83

The History of Bioelectromagnetism

Savitz and his co-workers concluded that prolonged exposure to low-level ELF-magnetic felds may

increase the risk of developing cancer in children (Savitz et al., 1988). Other epidemiological studies have

indicated that there is a possible association between ELF-electromagnetic feld exposure and cancer

in humans. Afer the publication of these reports, many research eforts focused to investigate possible

associations between ELF-magnetic feld exposure and cancer in humans. Te fnal report of the New

York State Power Lines Project appeared July 1, 1987, which announced the following as conclusions:

In conclusion, results of the New York founded projects document biological efects of electric and

magnetic felds in several systems. Te variety of efects of magnetic felds have not been previously

appreciated. Several areas of potential concern for public health have been identifed, but more

research must be done before fnal conclusions can be drawn. Of particular concern is the demon­

stration of possible association of residential magnetic felds with incidence of certain childhood

cancers. Further study of this possible association and mechanism to explain it are important. Te

variety of behavioral and nervous system efects may not constitute a major hazard because most

appear to be reversible, but they may impact temporarily on human function. Further research

should also be done in this area.

Ahlbom (1987, p. 10)

Later, epidemiological and human exposure studies were conducted on the safety of the ELF-magnetic

feld exposure including: in animal experiments, carcinogenesis, reproduction, behavior and percep­

tion, and neuroendocrine behavior. Animal experiments did not provide sufcient results to demon­

strate the infuence on human health.

In the 1990s, researchers in Sweden reported the results of a study on the adverse health efects of

ELF-magnetic feld exposure (Feychting and Ahlbom, 1993). Diferent researchers reported the same

health concerns from ELF-magnetic feld exposure. In order to clarify the credibility of the results of

ELF-magnetic feld exposure, the focus of the researchers shifed from the efect of electric felds to iden­

tifying the efects of ELF-magnetic felds on human health, and research of ELF-magnetic feld exposure

were performed around the world.

In 1992, the U.S Congress authorized the 5-year National EMF research and communication pro­

gram known as Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information Dissemination (EMF

RAPID) Program in the Energy Policy Act (1994–1998). Tis Program was funded by Federal and non-

Federal funds. Te U.S. DOE administered this Program, and the National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Health supervised the health efects study and

risk assessment. Te main goal of this program was to determine whether or not exposure to power

frequency electromagnetic feld (ELF-EMF) from the generation, transmission, and use of electricity

afects human health and if so, to reduce the exposure and to communicate electromagnetic feld infor­

mation to the public. Te Project was completed afer 5 years and a fnal report was submitted to the U.S.

Congress. Te fnal report of this Program said as follows:

Te scientifc evidence suggesting that ELF-EMF exposures pose any health risk is weak. Te

strongest evidence for health efects comes from associations observed in human populations with

two forms of cancer: childhood leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in occupationally

exposed adults. While the support from individual studies is weak, the epidemiological stud­

ies demonstrate, for some methods of measuring exposure, a fairly consistent pattern of a small,

increased risk with increasing exposure that is somewhat weaker for chronic lymphocytic leuke­

mia than for childhood leukemia, In contrast, the mechanistic studies and the animal toxicology

literature fail to demonstrate any consistent pattern across studies although sporadic fndings of

biological efects have been reported. No indication of increased leukemias in experimental ani­

mals has been observed.

NIEHS (1999)