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The History of Bioelectromagnetism

6) Prospective epidemiologic cohort studies of adults in a general population and retrospective

cohorts with medium to high occupational exposures. 7) Human laboratory studies that focus

on possible adverse efects on electroencephalography activity and that include a sufcient num­

ber of subjects. 8) Investigation of the efect of RF electromagnetic felds on neural networks, 9)

Evaluation of doses occurring on the microscopic level, and 10) Additional experimental research

focused on the identifcation of potential biophysical and biochemical/molecular mechanisms of

RF action.

NRC (2008, p. 2)

Afer the IARC categorization, the INTERPHONE study was conducted by the IARC. It was based on a

large-scale, case-control epidemiological study which was performed in 13 countries in the world dur­

ing the years 2000–2012 (Interphone, 2011). Te results did not prove any connection between the usage

of mobile phone and the risk of developing glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma. Eventually, an

increased risk of glioma for the largest RF feld exposure level was observed. However, the presence of

biases and errors in the data prevented a causal interpretation of such results.

At roughly the same time when the workshop was held, the US National Program of Toxicology

(NTP) conducted a long term (2 years) bioassay to evaluate the Carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of RF

felds on rats and mice (NTP, 2018a, b, 2020). Te toxicology studies in rats (Hsd: Sprague Dawley SD)

and mice (B6C3F1/N) by the NTP with a $ 30 million budget conducted studies for more than 10 years

to help clarify potential health hazards from exposure to RF felds used in 2G and 3G cellular phones.

Te rats (in the womb) and mice (5–6 weeks old) were exposed to RF felds in special whole-body

chambers at 900 (Code Division Multiple Access; CDMA) and 1,900 MHz (Global System for Mobile

Communications; GSM). Te exposure was intermittent, 10 minutes on and 10 minutes of, 9 hours/day

with 1.5, 3, or 6 W/kg of body weight in rats, and 2.5, 5 or 10 W/kg in mice. Te results of these studies

were associated with: (1) clear evidence of an association with tumors (malignant Schwannoma) in the

hearts of male rats, (2) some evidence of an association with tumors (malignant gliomas) in the brains

of male rats, (3) some evidence of an association with tumors (benign, malignant, or complex combined

pheochromocytoma) in the adrenal glands of male rats, and (4) it was unclear for female rats and male

and female mice whether the cancer observed in the studies were associated with exposure to RF felds

(NTP, 2020). Te NTP study used 2G and 3G cellular phones technologies and did not apply 4G or 5G

technologies, and it also did not investigate frequencies and modulations used for Wi-Fi (NTP, 2020).

In 2011, an expert working group of the IARC reviewed the large amount of published literature and

categorized RF feld as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). From the evaluation:

1) there is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency radiation. Positive

associations have been observed between exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless

phones and glioma, and acoustic neuroma, 2) Tere is limited evidence in experimental animals

for the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency radiation.

IARC (2013)

Finally, we introduce two important points for human health issues related to RF felds: (1) the WHO

has launched a systematic review evaluation on the potential health efects of RF feld exposure. Te

systematic review includes three topics: (a) cancer (animal studies), (b) adverse reproductive outcomes

(animal and in vitro studies), and (c) efect of exposure to heat from any source on pain, burns, cataract,

and heat-related illnesses (WHO, 2020). Te review result will require the next few years to be available.

Te health outcomes required for the review have been prioritized by experts (Verbeek et al., 2021). (2)

An Advisory Group of IARC employed of 29 scientists from 18 countries recommended a priorities

evaluation to the IARC so that the inclusion of RF felds as a part of the agent lists of carcinogenicity is

reassessed for the IARC Monograph program in the next 5-year period (IARC, 2019). RF feld was again