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• André Fauteux / Maison saine

Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism

. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 Feb 23.

Published in final edited form as:

PMCID: PMC3184892

NIHMSID: NIHMS327389

PMID: 

Nora D. Volkow, MD, Dardo Tomasi, PhD, Gene-Jack Wang, MD, Paul Vaska, PhD, Joanna S. Fowler, PhD, Frank Telang, MD, Dave Alexoff, BSE, Jean Logan, PhD, and  Christopher Wong, MS

 

Abstract

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Context

The dramatic increase in use of cellular telephones has generated concern about possible negative effects of radiofrequency signals delivered to the brain. However, whether acute cell phone exposure affects the human brain is unclear.

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Objective

To evaluate if acute cell phone exposure affects brain glucose metabolism, a marker of brain activity.

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Design, Setting, and Participants

Randomized crossover study conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2009, at a single US laboratory among 47 healthy participants recruited from the community. Cell phones were placed on the left and right ears and positron emission tomography with (¹⁸F)fluorodeoxyglucose injection was used to measure brain glucose metabolism twice, once with the right cell phone activated (sound muted) for 50 minutes (“on” condition) and once with both cell phones deactivated (“off” condition). Statistical parametric mapping was used to compare metabolism between on and off conditions using paired t tests, and Pearson linear correlations were used to verify the association of metabolism and estimated amplitude of radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic waves emitted by the cell phone. Clusters with at least 1000 voxels (volume >8 cm³) and P < .05 (corrected for multiple comparisons) were considered significant.

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Main Outcome Measure

Brain glucose metabolism computed as absolute metabolism (µmol/100 g per minute) and as normalized metabolism (region/whole brain).

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Results

Whole-brain metabolism did not differ between on and off conditions. In contrast, metabolism in the region closest to the antenna (orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole) was significantly higher for on than off conditions (35.7 vs 33.3 µmol/100 g per minute; mean difference, 2.4 [95% confidence interval, 0.67–4.2]; P = .004). The increases were significantly correlated with the estimated electromagnetic field amplitudes both for absolute metabolism (R = 0.95, P < .001) and normalized metabolism (R = 0.89; P < .001).

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Conclusions

In healthy participants and compared with no exposure, 50-minute cell phone exposure was associated with increased brain glucose metabolism in the region closest to the antenna. This finding is of unknown clinical significance.

The dramatic worldwide increase in use of cellular telephones has prompted concerns regarding potential harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). Of particular concern has been the potential carcinogenic effects from the RF-EMF emissions of cell phones. However, epidemiologic studies of the association between cell phone use and prevalence of brain tumors have been inconsistent (some, but not all, studies showed increased risk), and the issue remains unresolved.¹

RF-EMFs emitted by cell phones are absorbed in the brain² within a range that could influence neuronal activity.³ Although the intensity of RF-EMFs is very low, the oscillatory frequencies correspond to some of the oscillation frequencies recorded in neuronal tissue and could interfere with neuronal activity.⁴ Thermal effects from RF-EMFs have also been invoked as a mechanism that could affect neuronal activity, although temperature changes produced by current cell phone technology are likely minimal.⁵ Studies performed in humans to investigate the effects of RF-EMF exposures from cell phones have yielded variable results.⁶ For example, imaging studies that used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) with RF-EMF exposures from cell phones have reported increases,^7,8 decreases and increases,^9,10 or no changes¹¹ in CBF. The discrepancies among these imaging studies likely reflect their relatively small sample sizes (9–14 participants), and the potential confounding of CBF measures reflecting vascular rather than neuronal signals.^12–14 This highlights the need for studies to document whether RF-EMFs from cell phone use affects brain function in humans.

The objective of this study was to assess if acute cell phone exposure affected regional activity in the human brain. For this purpose we evaluated the effects in healthy participants (N = 47) of acute cell phone exposures on brain glucose metabolism, measured using PET with injection of (¹⁸F)fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸FDG). Brain glucose metabolic activity is a more proximal marker of neuronal activity than measures of CBF, which reflects vascular as well as neuronal components.¹⁵ Also, because brain glucose metabolic measures obtained with ¹⁸FDG reflect the averaged brain activity occurring over a 30-minute period,¹⁶ this method allowed assessment of the cumulative effects of cell phone exposure on resting brain metabolism. Because exposure to RF-EMFs from cell phones is well localized and is highest in brain regions closest to the antenna,² we hypothesized that the effects on brain metabolism would be greatest in inferior and anterior brain regions, the regions that would be exposed to the highest RF-EMF amplitude for the cell phone model used in this study.

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METHODS

Participants

The study was conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, and was approved by the local institutional review board (Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects, Stony Brook University). We enrolled 48 healthy participants recruited from advertisements in local newspapers and screened for absence of medical, psychiatric, or neurologic diseases. Special attention was given to ensure that participants did not abuse addictive substances (including alcohol and nicotine), and urine toxicology studies were performed prior to the imaging sessions to ensure lack of psychoactive drug use. For technical reasons, data from one of the participants could not be used (see below). Table 1 provides demographic characteristics and cell phone usage histories of the 47 participants whose data were used in the analysis. Participants each received $250 for their participation in the study ($200 for PET scans [$100 per scan] plus $50 for the physical examination and laboratory work). All participants provided written informed consent after receiving a complete description of the study.

 

Table 1

Characteristics and Cellular Telephone Histories of Participants (N = 47)

Characteristic		No. (%)
Age, mean (SD), y		31 (9)
Sex
	Men	23 (48.9)
	Women	24 (51.1)
Body mass index, mean (SD)a		26 (3)
Handedness
	Right-handed	43 (91.5)
	Left-handed	4 (8.5)
Education mean (SD), y		14 (2)
Cell phone use, mean   (SD) [range], min/mo		1500 (1850) [15–9000]
Ear favored for use
	Right	38 (80.9)
	Left	9 (19.1)

^aCalculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

 

Experimental Conditions

All participants had 2 scans performed on separate days using PET with ¹⁸FDG injection under resting conditions. For both scans 2 cell phones, one placed on the left ear and one on the right, were used to avoid confounding effects from the expectation of a signal from the side of the brain at which the cell phone was located. For one of the days both cell phones were deactivated (“off” condition). For the other day the right cell phone was on (activated but muted to avoid confounding from auditory stimulation) and the left cell phone was off (“on” condition). For the on condition the cell phone was receiving a call (from a recorded text), although the sound was muted. The order of conditions was randomly assigned, and participants were blinded to the condition. The mean time between the first and the second study was 5 (SD, 3) days.

Two Samsung model SCH-U310 cell phones, capable of transmitting at either cellular or personal communications service frequency bands with code division multiple access modulation, were used for each study. The maximum specific absorption rate in the head for this cell phone model corresponds to 0.901 W/kg. Cell phones were placed over each ear with microphones directed toward the participant’s mouth and were secured to the head using a muffler that did not interfere with the lower part of the cell phone, where the antenna is located. Activation of the right cell phone was started 20 minutes prior to ¹⁸FDG injection and maintained for 30 minutes afterward to correspond with the ¹⁸FDG uptake period. During the 50-minute period participants sat on a comfortable chair in a quiet, dimly lit room and with their eyes open, with a nurse present to ensure that they kept their eyes open and did not fall asleep.

The RF-EMF emissions were recorded once before the call (background) and every 5 minutes during the stimulation period to ensure that the call was not terminated. This was accomplished with a handheld spectrum analyzer (model FSH6; Rohde & Schwarz, Munich, Germany) connected to a cellular wide-band log periodic directional antenna (model 304411; Wilson Electronics, St. George, Utah) aimed at the head from a distance of 3 feet. The cellular band was active, with a frequency of 837.8 MHz. This frequency was monitored with a resolution bandwidth of 1 MHz. Activation of the cell phone for the experimental period was also corroborated with the records obtained from the cell phone company. For 1 participant the cell phone signal was interrupted at the time of ¹⁸FDG injection; this participant’s data were not included in the analysis.

 

PET Scanning

In preparation for the study, participants had 2 venous catheters placed, one in the antecubital vein for radiotracer injection and the other in a superficial vein on the dorsal surface of the hand for sampling of arterialized blood. Arterialization was achieved by warming the hand to 44°C. The participants were injected with ¹⁸FDG (148–222 MBq [to convert to millicuries, divide by 37]) and asked to refrain from moving or speaking during the 30-minute ¹⁸FDG uptake period. At the end of the sessions, the cell phones were removed and the participants were positioned in the PET scanner as previously described.¹⁷ Participants were scanned with a whole-body tomograph (ECAT HR+; Siemens/CTI, Munich, Germany), with a resolution of 4.6 × 4.6 × 4.2 mm³ as measured by National Electrical Manufacturers Association protocols. Emission scans were started 35 minutes after ¹⁸FDG injection and lasted 20 minutes. Transmission scans were performed simultaneously.

 

Radiofrequency Field

The average position of the antenna in the stereotactic space of the Montreal Neurological Institute (r₀) (r₀ = 21 [SD, 10] mm for x [left to right], 30 [SD, 11] mm for y [anterior to posterior], −160 [SD, 7] mm for z [superior to inferior]) was determined for 21 participants using calibrated orthogonal photography that registered orthogonal views (front and sides) of the cell phone positions on the participant’s head. The positions of the eyes were used as landmarks to determine r₀ with the aid of the standard brain template (ch2.nii) provided in MRI-cron (available at http://www.sph.sc.edu/comd/rorden/mricron/). The relative amplitude of the cell phone’s electric field, E (r), at every position in the brain, r, was computed in Interactive Data Language version 6.0 (ITT Visual Information Solutions, Boulder, Colorado) using the far-field approximation, E (r) ~ ‖r−r₀‖⁻³, of a dipole field (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Amplitude of the Electric Field Emitted by the Right Cellular Telephone Antenna Rendered on the Surface of the Human Brain

E₀ indicates maximal field value. Clusters proximal to the antenna are inferior to the red dashed line. Images created using the freeware Computerized Anatomical Reconstruction and Editing Toolkit (CARET) version 5.0 (http://brainvis.wustl.edu/wiki/index.php/Caret:About).

 

Image Analysis

The data were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) in the SPM2 mapping package (Welcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, London, United Kingdom).¹⁸ The SPM analyses were performed on the absolute as well as the normalized (to whole-brain metabolism) metabolic images. For this purpose, the images were spatially normalized using the SPM2 PET template and a 2-mm³ × 2-mm³ × 2-mm³ voxel size and were subsequently smoothed with an 8-mm isotropic Gaussian kernel. Voxel-wise paired t tests were used to assess regional changes in glucose metabolism.

Because the electric field, E (r), produced by the cell phone decreases rapidly with distance to the antenna, we hypothesized that the effects of cell phones on glucose metabolism would occur in regions close to the antenna and that the regions far from the antenna would show no effects. Therefore, the corrections for multiple comparisons were restricted to brain regions in which E (r) was higher than 50% of the maximum field value, E₀, in the brain (E₀/2 < E (r) < E₀) (Figure 1). Thus, the Bonferroni method with a searching volume (S_v) of 201.3 cm³ (S_v = 25 161 voxels) was used to correct cluster-level P values for multiple comparisons as a function of the cluster volume (C_v) (P_corr = P × S_v/C_v). Clusters with at least 1000 voxels (C_v >8 cm³) and P < .05 (corrected for multiple comparisons) were considered significant.

A simple model assuming a linear relationship between cell phone–related increases in metabolism (Δ¹⁸FDG; average across participants) and E was used. The paired values (Δ¹⁸FDG_i, E_i) from all voxels that were statistically significant in the SPM2 t test analyses contrasting on vs off conditions within S_v were sorted by E, clustered in groups of 50 voxels, and averaged. These clusters were treated as independent. The Pearson linear correlation factor, R, was used to assess the linear relationship between Δ¹⁸FDG and E in Interactive Data Language version 6.0.

The sample-size calculation was based on our preliminary study of the effect of low-frequency magnetic field gradients in glucose metabolism,¹⁹ which demonstrated metabolic differences between stimulation and sham conditions with effect size (ratio between the mean difference and the pooled standard deviation) between 0.65 and 0.80. The minimal important difference in glucose metabolism used to determine the sample size was 1 µmol/100 g per minute. For such effect sizes, to achieve a power of at least 80% using the independent-samples t test with a significance level of .05, at least 40 participants were needed.

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RESULTS

Whole-brain glucose metabolism did not differ between conditions, which for the off condition corresponded to 41.2 µmol/100 g per minute (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.5–42.8) and for the on condition to 41.7 µmol/100 g per minute (95%CI, 40.1–43.3). However, there were significant regional effects. Specifically, the SPM comparisons¹⁴ on the absolute metabolic measures showed significant increases (35.7 vs 33.3 µmol/100 g per minute for the on vs off conditions, respectively; mean difference, 2.4 [95% CI, 0.67–4.2]; P = .004) in a region that included the right orbitofrontal cortex (BA11/47) and the lower part of the right superior temporal gyrus (BA 38) (Figure 2 and Table 2). No areas showed decreases. Similar results were obtained for the SPM analysis of the normalized metabolic images (normalized to whole-brain glucose metabolism), which also showed significant increases (1.048 vs 0.997 for the on vs off conditions, respectively; mean difference, 0.051 [95% CI, 0.017–0.091]; P < .001) in a region that included right orbitofrontal cortex and right superior temporal gyrus (BA 38) (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Brain Glucose Metabolic Images Showing Axial Planes at the Level of the Orbitofrontal Cortex

Images are from a single participant representative of the study population. Glucose metabolism in right orbitofrontal cortex (arrowhead) was higher for the “on” than for the “off” condition (see “Methods” for description of conditions).

 

Table 2

Statistical Parametric Mapping For Brain Regions Showing Higher Glucose Metabolism With Cellular Telephone On Than Off

Brain Region			Volumea	Brodmann Area	Region Coordinates, mmb			Z Score, On vs Off		Pcorrc	On vs Off, Mean Difference (95% CI)
					x	y	z
Absolute glucose metabolism
	Right inferior frontal		2649	47	18	23	−18	2.7		.05	2.4 (0.67–4.2)d
	Right superior temporal			38	24	12	−37	2.6
	Right middle frontal			11	23	38	−15	2.6
Normalized glucose metabolism
	Right superior temporal		2910	38	27	2	−35	3.1		.05	7.8 (2.7–12.9)d
	Right inferior frontal			47	16	27	−16	3.1
	Right middle frontal			11	23	38	−15	3.1

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

^aNo. of voxels. One voxel = 0.008 mm³.

^bCoordinates on the Montreal Neurological Institute stereotactic space corresponding to distance (in mm) for x (left to right), y (anterior to posterior), and z (superior to inferior).

^cSee “Methods” for details of calculation of Bonferroni-corrected P value.

^dValues for absolute metabolism reported in µmol/100 g per minute; those for normalized metabolism reported as percentages.

The regression analysis between cell phone–related increases in metabolism (Δ¹⁸FDG) and E revealed a significant positive correlation both for the absolute metabolic measures (R = 0.95, P < .001) and the normalized metabolic measures (R = 0.89, P < .001) (Figure 3). This indicates that the regions expected to have the greater absorption of RF-EMFs from the cell phone exposure were the ones that showed the larger increases in glucose metabolism.

Figure 3

Measures of Absolute and Normalized Glucose Metabolism and Correlation Between Estimated Electromagnetic Field Amplitudes and Increases in Measures (N = 47 Participants)

A and B, Mean measures of absolute glucose metabolism (µmol/100 g per minute) and normalized glucose metabolism (region/whole brain; units cancel) in regions with increased metabolism during “on” vs “off” conditions (see “Methods” for description of conditions) in the brain area within the spherical constraint, E₀/2 < E (r) < E₀ (where E₀ indicates maximal field value and E (r) indicates amplitude of the theoretical electromagnetic field) and the E(r) emitted by the antenna of the right cellular telephone. Absolute = 40 clusters; 2000 voxels were activated within searching volume and grouped into clusters of 50 voxels each; normalized = 48 clusters; 2400 voxels were activated within searching volume and grouped into clusters of 50 voxels each. Range of variability (95% confidence interval [CI]): 9–21 µmol/100 g per minute (panel A) and 0.29–0.57 (panel B). C and D, Regression lines between cell phone–related increases in absolute and normalized glucose metabolism (both expressed as % change from the off condition) in brain regions within the spherical constraint, E₀/2 < E (r) < E₀, and the theoretical electric field, E (r), emitted by the antenna of the right cell phone. Increases significantly correlated with estimated electromagnetic field amplitudes (absolute: R = 0.95, P < .001; normalized: R = 0.89, P < .001). Data markers indicate mean metabolic measures; error bars, 95% CIs. Linear regression lines were fitted to the data using Interactive Data Language version 6.0.

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CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence that the human brain is sensitive to the effects of RF-EMFs from acute cell phone exposures. The findings of increased metabolism in regions closest to the antenna during acute cell phone exposure suggest that brain absorption of RF-EMFs may enhance the excitability of brain tissue. This interpretation is supported by a report of enhanced cortical excitability to short transcranial magnetic stimulation pulses (1 msec) following 40-minute RF-EMF exposures.²⁰

Although increases in frontal CBF during acute cell phone exposure had been previously reported by 2 independent PET laboratories, such increases did not occur in brain regions with the highest RF-EMF exposures.^7–10 Moreover, one of these studies reported CBF decreases in the region with maximal RF-EMF exposure.¹⁰ These discrepancies are likely to reflect, among others, the methods used, particularly because the ¹⁸FDG method is optimal for detecting long-lasting effects (30 minutes) in brain activity, whereas CBF measures reflect activity over 60 seconds. In this respect, this study is an example of the value of the ¹⁸FDG method for detecting cumulative effects in brain activity that may not be observed when using more transient measures of activity. Discrepancies also could reflect uncoupling between CBF and metabolism.^12–14 Moreover, the relatively large sample size (n = 47) improved our ability to detect small effects that may have been missed in prior studies with smaller sample sizes.¹¹

The experimental setup also differed from prior studies that used cell phones for which the antenna was closest to superior and middle temporal cortices.²¹ However, this is unlikely to have accounted for the differences in results, because the findings in this study show increases in the region with maximal RF-EMF exposure, whereas findings from other studies have shown decreases in regions with the highest RF-EMF exposures, increases in regions far from the antenna, or both. However, the increases in frontal CBF previously reported with acute cell phone exposure possibly could reflect a downstream effect of connections with the regions that had the highest RF-EMF exposures.

The linear association between cell phone–related increases in metabolism (Δ¹⁸FDG) and E suggests that the metabolic increases are secondary to the absorption of RF-EMFs from cell phone exposures. The mechanisms by which RF-EMFs from cell phones could affect brain glucose metabolism are unclear. However, based on findings from in vivo animal and in vitro experiments, it has been hypothesized that this could reflect effects of RF-EMF exposure on neuronal activity mediated by changes in cell membrane permeability, calcium efflux, cell excitability, and/or neurotransmitter release.⁴ Athermal effect of cell phones on the brain has also been proposed,²² but this is unlikely to contribute to functional brain changes.⁵ Disruption of the blood-brain barrier has also been invoked as a potential mechanism by which RF-EMFs from cell phone exposure could affect brain activity.²³ A recent clinical study reported alterations in a peripheral biomarker of blood-brain barrier integrity (transthyretin) after cell phone exposure, but the significance of this finding is unclear.²⁴

The increases in regional metabolism induced by RF-EMFs (approximately 7%) are similar in magnitude to those reported after suprathreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex (7%–8%).²⁵ However, these increases are much smaller than the increases after visual stimulation reported by most studies (range, 6%–51%).²⁶ The large difference in the magnitude of regional glucose metabolic increases is likely to reflect multiple factors, including differences in glycolytic rate between brain regions,²⁷ the duration of the stimulation (transient stimulation increases glucose metabolism more than continuous stimulation²⁶), and the characteristics of the stimulation used.²⁸ Indeed, whereas resting glucose metabolism is predominantly supported by glucose oxidation (>90%), with acute visual stimulation the large increases in glucose metabolism appear to reflect predominantly aerobic glycolysis,²⁹ which is used for purposes other than energy expenditures, and actual energy utilization is estimated to be 8% at most.¹³

Concern has been raised by the possibility that RF-EMFs emitted by cell phones may induce brain cancer.³⁰ Epidemiologic studies assessing the relationship between cell phone use and rates of brain cancers are inconclusive; some report an association,^31–33 whereas others do not.^34–36 Results of this study provide evidence that acute cell phone exposure affects brain metabolic activity. However, these results provide no information as to their relevance regarding potential carcinogenic effects (or lack of such effects) from chronic cell phone use.

Limitations of this study include that it is not possible to ascertain whether the findings pertain to potential harmful effects of RF-EMF exposures or only document that the brain is affected by these exposures. Also, this study does not provide an understanding of the mechanism(s) by which RF-EMF exposures increase brain metabolism, and although we interpret these exposures as indicators of neuronal excitation, further studies are necessary to corroborate this. Lastly, this model assumes a linear relationship between the amplitude of the radiofrequency field and its effects in neuronal tissue, but we cannot rule out the possibility that this relationship could be nonlinear.

In summary, this study provides evidence that in humans RF-EMF exposure from cell phone use affects brain function, as shown by the regional increases in metabolic activity. It also documents that the observed effects were greatest in brain regions that had the highest amplitude of RF-EMF emissions (for the specific cell phones used in this study and their position relative to the head when in use), which suggests that the metabolic increases are secondary to the absorption of RF-EMF energy emitted by the cell phone. Further studies are needed to assess if these effects could have potential long-term harmful consequences.

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Acknowledgments

Funding/Support: This study was carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by infrastructure support from the Department of Energy.

Role of Sponsor: The funding agencies had no role in the design and conduct of the study; the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

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Footnotes

Author Contributions: Drs Volkow and Tomasi had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Study concept and design: Volkow.

Acquisition of data: Wang, Vaska, Telang, Alexoff, Wong.

Analysis and interpretation of data: Volkow, Tomasi, Vaska, Fowler, Telang, Logan.

Drafting of the manuscript: Volkow, Wong.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Volkow, Tomasi, Wang, Vaska, Fowler, Telang, Alexoff, Logan.

Statistical analysis: Tomasi.

Obtained funding: Volkow, Fowler.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Wang, Fowler, Telang, Alexoff, Wong.

Study supervision: Wang, Fowler.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.

Additional Contributions: We are grateful to BNL employees Donald Warner, AA, for positron emission tomography operations; David Schlyer, PhD, and Michael Schueller, PhD, for cyclotron operations; Pauline Carter, RN, and Barbara Hubbard, RN, for nursing care; Payton King, BS, for plasma analysis; and Lisa Muench, MS, Youwen Xu, MS, and Colleen Shea, MS, for radiotracer preparation; and to NIH employees Karen Appelskog-Torres, AA, for protocol coordination; Millard Jayne, RN, for subject recruitment and nursing care; and Linda Thomas, MS, for editorial assistance. We also thank the individuals who volunteered for these studies. None of the individuals acknowledged were compensated in addition to their salaries for their contributions.

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28. Sanganahalli BG, Herman P, Hyder F. Frequency-dependent tactile responses in rat brain measured by functional MRI. NMR Biomed. 2008;21(4):410–416. [PMC free article]  [PubMed]
29. Blomqvist G, Seitz RJ, Sjögren I, et al. Regional cerebral oxidative and total glucose consumption during rest and activation studied with positron emission tomography. Acta Physiol Scand. 1994;151(1):29–43.  [PubMed]
30. Yakymenko I, Sidorik E. Risks of carcinogenesis from electromagnetic radiation of mobile telephony devices. Exp Oncol. 2010;32(2):54–60.  [PubMed]
31. Lehrer S, Green S, Stock RG. Association between number of cell phone contracts and brain tumor incidence in nineteen U.S. States. J Neurooncol. 2011;101(3):505–507.  [PubMed]
32. Hardell L, Carlberg M. Mobile phones, cordless phones and the risk for brain tumours. Int J Oncol. 2009;35(1):5–17.  [PubMed]
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Dans cette discussion fascinante, Nick Pineault et Dr George Roth parlent des os, de la résonnance Schumann, de nouvelles découvertes autour de la bioélectricité et de la manière d'utiliser des aimants spéciaux pour aider le corps à guérir d'anciennes blessures (y compris les traumatismes crâniens).

Pour visionner

Malades à cause des ondes, nous alertons et demandons à pouvoir vivre dignement.

À toutes les personnes qui se sentant concernées par la question ondes et santé (électrosensibles, proches et aidants, citoyens sensibles à la cause) et avec le soutien des professionnels du médical, social et environnement, des scientifiques, des représentants d’associations, représentants de syndicats, etc., prenez quelques minutes pour compléter le formulaire !

Le texte complet de l'appel est consultable ici.

Appel fait par l'organisme français PRIARTEM

Notes du film

Nous n'avons pas été naïfs avec ce projet de documentaire. Nous sommes conscients qu’il y a plusieurs choses à considérer, par exemple, d'autres versions se spectres et d’autres sources, notamment le radar, la radio et la télévision, mais pour des raisons pratiques, nous avons utilisé la 5G comme modèle de discussion, la 5G étant présente dans l’esprit des gens. Son déploiement suscite des inquiétudes partout dans le monde, notamment quant à l’impact de l’augmentation continue de l’exposition sur nos environnements de vie. 

Bien qu’il n’existe pas énormément de données scientifiques sur la 5G, il existe une compréhension approfondie, remontant à des décennies, de la manière dont les rayonnements électromagnétiques agissent dans le corps pour perturber le fonctionnement biologique. Il est important de noter que la 5G sera une autre technologie sans fil, basée sur des concepts complètement nouveaux de formation de faisceaux, les petites cellules concentrant la transmission dans une direction particulière vers les appareils mobiles. Il s’agit notamment des téléphones portables, des ordinateurs portables, des voitures autonomes, des nœuds IoT (Internet des objets), des robots industriels ou militaires.

Le découpage du réseau et le MIMO auront des impacts supplémentaires. (entrées multiples, sorties multiples), l'efficacité du réseau et les économies d'énergie, etc., mais en utilisant des fréquences de plus en plus élevées, augmentant ainsi le potentiel de perturbation biologique.  Par conséquent, une grande partie du contenu de ce film comporte des hypothèses et des théories, mais aussi des faits fondés sur des décennies de connaissances et de compréhensions scientifiques antérieures sur la façon dont les champs électromagnétiques interagissent avec notre biologie et avec d’autres systèmes vivants. 

Nous vous invitons à tirer vos propres conclusions.

Nous serions vraiment ravis de constater que les experts se trompent et que les premières inquiétudes concernant cette technologie naissante furent exagérées.  Toutefois, avant que la technologie 5G ne devienne omniprésente, il nous semble nécessaire que les dirigeants et les citoyens s'efforcent de comprendre ce qui se dessine devant nous. Il est temps de déterminer si nous souhaitons réellement un tel avenir : notre environnement, saturé par des champs électromagnétiques, par des appareils sans fil et toutes leurs infrastructures, nonobstant les nombreuses formes de risques.

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Références

• Johansson O, “Disturbance of the immune system by electromagnetic fields — A potentially underlying cause for cellular damage and tissue repair reduction which could lead to disease and impairment”, Pathophysiology 2009; 16: 157-177 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19398...
• Johansson O, “Electrohypersensitivity: a functional impairment due to an inaccessible environment”, Rev Environ Health 2015; 30: 311–321 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26613...
• Redmayne M, Johansson O, “Could myelin damage from radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure help explain the functional impairment electrohypersensitivity? A review of the evidence”, J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 2014; 17: 247- 58. Doi 10.1080/10937404.2014.923356 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25205...
• Johansson O, “Are we really coping with the increasing amounts of airborne radiation?”, Living Now, July 2016, pp. 25-27 http://www.padrak.com/vesperman/Are%20we%20really%20coping%20with%20the%20increasing%20amounts%20of%20airborne%20radiation%20article%207.5.16.pdf
• Johansson O, Redmayne M, “Exacerbation of demyelinating syndrome after exposure to wireless modem with public hotspot”, Electromagn Biol Med 2016; 35: 379-383 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27355...
• Johansson O, “Health effects of artificial electromagnetic fields: A wake-up call from a neuroscientist… But is anyone in power picking up? Hello…?”, In: 2016 Environmental Sensitivities Symposium: TextBook (ed. L Curran), Building Vitality, Carlton North, 2016, pp 73-94, ISBN 13:978-1539094227. Johansson 2016c.pdf
• Johansson O, “Bacteria, mobile phones, Wi-Fi – a deadly combination?”, Nya Dagbladet 31/5, 2017 https://nyadagbladet.se/debatt/bacter...
• Doyon PR, Johansson O, “Electromagnetic fields may act via calcineurin inhibition to suppress immunity, thereby increasing risk for opportunistic infection: Conceivable mechanisms of action”, Medical Hypotheses 2017; 106: 71-87 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28818...
• Johansson O, “A comment about health impacts of cell phone radiation”, Nya Dagbladet, 9-10/8, 2017 https://nyadagbladet.se/debatt/commen...
• Johansson O, “Associate professor: Wireless radiation – the biggest full-scale biomedical experiment ever done on Earth”, Newsvoice.se 5/8, 2018. https://newsvoice.se/2018/08/wireless...
• Johansson O, “To understand adverse health effects of artificial electromagnetic fields… …is “rocket science” needed or just common sense?”, In: Essays on Consciousness – Towards a New Paradigm (ed. I. Fredriksson), Balboa Press, Bloomington, IN, USA, 2018, pp 1-38, ISBN 978-1-9822-0811-0 Chapter 1.pdf
• Bandara P, Johansson O, “Comment on exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from Wi-Fi in Australian schools”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2018; 178: 288-291 Bandara & Johansson 2017.pdf
• Johansson O, “Is the ‘electrosmog’ finally clearing?”, Newsvoice.se 4/2, 2019 https://newsvoice.se/2019/02/electros...
• Johansson O, “To bee, or not to bee, that is the five “G” question”; Newsvoice.se 28/5, 2019 https://newsvoice.se/2019/05/5g-quest...
• Santini R, Johansson O, “If 5G is not deemed safe in the USA, and nowhere in the rest of the world, by the insurance industry … why is it by the Danish government?”, Newsvoice.se 8/7, 2020 https://newsvoice.se/2020/07/5g-not-s...
• Johansson O, Rebel TK, McGavin B, “Global 5G protest warns of health and ecological costs”, Newsvoice.se 5/9, 2020 https://newsvoice.se/2020/09/global-5...
• Johansson O, “Fuck your telephone?”, Newsvoice.se 17/3, 2021 https://newsvoice.se/2021/03/olle-joh...
• Johansson O, “Cars, humans, laws, artificial electromagnetic fields … but what about the future?”, Newsvoice.se 9/8, 2021 https://newsvoice.se/2021/08/associat...electromagnetic-fields-future/
• Johansson O, “The Stockholm Declaration about Life EMC”, Bee Culture Magazine 2022; May issue: 56-61
• Johansson O, Bee Culture Magazine 2022.pdf
• Johansson O, “Our bacteria: are they trying to tell us something?”, Newsvoice.se 20/6, 2022 https://newsvoice.se/2022/06/bacteria...
• Marketing 5G and the Internet of Things the Betrayal of Health and the Environment https://ehtrust.org/marketing-5g-and-...
• Americans for Responsible Technology website https://www.americansforresponsiblete...
• Wildlife, Wireless and the Environment website https://www.wildlifeandwireless.org/
• EMF Medical Conference 2021 https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/...
• The Baby Safe Project website https://www.babysafeproject.org/

• Le dimanche 6 octobre 2024  | La santé mentale (thème proposé par un membre). La dépression, l'anxiété, les crises de panique, le brouillard cérébral et/ou la confusion mentale peuvent être présentes dans la vie des personnes électrohypersensibles.
• Le dimanche le 3 novembre 2024 | Identifier ses pertes et faire ses deuils
• Le dimanche 1 décembre 2024 | La spiritualité telle que vous la concevez : qu'est-ce que la spiritualité pour vous? Comment la concevez-vous? Que vous apporte-t-elle dans votre cheminement, dans votre acceptation de votre condition de personne EHS.

Une nouvelle étude publiée dans la revue Scientific Reports par Zhou et. al (2024) démontre que l’utilisation quotidienne prolongée d’écouteurs Bluetooth est « fortement liée » à un risque accru de développer des nodules thyroïdiens.

Les auteurs concluent que leurs recherches sont pertinentes afin d'élaborer des politiques de santé publique visant à réduire le risque de nodules thyroïdiens : "…notre recherche fournit une base scientifique pour la formulation de politiques de santé publique et de choix d’habitudes de santé personnelles, suggérant qu’il convient de prêter attention à la durée d’utilisation des écouteurs Bluetooth dans la vie quotidienne afin de réduire le risque potentiel de nodules thyroïdiens."

Dr Paul Héroux et Robert F. Kennedy discutent des effets potentiels des rayonnements de radiofréquence émis par les téléphones portables et les réseaux Wi-Fi sur la santé, en mettant l'accent sur la nécessité d'une nouvelle réglementation de la part de la FCC. Ils discutent également de la sécurité des rayonnements, de la manipulation de la science par l'industrie et des dangers potentiels des technologies émergentes telles que la 5G et les voitures sans conducteur.

La conversation met en évidence l'augmentation de la perméabilité de la barrière hémato-encéphalique due à l'exposition aux rayonnements, qui entraîne une inflammation et une interférence avec les fonctions cérébrales, ainsi que le lien entre l'exposition aux rayonnements et diverses maladies chroniques.

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Les scientifiques sont de plus en plus nombreux à s'intéresser à l'addiction des plus jeunes aux médias numériques. Est-ce que ces pratiques modifient le cerveau ? "

Absolument, répond sans hésiter le Dr Kardaras, interrogé par "Envoyé spécial". Il y a une douzaine d'expériences d'imagerie cérébrale qui montrent que le cortex frontal rétrécit si vous passez trop de temps devant les écrans." Ce psychologue expert en addictologie a écrit un livre sur l'addiction et les enfants qui a réveillé les Etats-Unis. Il va jusqu'à parler d'héroïne numérique" dans un de ses ouvrages.

Quelles sont les conséquences de cette modification ? "Une personne qui a un cortex frontal rétréci et moins de matière grise devient plus impulsive, plus sujette aux addictions, plus agressive, développe le Dr Kardaras. Elle ne prend pas de bonnes décisions. Ses capacités aux enchaînements logiques sont altérées."

Extrait de "Accros aux écrans", un reportage diffusé dans "Envoyé spécial" le 18 janvier 2018. Le site de l'émission Pour l'émission complète : http://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-mag...

« La réduction des rayonnements sans fil dans les hôpitaux est un moyen important et pratique de favoriser la santé et le rétablissement des populations vulnérables. Les bébés ne passent pas d'appels téléphoniques. En revanche, ils sont exposés au rayonnement sans fil du réseau Wi-Fi et de tous les appareils émetteurs à l'intérieur du bâtiment, ainsi qu'aux antennes des tours de téléphonie mobile à l'extérieur. »

Theodora Scarato, directrice de l'Environmental Health Trust, a souligné le programme pilote du Archbishop Makarios Hospital, dans le cadre duquel les appareils sans fil ont été retirés des unités néonatales et pédiatriques. Mme Scarato a également mis l'accent sur une étude publiée dans Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care et intitulée “Wireless technologies, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and children: Identifying and reducing health risks” (Technologies sans fil, champs électromagnétiques non ionisants et enfants : identification et réduction des risques pour la santé) détaillant les mesures à prendre par les établissements médicaux pour réduire les niveaux de CEM.

Cliquez ici pour accéder à l'article

Cliquer ici pour accéder à l'étude complète (en anglais)

Des médecins français ont rappelé l'importance d'éviter de mettre son ordinateur portable sur nos genoux lorsqu'on travaille.

Ceci fait écho avec une étude qui avait été menée en 2010 par le journal Fertility and Sterility.

L'étude en question a suivi 293 hommes âgés de 18 à 35 ans pendant une période de six mois.

Les participants ont été divisés en deux groupes: ceux qui utilisaient régulièrement un ordinateur portable sur les genoux et ceux qui ne le faisaient pas.

Résultat: les hommes qui travaillaient avec leur ordinateur portable sur les genoux avaient une concentration de spermatozoïdes significativement plus faible que ceux qui ne le faisaient pas. Ils avaient également un nombre plus élevé de spermatozoïdes anormaux.

Les chercheurs pensent que la chaleur générée par l'ordinateur portable peut endommager les testicules et altérer la production de spermatozoïdes.

Ils recommandent donc aux hommes d'éviter de placer leur ordinateur portable sur leurs genoux lorsqu'ils l'utilisent.

Voici donc quelques conseils pour protéger notre fertilité messieurs:

• Utilisez un support pour ordinateur portable. Cela permettra de surélever l'ordinateur portable et de l’éloigner de vos testicules.
• Faites des pauses régulières. Levez-vous et bougez toutes les 30 minutes pour éviter que la chaleur ne s'accumule.
• Évitez d'utiliser votre ordinateur portable dans un environnement chaud.

En suivant ces conseils simples, on peut contribuer à protéger notre fertilité et maximiser nos chances de devenir père.

Source

Nouvelles données sur le lien entre les CEM, le calcium
et la maladie d'Alzheimer

Révisé par Emily Henderson, B.Sc. 26 avril 2022

Depuis près d'un quart de siècle, les chercheurs étudient l'effet du calcium sur la maladie d'Alzheimer et publient des articles à ce sujet. La recherche a conduit à l'élaboration de l'hypothèse du calcium dans la maladie d'Alzheimer, qui soutient que la maladie d'Alzheimer est causée par un excès de calcium intracellulaire.

Le calcium provoque des changements dans le cerveau

L'accumulation de calcium dans les cellules entraîne divers changements dans le cerveau. Deux changements importants créent les conditions de la maladie d'Alzheimer.

1. Augmentation spécifique de la protéine précurseur de l'amyloïde, de la BACE1 et des agrégats de la protéine bêta-amyloïde.
2. Des changements neurodégénératifs moins spécifiques, notamment la protéine tau hyperphosphorylée et les enchevêtrements neurofibrillaires, la mort cellulaire produite par apoptose ou par autophagie destructrice, le dysfonctionnement synaptique produit par des changements dans les structures neuronales nécessaires à la synapse entre les neurones du cerveau, le stress oxydatif et l'inflammation.

CEM et accumulation de calcium

Les champs électromagnétiques (CEM) pulsés générés par l'électronique et utilisés pour les communications sans fil produisent de manière cohérente de fortes forces électriques et magnétiques qui agissent dans les cellules de notre corps principalement par le biais de l'activation des canaux calciques voltage-gated (VGCC). L'activation des VGCC produit des augmentations rapides des niveaux de calcium intracellulaire. Par conséquent, les expositions aux CEM produisent des changements qui entraînent un excès de calcium intracellulaire. Cette accumulation explique les effets de la maladie d'Alzheimer sur le cerveau.

Ces modifications du taux de calcium intracellulaire induites par les CEM ont été démontrées dans des modèles animaux de la maladie d'Alzheimer. La recherche a montré l'implication de deux voies qui mènent à la maladie d'Alzheimer. Chacune des deux voies produisant des effets physiopathologiques à la suite d'une exposition aux CEM est importante dans la causalité de la maladie d'Alzheimer : la voie de signalisation du calcium excessif et la voie peroxynitrite/stress oxydatif/inflammation.

Le professeur Martin L. Pall, de l'université de l'État de Washington, étudie ce phénomène depuis une dizaine d'années. "Les CEM agissent par le biais de pics électriques et de forces magnétiques variables dans le temps à l'échelle de la nanoseconde", explique le professeur Pall. Ces pics augmentent considérablement avec chaque augmentation de la modulation d'impulsion produite par les téléphones cellulaires plus intelligents, les compteurs intelligents, les villes intelligentes et les radars dans les véhicules à conduite autonome. "Chacun de ces éléments peut engendrer le cauchemar ultime : une maladie d'Alzheimer extrêmement précoce".

Ces résultats constituent une preuve solide que les CEM peuvent provoquer la maladie d'Alzheimer. Les études sur l'homme et l'animal apportent encore plus de preuves à l'hypothèse du calcium dans la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Comparons les preuves

Le professeur Pall résume les preuves dans une revue récente parue dans Current Alzheimer Research.
Des études génétiques et pharmacologiques sur l'homme montrent qu'une activité élevée du VGCC entraîne une augmentation de l'incidence de la maladie d'Alzheimer. Par conséquent, ce n'est pas seulement le calcium qui est important. L'activité du VGCC, qui est directement augmentée par l'exposition aux CEM, joue également un rôle important dans l'apparition de la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Douze évaluations récentes de l'exposition professionnelle ont montré que les personnes exposées aux CEM dans le cadre de leur travail ont une incidence plus élevée de la maladie d'Alzheimer. Certaines études suggèrent que les CEM raccourcissent la période de latence normale de 25 ans de la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Des études antérieures sur l'exposition professionnelle (dans les années 1970 et 1980) ont montré que les effets neurologiques / neuropsychiatriques associés à l'exposition aux CEM se développaient de manière cumulative, de sorte que des durées d'exposition plus longues aux mêmes CEM produisaient des effets plus graves. Ce phénomène est parallèle aux effets cumulatifs de la neurodégénérescence.

L'âge d'apparition de la maladie d'Alzheimer a diminué au cours des 20 dernières années environ, le moment correspondant aux fortes augmentations récentes de l'exposition aux CEM des communications sans fil. Des études récentes font état de cas d'Alzheimer à l'âge de 30 ou 40 ans.

Les personnes très jeunes qui sont exposées aux rayonnements des téléphones portables ou du Wi-Fi pendant de nombreuses heures par jour peuvent développer une démence numérique.

En 2008, El-Swefy et al. ont montré que 2 heures par jour de rayonnement de très faible intensité provenant d'une station de base de téléphonie mobile (tour de téléphonie cellulaire) entraînaient une neurodégénérescence massive du cerveau de jeunes rats. 34 % des cellules cérébrales sont mortes en 4 semaines. 11 changements cérébraux mesurés et 4 changements comportementaux observés ont été considérablement réduits par l'amlodipine, un inhibiteur du canal calcique VGCC. Ces résultats montrent que les CEM auxquels la plupart d'entre nous sont exposés chaque jour ont agi via l'activation du VGCC pour produire une neurodégénérescence universelle, massive et extraordinairement rapide chez les jeunes rats. Les chercheurs n'ont pas examiné les changements cérébraux spécifiques à la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Cependant, Jiang et al. (2013 et 2016), qui ont examiné des impulsions de CEM chez des rats, ont constaté des changements spécifiques à la maladie d'Alzheimer, mais aussi des changements moins spécifiques dans l'hippocampe, une région du cerveau qui est fortement touchée par la maladie d'Alzheimer. Jiang 2013 a exposé des rats âgés de 2 mois à une série d'impulsions de CEM en une journée, constatant des effets universels apparents de la maladie d'Alzheimer chez des rats âgés de 20 mois (ce qui équivaut à peu près à des humains de 42 ans atteints d'une maladie d'Alzheimer quasi universelle). L'article de 2016 exposait les rats à des impulsions de CEM une fois par jour, provoquant l'apparition de la maladie d'Alzheimer à l'âge de 10 mois (comme chez les personnes de 21 ans atteintes d'une maladie d'Alzheimer extrêmement précoce). El-Swefy et Jiang ont tous deux constaté une neurodégénérescence massive chez les jeunes rats simplement en les exposant à des impulsions de CEM.

Que faut-il faire ?

Trois types d'études doivent être réalisés d'urgence par des scientifiques indépendants :

1. Des études sur les marqueurs cérébraux de la maladie d'Alzheimer et des examens IRM du cerveau pour détecter les anomalies chez les jeunes qui présentent des signes de démence numérique.
2. Évaluations de l'exposition aux CEM dans les environnements de prédiagnostic pour les personnes âgées de 30 à 40 ans chez qui on a diagnostiqué une forme précoce de la maladie d'Alzheimer. Ces évaluations devraient comparer les niveaux de rayonnement des téléphones et des tours de téléphonie cellulaire, de rayonnement Wi-Fi, des compteurs intelligents et de l'électricité sale avec ceux des témoins normaux.
3. Examiner les signes précoces de la maladie d'Alzheimer chez les personnes vivant à proximité d'une tour de téléphonie mobile.

• De nouvelles perspectives sur le lien entre les CEM, le calcium et la maladie d'Alzheimer
• Les résultats de chacune de ces études devraient être publiés dans le rapport annuel de la Commission européenne.
• Les résultats de chacune de ces études devraient être communiqués au grand public, afin que chacun puisse prendre les mesures nécessaires pour réduire l'incidence de la maladie d'Alzheimer à un stade précoce".

Professeur Martin L. Pall, Université de l'État de Washington
Source : Bentham Science Publishers :
Bentham Science Publishers
Référence du journal :
Martin, P.L., et al. (2022) Low intensity electromagnetic fields act via voltage- gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation to cause very early onset Alzheimer's disease : 18 types distincts de preuves. Current Alzheimer Research. doi.org/10 .2174/1567205019666220202114510.

Pour consulter l'étude (en anglais ) : Mobile telephony radiation exerts genotoxic action and significantly enhances the effects of gamma radiation in human cells)

QUAND
le 27 décembre prochain à 14 h, heure de Montréal

QUI
Dr. Olle Johansson

OCCASION
Scientific and Medical Network

TITRE
Electrohypersensitivity: A functional Impairment due to a toxic Environment?

LIEN
https://scientificandmedical.net/events/dr-olle-johansson-electrohypersensitivity/

What your smartphone addiction is doing to your brain

The social consequences of smartphones are well-documented. Our peers are too distracted to look up from their devices, to engage in conversation or read outside of their Facebook news feeds. But the impact of mobile technology goes far beyond interpersonal relationships — smartphones can potentially have damaging, physiological effects on your brain function. Smartphone addiction is becoming an increasingly alarming trend scientists are trying to understand. 

There are roadblocks to grasping the neurological impact of smartphones. Despite our attachment to them, smartphones remain a relatively new technology — one that is constantly evolving. This novelty makes studying the influence of smartphones challenging, but researchers are beginning to piece together the bigger picture. 

Behavioral smartphone addiction could have a neurological impact

Perhaps the most prominent academic look into the phenomenon is from James Roberts, a professor of marketing at Baylor University specializing in the "dark side" of consumer behavior. In 2014, he and several colleagues published a paper called "The invisible addiction: Cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students." The findings revealed the legitimacy of the term "smartphone addiction," which can have significant effects on a student's academic performance. 

"An increasing reliance on cell-phones among young adults and college students may signal the evolution of cell-phone use from a habit to an addiction," the paper reads. "Any entity that can produce a pleasurable sensation has the potential of becoming addictive."

"Any oft repeated behavior that triggers 'specific reward effects through biochemical processes in the body do have an addictive potential,'" the paper continues. 

The key word is "biochemical," as its implications signal a transition from psychological behavioral addiction to a neurological detriments. One of the studies Roberts cites in his paper addresses that framework further. From 2011's "When Everyday Consumption Behaviours Morph Into Addictive Consumptive Behaviours":

Likewise, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland's International Center for Media and the Public Agenda, found that people who were asked to stay away from emails, text messages, Facebook, and Twitter updates for 24 hours developed withdrawal symptoms typically seen in smokers attempting to give up smoking. Indeed, emerging research suggests that the same neural circuitry in the brain is involved in response to rewards obtained from seemingly benign repetitive behaviours such as exercising to more problematic behaviours such as gambling and substance abuse.

This research suggests the applications most commonly utilized on smartphones — social media, email and text messaging — can employ the same biological neural networks activated in physical addictions like substance abuse. 

Smartphone over-reliance could imply lazy thinking 

Not only can smartphones theoretically affect brain function, but their use can indicate an individual's propensity for analytical thinking. In a study from the University of Waterloo published in the scientific journal Computers in Human Behavior, researchers found a link between excessive smartphone use and lowered intelligence. Those who rely on intuitive thinking are more likely to use a smartphone's search engine for answers. Analytical thinkers use a device's web browser far less and demonstrate stronger cognitive skills and reasoning. 

Indeed, emerging research suggests that the same neural circuitry in the brain is involved in response to rewards obtained from seemingly benign repetitive behaviours .

"Intelligence is discretionary — people have to deliberately engage their intelligence to solve problems," Gordon Pennycook, co-lead author of the study and current postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, told Mic. 

Think of the brain as a car. You have a Ferrari — and that's like having a very smart, computationally advanced brain — but the gas pedal determines whether or you actually use it or not. If my grandmother had a Ferrari, it would not — practically speaking — be a very fast car, because she would never push the pedal that much. You can be very intelligent and also not exercise its intelligence.

"One thing the smartphone might do is make it easier for us to not exercise our brain," Pennycook said. "It doesn't mean that we're making the car faster or slower, it just means we're not using it to the maximal capacity."

Pennycook maintains the analysis remains speculative for now, but he is wary of the smartphone's ability to impact memory and cognitive power. "When writing was invented, Socrates said that it was going to be the end of memory because people could write things down — they didn't have to remember anymore," he explained. "There's always going to be a push-back against technology."

"Smartphones are really a different thing, though, because they basically are an external memory source," Pennycook continued. "It does seem like there's something really important there but, unfortunately, science doesn't know what exactly it is yet."

Paul Brodeur, autrefois héros de la santé publique, était devenu un alarmiste à sa mort. Comment quelqu'un dont tout le monde s'accorde à dire qu'il a eu raison sur l'amiante peut-il être vilipendé pour s'être trompé sur les micro-ondes et les lignes à haute tension ? Pourtant, Brodeur a vu juste :

• Les micro-ondes et les champs électromagnétiques domestiques peuvent entraîner de profonds changements biologiques. Le lien entre micro-ondes et cancer, loin d'être fantaisiste, semble aujourd'hui plus que probable.
• Il ne fait aucun doute qu'il y a eu, et qu'il y a toujours, une dissimulation. Des forces puissantes - à l'origine le complexe militaro-industriel, et maintenant la société dans son ensemble - ont insisté sur le fait que les rayonnements non-ionisants ne pouvaient pas nous nuire, sauf en nous chauffant. Les recherches complémentaires ont été constamment retardées et supprimées.

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« Si nous devions saisir et éliminer de notre monde industriel les résultats des travaux de monsieur Tesla, les roues de l’industrie s’arrêteraient, les trains seraient immobilisés, nos villes seraient jetées dans la pénombre et nos usines seraient mortes […] Son nom marque une époque dans l’avancement de la science électrique. De ce travail jaillit une révolution. » 
- Bernard-Arthur Behrend, président de l’American Institute of Electrical Engineers

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