Radio-frequency radiation and birth defects: Is there a risk to human health?

Congenital Anomalies

Volumn 39, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 59-73

  Barnett, Stanley B ^a  

^a CSIRO   (Australia)

Author keywords

Birth defects; Electro magnetic radiation; Radio frequency radiation; Telecommunications; Teratogenic effects

Indexed keywords

EID: 3242764582     PISSN: 09143505     EISSN: 17414520     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-4520.1999.tb00991.x     Document Type: Review

References (57)

1. Altpeter, E.S. Krebs, T., Pfluger. D.H., von Kanel, J., Blattmann, R., et al. (1955) Study on health effects of the shortwave transmitter station of Schwarzenburg, Berne, Switzerland. University of Berne and Federal Office of Energy. BEW Publication Series Study 55.
2. ANSI (1992) American National Standard Safety Levels with respect to human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (3,300 kHz -100 GHz). New York, American National Standards Institute, IEEE C95.1
3. AS2772 ( 1990) AustralialNew Zealand Standard. Radiofrequency fields Part 1: Maximum exposure levels - 3 KHz to 300 GHz. AS2772.1.
4. Barnett, S.B. (1994) Status of Research on Biological EffecTs and Safety of Electromagnetic Radiation: Telecommunications Frequencies. Report to Spectrum Management Agency. Australian Department of Communications and the Arts.
5. Berman, E. and Carter, H.B. (1984) Decreased body weight in fetal rats after irradiation with 2,450-MHz (CW) microwaves. Health Physics. 46: 537-542.
6. Berman, E., Carter, H.B. and House, D. (1984) Growth and development of mice offspring after irradiation in utero with 2,450 MHz microwaves. Teratology, 30: 393-402.
7. Chambers. C.D., Johnson, K.A., Dick, L.M., Felix, R.J. and Jones, K.L. (1998) Maternal fever and birth outcome: A prospective study. Teratology, 58: 25 1-257.
8. Chazan, B., Janiak, M., Kobus, M., Marcickiewicz, J., Troszynski, M. and Szmigielski, S. (1983) Effects of microwave exposure in utero on embryonal, fetal and postnatal development of mice. Biol. Neonate, 44: 339-348.
9. Cleary, S.F., Liu, L.M. and Merchant, R.E. (1990) Glioma proliferation modulated in virro by radio-frequency radiation exposure. Radiat. Res., 121: 38-45.
10. Edwards, M.J. (1968) Congenital defects in guinea pigs. Prenatal retardation of brain growth following hyperthermia during gestation. Teratology, 2: 329-336.
11. Edwards, M.J. (1986) Hyperthermia as a teratogen: A review of experimental studies and their clinical significance. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen., 6: 563-582.
12. Edwards, M.J. (1993) Hyperthermia and birth defects. Cornell Vet., 83: 1-7.
13. Edwards, M.J., Mulley, R., Ring, S. and Wanner, R.A. (1974) Mitotic cell death and delay in mitotic activity in guinea-pig embryos following brief maternal hyperthermia. J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 32: 593-602.
14. Edwards, M.J., Shiota, K., Smith, M.S.R. and Walsh, D.A. ( 1995) Hyperthermia and birth defects. Reprod. Toxicol., 9: 41 1-425.
15. Fleming, A.H.J. and Joyner, K.H. (1992) Estimates of absorption of radiofrequency radiation by the embryo and fetus during pregnancy. Health Phys., 63: 149-159.
16. Germain. M.A., Webster, W.S. and Edwards, M.J. (1985) Hyperthermia as a teratogen: Parameters determining hyperthermia-induced head defects in the rat. Teratology, 31: 265-272.
17. Gordon, C.J. (1988) Effect of radiofrequency radiation exposure on thermoregulation. IS1 Atlas of Science: Plants and Animals, 1: 245-250.
18. Graham, J.M., Edwards, M.J. and Edwards, M.J. (1998) Teratogen update: Gestational effects of maternal hyperthermia due to febrile illness and resultant patterns of defects in humans. Teratology, 58: 209-221.
19. Hrazdira. I., Sulcova, A., Kellnerova, R. and Huskova, B. (1995) Prenatal application of diagnostic ultrasound in mice. Ultrasound Med. Biol., 21: 427-430.
20. Inouye, M., Galvin, M.S. and McRee, D.I. (1982) Effects of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the development of Japanese Quail cerebellum. Teratology, 25: 115-121.
21. Inouye, M., Calvin. M.S. and McRee, D.I. (1983) Effect of 2,450 MHz microwave radiation on the development of the rat brain. Terdtology, 28: 413-419.
22. ICNIRP (1996) Health issues related to the use of hand held radiotelephones and base transmitters. Health Phys., 70: 587-593.
23. IRPA (1988) International Non-lonising Radiation Committee of the International Radiation Protection Association (INIRC-IRPA). Guideline on limits of exposure to radio-frequency electro magnetic fields in the frequency range from 100 GHz to 300 GHz. Health Phys., 54: 115-123.
24. Jensh RP. (1984a) Studies of the teratogenic potential of exposure of rats to 6 GHz microwave radiation. I . Morphologic analysis at term. Radiat. Res. 97: 272-281.
25. Jensh, R.P. (1984b) Studies of the teratogenic potential of exposure of rats to 6 GHz microwave radiation. II. Postnatal psychophysiologic evaluations. Radiat. Res., 97: 282-301.
26. Jensh, R.P., Vogel, W.H. and Brent, R.L. (1982a) Postnatal functional analysis of prenatal exposure of rats to 915 MHz microwave radiation. J. Am. Coll. Toxicol., 1: 73-90.
27. Jensh, R.P., Vogel, W.H. and Brent, R.L. (1983a) An evaluation of the teratogenic potential of protracted exposure of pregnant rats to 2,450 MHz microwave radiation. I. Morphologic analysis at term. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 2: 23-35.
28. Jensh, R.P., Vogel, W.H. and Brent, R.L. (1983b) An evaluation of the teratogenic potential of protracted exposure of pregnant rats to 2,450 MHz microwave radiation. II. Postnatal psychophysiologic analysis. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 2: 37-59.
29. Jensh, R.P., Weinberg, I . and Brent, R.L. (1982b) Teratologic studies of prenatal exposure of rats to 915 MHz microwave radiation. Radiat. Res., 92: 160-171.
30. Kimmel, C.A., Cuff, J.M., Kimmel, G.L., Heredia, D.J., Tudor, N., Silverman, P.M. and Chen, J. (1993) Skeletal development following heat exposure in the rat. Teratology, 47: 229-242.
31. Lai, H. (1994) Neurological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. In: Lin, J.C., ed. Advances in Electromagnetic Fields in Living Systems. New York: Plenum Press. 27-80.
32. Lai, H., Carino, M.A. and Guy, A.W. ( 1989) Low level microwave irradiation and central cholinergic systems. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav., 33: 131-138.
33. Lai, H., Carino, M.A. and Guy, A.W. (1992) Single vs repeated microwave exposure: effects on benzodiazapine receptors in the brain of the rat. Bioelectromagnetics, 13: 57-66.
34. Lai, H., Horita, A. and Guy. A.W. (1994) Microwave irradiation affects radial-arm maze performance in the rat. Bioelectromagnetics, 15: 95-104.
35. Lai, H. and Singh, N.P. (1995) Acute low intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single strand breaks in rat brain cells. Bioelectromagnetics, 16: 207-210.
36. Lary, J.M. and Conover, D.L. (1987) Teratogenic effects of radiofrequency radiation. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Mag., 42-46.
37. Magras, I.N. and Xenos, T.D. (1997) RF Radiation-induced changes in the prenatal development of mice. Bioelectromagnetics, 18: 455-461.
38. Malyapa, R.S., Ahern, E.W., Straube, W.L., Moros, E.G., Pickard, W.F. and Roti Roti, J.L. (1997) Measurement of DNA damage after exposure to 2,450 MHz electromagnetic radiation. Radiat. Res., 148: 608-617.
39. Marcickiewicz, J., Chazan, B. Niemiec, T. Sokolska, G., Troszynski, N., Luczak, M. and Szmigielski, S. (1986) Microwave radiation enhances teratogenic effect of cytosine arabinoside in mice. Biol. Neonate, 50: 75-82.
40. McKinlay, A. (1997) Radiotelephones and human health: A European research initiative. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 72: 3 13-320.
41. Merritt, J.H., Hardy, K.A. and Chamness, A.F. (1984) In ufero exposure to microwave radiation and rat brain development. Bioelectromagnetics, 5: 3 15-322.
42. Nawrot. P.S., McRee, D.I. and Staples, R.E. (1981) Effects of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on embryo-fetal development in mice. Teratology, 24: 303-3 14.
43. Nelson, B.K., Conover, D.L., Shaw, P.B., Werren, D.W., Edwards, R.M. and Hoberman, A.M. (1994) Interactive developmental toxicity of radiofrequency radiation and 2-methoxyethanol in rats. Teratology, 50: 275-293.
44. O'Connor. M.E. ( 1980) Mammalian teratogenesis and radiofrequency fields. Proc. IEEE, 68: 56-60.
45. O'Connor, M.E. (1990) Teratogenesis: Nonionizing electromagnetic fields. In: Gandhi, O.P., ed. Biological Effects and Medical Applications of Electromagnetic Energy. New Jersey Prentice Hall. 357-372.
46. Pohorecky, L.A. and Roberts, P. (1991) Activity in a modified open-field apparatus: Effect of diazepam and prenatal stress. Neurotoxicol. Teratol, 13: 129-133.
47. Repacholi, M., Basten, A., Gebski. V., Noonan. D., Finni.I. and Harris, A.W. (1997) Lymphomas in Eμ-Piml transgenic mice exposed to pulsed 900 MHz electromagnetic fields. Radiat. Res. 147: 631-640.
48. Saito, K., Kajigaya. H., Imamura, K., Goto, N. and Isoda, M. (1986) The effect of low-level RF exposure on the growth and reproduction in mice. J. Growth, 25: 39-45.
49. Saito, K., Goto, N., Ogasawara, T. Imamura, K. and Isoda, M. (1987) Growth pattern of several organs in mice under low-level RF exposure. J. Growth, 26: 69-73.
50. Saito, K. and Suzuki. K. (1993) Biological effects of radiofrequency radiation on chick embryo. Teratology, 48: 514.
51. Saito, K., Suzuki, K. and Motoyoshi, S. (1991) Lethal and teratogenic effects of long-term low intensity radiofrequency radiation at 428 MHz on developing chick embryo. Teratology, 43: 609-614.
52. Sasaki, J., Yamaguchi, A., Nabeshima. Y., Shigemitsu, S., Mesaki, N. and Kubo, T. (1995) Exercise at high temperature causes maternal hyperthermia and fetal anomoliea in rats. Teratology, 51: 233-236.
53. Shiota, K. (1982) Neural tube defects and maternal hyperthermia in early pregnancy: Epidemiology in a human embryo population. Am. J. Med. Genet., 12: 281-288.
54. Shiota, K. (1988) Induction of neural tube defects and skeletal malformations in mice following brief hyperthermia in utero. Biol. Neonate, 53: 86-97.
55. Tikkanen, J. and Heinonen, O.P. (1991) Maternal hyperthermia during pregnancy and cardiovascular malformations in the offspring. Eur. J. Epidemiol., 7: 628-635.
56. Walsh, D.A., Hightower, L.E., Klein, N.W. and Edwards, M.J. (1985) The induction of heat shock protein during early mammalian development. Heat Shock Cold Spring Harbour Symposium, Aug 28-Sep. 1.2: 92.
57. Warkany, J. ( 1986) Teratogen update: Hyperthermia. Teratology, 33: 365-371.