Nexus - 0212 - New Times Magazine-pages

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"My analysis of newly acquired epidemiologic data implies that the mutagenic potential of non-ionising radia- tion should now be considered a factor for increased prevalence of Down's syndrome in Vernon Township, malignancies in Bourne, Falmouth and Sandwich--towns that surround the PAVE PAWS radar on Cape Cod in Massachusetts--and the otherwise unexplained increase in breast cancer-related mortality in white women younger than age 50 years, the group most involved with microwave ovens and video displey terminals, both usual- ly operated at breast height. ..we must become better acquainted with all forms of non-ionising radiation sickness.’ Commenting on a more recent radar exposure case, M.M. Zaret points out, “What is not fully appreciated by our profession is that repeated irradiation at subclinical levels can produce pathology that appears only after delay".” The higher-than-expected incidence of cataracts in servicemen exposed to radar and in radio-linesmen® is another example. In the meantime studies with animals have revealed a whole range of microwave-induced effects including disturbance of bio- thythms, increased protein synthesis of the liver, thymus and spleen, and the ability to recognise the presence of pulsed microwave radiation as a clicking sound heard in the head.” Low levels of microwave radiation have also been reported to induce cancer in test animals.” ee MICROWAVE LEVELS IN THE ENVIRONMENT This brings us to the issues of what are the levels of electronic GENETIC EFFECTS smog in our environment, and how many of us are being affected. The potentially devastating health effects of electronic smog are In 1972 Bowers and Frey drew attention to the already congested the genetic effects produced by radiO fC —_————7— Microwave channels in the New York-metro- quency radiation. politan area with a coloured map in the report Microwaves were first reported to cause a the approach to microwave satura- chromosomal damage in 1959 by J.H. H H HON. Heller and A.A. Teisceira-Pinto.> The - 7) the USSR established Its Later measurements of radio frequency experiments were performed on garlic maximum exposure — — in = Ave root tips, using very short pulses of radia- H nvironment Protection Agency (EPA) si tion Jed an ppt ° thermal com- standard of 10 microwatts showed power density levels between 1 and ponent. The effects noted mimicked those per Square centimetre per 2.5 microwatts per square centimetre in 4 produced by ionising radiation. locations out of 72, the remainder being less Subsequent studies by Heller are reported working day, a level 1000 — than 1 microwatt.” Another survey gave a to have shown that low power microwave im : measurement on a street corner in radiation could produce mutations in times smaller than the US Washington DC as 3.5 microwatts per square mammalian cells and in insects” In the value. centimetre with levels of 10, 66 and 97 1960s and 1970s researchers showed that microwalts per square centimetre near the protein, RNA and DNA absorb 65-75 tops of multi-storey buildings in New York, gigahertz radiation, and that 1ictOWV Chicago and Miami respectively." These are able to interfere with repair mechanisms or even to induce gene POWeT densities all exceed the Russian standard for maximum mutations in bacteria.” exposure. In this same period S. Baranski and co-workers showed that A more recent 1986 EPA survey reports that while over 99 per chromosome aberrations are produced in human cells which have cent of residents in 15 major US cities were exposed to less than 1 been irradiated with 3 gigahertz microwaves at power intensities ™microwatt per square centimetre of AM, FM and TV frequencies, below the safe level of 10 milliwatts per square centimetre.* A some locations are, however, exposed to much higher levels of subsequent study reported in 1974 showed that fragmentation of radiation, such as revealed by a reading on the roof of the Sears nuclei as well as chromosome breakage occurred in human cells Tower in Chicago which measured 230 microwatts per square cen- which had been exposed to microwaves of 2.95 gigahertz and _ metre. The EPA measurements also showed that at distance of 5 power densities of 7 or 20 milliwatts per square centimetre. kilometres from large diameter tracking radars at airports or mili- While a number of studies have now reported that microwaves “ty bases, the power density levels of microwaves can be up to can produce foetal abnormalities in test animals (also known as ter- 100 microwatts per —— centimetre.” atogenic effects),”* perhaps the most relevant evidence is the higher Even at the 1 microwatt per square centimetre level this now than expected incidence of Down's syndrome among the children Ubiquitous manmade radio frequency radiation is now at a level of workers exposed to radar. In 1965 A.T. Sigler, from the Johns millions of times higher than average levels occurring naturally at Hopkins University School of Public Health, reported on a study of _the earth's surface. ionising radiation exposure and microwave exposure of the parents This raises one further issue. Do these increasing levels of elec- of Down's syndrome children. tronic smog enhance the effects of ultraviolet radiation and con- The results showed that although there were no discernible dif tibute to the increasing incidence of skin cancer, the increase of ferences in exposures to x-rays or other ionising radiation for these which parallels the increase in environmental exposure to fathers compared with the matched control group fathers, almost 10 Microwaves? per cent of the fathers of children with Down's syndrome had In addition the incidence of malignant melanoma seems to be reported “intimate contact with radar", compared to slightly more —_ lower in country areas than in cities where microwave radiation than 3 per cent of the fathers of the control group.” intensities are also higher. It is revealing to note that A. Leonard A higher than expected incidence of congenital malformations and co-workers in their evaluation of the mutagenic potential of among the children of helicopter pilots stationed at Fort Rucker, | Microwaves comment: Alabama, was reported in the early 1970s and again linked to radar "Although exposure to microwaves apparently does not damage the DNA at subthermal exposure levels, some exposure.” , 4 ; Af . . results obtained with bacteria, yeast, cell cultures, animals More researchers are becoming convinced of these microwave in vivo or even man, rented indicate that microwaves health dangers. In 1988 M.M. Zaret offered the following warning might easily potentiate the damaging action of other DNA to fellow medicos: antagonist agents such as UV or chemicals."* GENETIC EFFECTS In addition the incidence of malignant melanoma seems to be lower in country areas than in cities where microwave radiation intensities are also higher. It is revealing to note that A. Leonard and co-workers in their evaluation of the mutagenic potential of microwaves comment: "Although exposure to microwaves apparently does not damage the DNA at subthermal exposure levels, some results obtained with bacteria, yeast, cell cultures, animals in vivo or even man, however, indicate that microwaves might easily potentiate the damaging action of other DNA antagonist agents such as UV or chemicals."* 18°*NEXUS FEBRUARY-MARCH '93