts of skin sensitivity issues, auditory sensitivity to loud noises and headaches.  He used to scream at pre-school when they would turn up the sound on the TV and also when we would walk into a movie.  He also was very sensitive to clothing.  He used to lay in bed and wave his hand in the air and say “Dad, can’t you feel that”.  I did not know what he was talking about.  He has never been very verbal, but is in gifted class in school.  He had the full battery of Autism testing and showed not to be on the spectrum but had elevated anxiety levels.

I think he could sense the microwave radiation in the air.I have since shutdown 2 of 3 wireless routers and have the last in the basement.  I have it on a timer that shuts it off at night automatically.  We also turn off our cell phones.  I fear that I was cooking my little guy and did not know it.

I would ask Steve Jobs, head of Apple, but he died of cancer.