Source Article :  Towards Better Health 20th July 2016

The Hidden Marginalization of Persons With Environmental Sensitivities
by Pamela Reed Gibson Department of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC. VOL. 8 NO. 2 JUNE 2016 ECOPSYCHOLOGY

ABSTRACT    This paper constructs persons with environmental sensitivities as comprising a hidden, marginalized group in technological culture that is paying a large price for our industrialized lifestyle. Due to the polluted nature of most public venues, this population is robbed of a sense of “place” necessary to maintain personal relationships. This population is marginalized by health-care providers and shunted into mental health categories, as our current health paradigms are not adequate to frame and categorize health problems caused by our toxic industrial lifestyle. The problem is discussed within the context of the pressures of capitalism, and examples are given of persons with environmental illness receiving mental health diagnoses (an attempted colonization) when they attempt to access mainstream health-care providers who lack knowledge or expertise regarding toxic-induced illness. Key Words: Environmental sensitivities—Multiple chemical sensitivity—Electrical hypersensitivity—Chemical intolerance—Chemical sensitivity—Chemical hypersensitivity.

Read Full Article and Paper HERE

Source Article – Environmental Health Trust

On July 8 2016, the French National Agency of Health Security of Food, Environment and Labour (ANSES) published a new scientific report “Radiofrequency Exposure and the Health of Children”.

Concluding that children are more vulnerable to radio frequency (RF) wireless exposures, the French report recommends immediately reducing exposures to wireless radiation from all wireless devices for young children. Acknowledging the inadequacies of current outdated RF regulations, ANSES recommends strengthening RF exposure limits with child protective safety margins and developing more sophisticated premarket test methods to fully assess human exposures to RF radiation from wireless devices. The new report has made headlines across the country.

“Unlike previous generations, children are exposed today to multiple RF sources at a young age…Children are not miniature adults…because of their smaller size, their anatomical and morphological characteristics and the characteristics of some of their tissues, they are more exposed. In particular, the peripheral areas of their brains are more vulnerable than adults to RF.” –Olivier Merkel, coordinator of the ANSES report:

Recommendations of the Agency

The government agency recommends to “reconsider the regulatory exposure limits” to ensure “sufficiently large safety margins” to protect the health of young children:

• All wireless devices, including tablets, cordless phones, remote controlled toys, wireless toys, baby monitors and surveillance bracelets, should be subjected to the same regulatory obligations as cell phones.
• Compliance with regulatory exposure limits should be insured for the ways that devices are customarily used, such as positioned in contact with the body.
• Exposure limits for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields should be tightened  to ensure sufficiently large safety margins to protect the health and safety of the general population, particularly the health and safety of children.
• Reliance on the specific absorption rate (SAR) to set human exposure limits should be re-evaluated and replaced through the development of an indicator to assess real exposures for mobile phone users that applies to various conditions: signal type,  good or bad reception, mode of use (call, data loading, etc.), location device is used on the body.
• ANSES reiterated its recommendation, as previously stated, to reduce exposure to children: minimize use and prefer a hands-free kit.

READ MORE HERE

http://ehtrust.org/frances-national-health-safety-agency-calls-reducing-childrens-wireless-exposures-anses-2016-report/

http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/frances-national-health-agency-calls-for-reducing-childrens-wireless-exposures-705119.htm

27th May 2016: Source – American Cancer Society Pressroom

“The U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) has released partial results from an animal study of the effect of radiofrequency radiation associated with cell phones. The group found radiofrequency radiation was linked to a higher risk of two cancers. Below is a response from Otis W. Brawley, M.D., American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer.

“For years, the understanding of the potential risk of radiation from cell phones has been hampered by a lack of good science. This report from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) is good science.

“The NTP report linking radiofrequency radiation (RFR) to two types of cancer marks a paradigm shift in our understanding of radiation and cancer risk. The findings are unexpected; we wouldn’t reasonably expect non-ionizing radiation to cause these tumors. This is a striking example of why serious study is so important in evaluating cancer risk. It’s interesting to note that early studies on the link between lung cancer and smoking had similar resistance, since theoretical arguments at the time suggested that there could not be a link.

“The new report covers only partial findings from the study, but importantly one of the two cancers linked to cell phone radiation was malignant gliomas in the brain. The association with gliomas and acoustic neuromas had been suspected from human epidemiology studies. The second cancer, called a schwannoma, is an extremely rare tumor in humans and animals, reducing the possibility that this is a chance finding. And importantly, the study found a ‘dose/response’ effect: the higher the dose, the larger the effect, a key sign that this association may be real.

“The fact that this finding was observed only in male rats has some wondering if the data is not reliable. It’s important to note that these sorts of gender differences often appear in carcinogenic studies, so the fact they show up here should not detract from the importance of the findings.

“This new evidence will undoubtedly factor into ongoing assessments by regulators to determine the potential cancer risk posed by cell phones. The American Cancer Society eagerly awaits guidance from government agencies, like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), about the safety of cell phone use.

“The NTP was given the difficult task of trying to answer important questions about the potential cancer risk posed by cell phones, and the group did not shirk from its responsibility. NTP staff were clearly aware of the potential importance of this study and went the extra distance to ensure the best science is used. They used double the number of animals required for this type of study; they convened not one but three panels to look at abnormal tissues from treated animals to ensure that what was identified as a brain and heart tumor was indeed a brain and heart tumor; they solicited review from multiple scientists from outside the NTP to critically review all aspects of the data analysis and study findings, to ensure the findings would stand up to the critical assessment expected once these unexpected findings were released.

“While this study adds significantly to the evidence that cell phone signals could potentially impact human health, it does not actually tell us how certain scenarios of cell phone use change our long-term risks of getting cancer. For example, the animal studies were performed at very high signal strengths, near but below levels that would cause animal tissue to heat up. Additional research will be needed to translate effects at these high doses to what might be expected at the much lower doses received by typical or even high-end cell phone users. Also, cell phone technology continues to evolve, and with each new generation, transmission strengths have declined and with it radio frequency exposures.”

Read  Source Article From American Cancer Society HERE

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27th May 2016 NEWS RELEASE

The associate director of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) will provide an update and answer questions about a series of rodent studies on potential cancer risks from cell phone radiofrequency radiation.

NTP is releasing a report of its findings in rats. These findings are available at http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/05/26/055699. The report is titled, “Report of Partial Findings From the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley SD Rats (Whole Body Exposure).”  Studies in mice are still underway.

31st  May 2016 Source Article –  Bioinitiative.org

Orebro University, Sweden May 31, 2016

The National Toxicology Program under the National Institutes of Health has completed the largest-ever animal study on cell phone radiation and cancer.  The results confirm that cell phone radiation exposure levels within the currently allowable safety limits are the “likely cause” of brain and heart cancers in these animals, according to Dr. John Bucher, Associate Director of the NTP.  One in twelve (12) male rats developed either malignant cancer (brain and rare heart tumors) or pre-cancerous lesions that can lead to cancer.  Tumors called schwannomas were induced in the heart, in the same kind of cells in the brain that have lead to acoustic neuromas seen in human studies.  The NTP says it is important to release these completed findings now given the implications to global health.  No cancers occurred in the control group.

Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD of Orebro University says “(T)he animal study confirms our findings in epidemiological studies of an increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma among people that use wireless phones, both cell phones and cordless phones (DECT).  Acoustic neuroma is a type of Schwannoma, so interestingly this study confirms findings in humans of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma.   In 2013 we called for upgrading the risk in humans to Group 1, the agent is carcinogenic to humans. It is now time to re-evaluate both the cancer risk and other potential health effects in humans from radiofrequency radiation and also inform the public.”  says Hardell.   “This NTP evidence is greatly strengthening the evidence of risk, is sufficient to reclassify cell phone radiation as a known cancer-causing agent, and confirms the inadequacy of existing public safety limits.”

The World Health Organization’s 10-year study of human use of mobile phones concluded there is an increased risk for malignant brain tumors among the heavier mobile phone users, particularly where it is used mostly on one side of the head.  The 2010 Interphone mega-study of cancer in humans using mobile phones found higher cancer risk, but at that time there was little animal testing to support the risks identified in humans.  Now, this NTP study has shown statistically significant risks with a dose-response relationship to the amount of exposure.  It proves that non-ionizing radiation can plausibly cause cancer, not just ionizing radiation like x-rays and puts to rest the traditional scientific argument that cell phone radiation can’t do harm.

Dr. Bucher said the animals’ exposure was about the same as for people who are heavy users of cell phones.  He also confirmed that the exposure of 1.5 W/Kg is lower than currently allowed under FCC public safety limits. Testing on rats is standard in predicting human cancers.

The BioInitiative Report (2014) documents nervous system effects in 68% of studies on radiofrequency radiation (144 of 211 studies).  This has increased from 63% in 2012 (93 of 150 studies). Genetic effects (damage to DNA) from radiofrequency radiation is reported in 65% (74 of 114 studies); and 83% (49 of 59 studies) of extremely-low frequency studies.

Dr. Christopher Portier, formerly with the NTP commented this is not just an associated finding—but that the relationship between radiation exposure and cancer is clear.  “I would call it a causative study, absolutely. They controlled everything in the study. It’s [the cancer] because of the exposure. “This is by far—far and away—the most carefully done cell phone bioassay, a biological assessment. This is a classic study that is done for trying to understand cancers in humans”.

See:    www.bioinitiative.org

Contact:    info@bioinitiative.org

Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD    lennart_hardell@hotmail.com

+ Cell Phone Radiation Study Confirms Cancer Risk (PDF)

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURES ACT VIA ACTIVATION OF VOLTAGE-GATED CALCIUM CHANNELS. How this leads to diverse impacts on Health

Dr Martin Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Washington State University speaking at Breakspear Medical Hospital, UK, April 2016

The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are often thought to be unable to produce biological effects and current safety guidelines are based on this assumption. However, thousands of primary literature studies repeatedly report diverse health effects from extremely low frequency EMFs. Dr Martin Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Washington State University, will explain how people may be exhibiting sensitivity to extremely low frequency EMFs in his lecture describing EMF activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC).

Source Article : O’Dwyer’s Inside News of Public Relations & Marketing Communications

by Jack O’Dwyer 20th April 2016

‘WiFi health advocates were exultant today at news that an Israeli TV documentary titled “How We are Killing Ourselves—Wireless Radiation” won a high rating and Haifi ordered Wi-Fi removed from all schools.

The 30-minute documentary about the “epidemic of Electro-Sensitivity” (ES) aired at 9 p.m. April 12 and “received the highest rating of the day,” according to Dafna Tachover, an attorney with offices in Israel and New York.

Watch the Documentary with English Subtitles HERE

Tachover said Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav announced the city, third largest in Israel, is immediately removing Wi-Fi from its schools, saying “When there is a doubt, when it comes to our children, there is no doubt.”

“Electro-Sensitivity is an epidemic and not three percent of the population. We are now in the double digits in terms of ES. The public must be told. Wi-Fi in schools is a disaster and as a person who spends two to four hours every day on the phone with people and children who got sick, with many contemplate committing suicide, I urge you all to be uncompromising. The truth, and all of it must be told. Continued good luck to us all and thanks to anyone out there who stands up to evil and stupidity.”

Read More from Jack O’Dwyer on dangers of Wifi and Electromagnetic Radiation HERE

OCTOBER 2015
A mechanism proposed by Dr. Martin Pall

A common argument used to deny the existence of biologic and health effects from exposure to low-intensity microwave radiation is that there is no possible biologic mechanism.

Professor Emeritus Martin Pall, PhD, in an hour-long interview describes a biologic mechanism by which the microwave radiation emitted by cell phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi, wireless baby monitors, smart meters, cell phone towers, and other wireless devices can harm us as well as other species.

Dr. Pall recently published four peer-reviewed papers that explain how exposure to low-intensity (i.e., non-thermal) pulsed electromagnetic fields opens voltage-gated calcium channels in cell membranes allowing excess calcium to penetrate the cells. This increases nitric oxide and superoxide in the cells, leading to production of free radicals, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Potential health effects include cancer, male and female infertility, neurodegenerative disease, neuropsychiatric conditions, and electromagnetic hypersensitivity. In addition, microwave radiation in conjunction with specific chemical exposures may increase autism risk.

Radio Interview PROGRESSIVE RADIO NETWORK

Read More ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SAFETY

Dr. Martin L. Pall, PhD is a Professor  Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences at Washington State University, and author of the acclaimed  book “Explaining ‘Unexplained Illnesses’: Disease Paradigm for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gulf War Syndrome”.  

He published an important paper on how electromagnetic fields ( EMFs) impact the cells of our bodies   The study was honored by inclusion at the “ Global Medical Discovery” as one of the top publications of 2013. 

Submission to UN Convention on the Rights of Persons and Disabilities – a Request for submissions/feedback on the right to inclusive education, article 24 – by 15 January 2016 – submitted by Ethna Monks, IERVN, 13.1.16   “Draft general comment on art. 24 UNCRPD”

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your draft general comment regarding the right to inclusive education.

In 2015, Jenny Fry, a student in the UK, took her own life as she was suffering from electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and found an environment laden with electromagnetic/radio frequency/Wi-Fi (EMF/RF/Wi-Fi) pulsed microwaves too painful to bear. Few people recognized her symptoms or understood her problem, few had any information about this functional disability/environmental impairment.

The transformation of culture, policy and practice in educational environments is faced, in a neoliberal market, with pressure from a telecommunications industry whose only interest is profit and Governments who seem to believe they have little option, for fear of harming industrial investments.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as a class 2B possible carcinogen (2011), and currently there are approximately 22,000 independent scientific research papers along with doctors and scientists appeals, all spelling out the health effects from EMF/RF/Wi-Fi exposure. In May 2015, for example, a new appeal was forwarded to the United Nations and the WHO by a group of 200 EMF-bioeffects scientists. Their request was for more precautionary exposure regulations and for information to be made available to protect public health.

The installation of a plethora of wireless devices and the enforced use of iPads for children in school and for school homework is shortsighted in light of these studies. Many children are already victims of electrohypersensitivity and teachers, doctors etc have not been informed or trained to recognize the symptoms of this impairment or to deal with the issue.

The BioInitiative report informs us that these ‘exposures can alter and damage genes, trigger epigenetic changes to gene expression and cause de novo mutations that prevent genetic recovery and healing mechanisms. These exposures may interfere with normal cardiac and brain function; alter circadian rhythms that regulate sleep, healing, and hormone balance; impair short-term memory, concentration, learning and behavior; provoke aberrant immune, allergic and inflammatory responses in tissues; alter brain metabolism; increase risks for reproductive failure (damage sperm and increase miscarriage risk); and cause cells to produce stress proteins’.

From this we can deduce that school exposure to EMF/RF/Wi-Fi affects learning, behaviour, memory and concentration and this is before we even consider the physical health effects.

If education is to encourage inclusiveness, this issue needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. For a growing number of children EMF/RF/Wi-Fi is a barrier to the possibility of inclusiveness as they become marginalized because of their impairment.

Who will take responsibility for the increase in neurological disorders and cancers that may develop in school settings, as well as the potential reproductive problems of the next generation?

At present guidelines only refer to protecting the public against heating/thermal bioeffects based on short-term emissions but not against non-thermal, pulsed or continuous effects, which are more dangerous.

We propose that wired technology be installed in schools as well as the distribution of information to students and/or their parents and teachers regarding the potential health effects of EMF/RF/Wi-Fi and, most importantly, the instigation of the precautionary principal.

Ethna Monks, IERVN (www.iervn.com), Ireland

On 6th February, Jeromy Johnson, gave the first ever TEDTalk on wireless/EMF/smart meter health effects at TEDxBerkeley.  Jeromy has a master’s degree in engineering and had a successful career in Silicon Valley before he began to experience negative health effects from wireless technology and electrical pollution

For more information see Jeromy Johnson’s website emfanalysis.com

Source http://mieuxprevenir.blogspot.ie/

British physician Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe has written an excellent resource on electromagnetic hypersensitivity (also know as electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and electrosensitivity (ES).)

http://mieuxprevenir.blogspot.ie/2015/12/a-paper-on-electromagnetic.html