Schröttner J, Leitgeb N.
Institute of Health Care Engineering, Graz University of Technology,
Graz, Austria.
BMC Public Health. 2008 Sep 12;8:310.

BACKGROUND:
An increasing number of persons suffer from non-specific health symptoms such as headache, sleep disturbances, difficulties in concentrating and more. In lack of a medical explanation, more and
more persons take refuge to the assumption that they were electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) and electromagnetic pollution causes their problems. The discussion whether electromagnetic fields
(EMF) could cause such adverse health effects is still ongoing.

METHODS:
Based on the Austrian inhabitants a statistical cross-sample of the general population with regard to age, gender and federal state had been investigated to assess the actual situation and potential
temporal changes in comparison with a former study of 1994. In a telephone survey a total number of 526 persons were included.

RESULTS:
This study showed an actual EHS prevalence of 3.5% compared with 2% estimated in 1994. About 70% of the sample believed that electromagnetic pollution could be a risk factor for health. More
than 30% declared to at least some degree to be concerned about their well-being near mobile phone base stations or power lines. However, only 10% were actively looking for specific information. Media
triggered EHS hypothesis in 24% of the cases.

CONCLUSION:
The results show that concerns about EMF did not decrease with time in spite of scientific studies and health risk assessments concluding that a causal relationship of EMF below recommended reference levels and non-specific health symptoms would be implausible.

Fulltext: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=18789137

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hardell K, Björnfoth H, van Bavel B, Lindström G.

Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
lennart.hardell@orebroll.se

Electromagn Biol Med. 2008;27(2):197-203.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is used for a variety of subjective symptoms related to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in subjects with self-reported EHS. In total, 13 EHS subjects and 21 controls were included, all female. The concentration of several POPs was higher in EHS subjects than in controls. Lower concentrations were found for hexachlorobenzene and two types of chlordanes. The only significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) were found for polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) #47 yielding OR=11.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.45-94.7 and the chlordane metabolite MC6 with OR=11.2, 95% CI=1.18-106. The results were based on low numbers and must be interpreted with caution. This hypothesis generating study indicates the necessity of a larger investigation on this issue.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18568937?dopt=AbstractPlus

PMID: 18568937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]