Kjell Mild - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kjell Mild

International Journal of Scientific Reports, Sep 21, 2020

Letter to the Editor Comments on electromagnetic field exposure on sleep Sir, We have read the ne... more Letter to the Editor Comments on electromagnetic field exposure on sleep Sir, We have read the newly published paper by Gandhi et al (2020) in which they set out to investigate the effects of exposure from a mobile phone on the sleep patterns of medical students. 1 The study population is subjects who keep their phone less than 1 m from the head during sleep.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply t... more The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by WHO to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. The named authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication.

Frontiers in Public Health, 2018

A complex mixture of electromagnetic fields is used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): static, ... more A complex mixture of electromagnetic fields is used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): static, low-frequency, and radio frequency magnetic fields. Commonly, the static magnetic field ranges from one to three Tesla. The low-frequency field can reach several millitesla and with a time derivative of the order of some Tesla per second. The radiofrequency (RF) field has a magnitude in the microtesla range giving rise to specific absorption rate values of a few Watts per kilogram. Very little attention has been paid to the case where there is a combined exposure to several different fields at the same time. Some studies have shown genotoxic effects in cells after exposure to an MRI scan while others have not demonstrated any effects. A typical MRI exam includes muliple imaging sequences of varying length and intensity, to produce different types of images. Each sequence is designed with a particular purpose in mind, so one sequence can, for example, be optimized for clearly showing fat water contrast, while another is optimized for high-resolution detail. It is of the utmost importance that future experimental studies give a thorough description of the exposure they are using, and not just a statement such as "An ordinary MRI sequence was used." Even if the sequence is specified, it can differ substantially between manufacturers on, e.g., RF pulse height, width, and duty cycle. In the latest SCENIHR opinion, it is stated that there is very little information regarding the health effects of occupational exposure to MRI fields, and long-term prospective or retrospective cohort studies on workers are recommended as a high priority. They also state that MRI is increasingly used in pediatric diagnostic imaging, and a cohort study into the effects of MRI exposure on children is recommended as a high priority. For the exposure assessment in epidemiological studies, there is a clear difference between patients and staff and further work is needed on this. Studies that explore the possible differences between MRI scan sequences and compare them in terms of exposure level are warranted.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019

The main aim of the study was to identify and describe methods using non-ionizing radiation (NIR)... more The main aim of the study was to identify and describe methods using non-ionizing radiation (NIR) such as electromagnetic fields (EMF) and optical radiation in Swedish health care. By examining anticipated exposure levels and by identifying possible health hazards we also aimed to recognize knowledge gaps in the field. NIR is mainly used in health care for diagnosis and therapy. Three applications were identified where acute effects cannot be ruled out: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electrosurgery. When using optical radiation, such as class 3 and 4 lasers for therapy or surgical procedures and ultra-violet light for therapy, acute effects such as unintentional burns, photo reactions, erythema and effects on the eyes need to be avoided. There is a need for more knowledge regarding long-term effects of MRI as well as on the combination of different NIR exposures. Based on literature and after consulting staff we conclude that the health...

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2016

Objective Over the years increasing use of cell phone technology have raised concern regarding th... more Objective Over the years increasing use of cell phone technology have raised concern regarding this technology. Due to this concern, studies have been performed and some indicates a negative effect of cell phone on reproduction hormones testosterone and luteinizing hormone. However, methodological weaknesses have been a major issue in this research. The present study assesses reproductive hormones among healthy young men who use cell phones. Materials and methods 24 healthy male students were investigated with questionnaire on background factors and cell phone habits. In addition three repeated blood-samples, all taken with a very specific protocol were collected. Analyses has been done on testosterone and luteinizing hormone. Results The hormone levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone revealed no major differences in regards to how the participants used the cell phone in number of minutes per day, and nor by which cell phone technology they had (GSM or 3G). Conclusions This study does not find an influence on the male reproductive hormones testosterone and luteinizing hormone, neither by cell phone use nor cell phone technology among young men. The protocol for the study was very strict and potential confounding was addressed. However, uncertainties in exposure assessment warrant future studies with better exposure classification to confirm our findings.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2007

Here we present the pooled analysis of 2 case-control studies on the association of brain tumours... more Here we present the pooled analysis of 2 case-control studies on the association of brain tumours with mobile phone use. Use of analogue cellular phones increased the risk for acoustic neuroma by 5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2-9% per 100 hrs of use. The risk increased for astrocytoma grade III-IV with latency period with highest estimates using >10-year time period from first use of these phone types. The risk increased per one year of use of analogue phones by 10%, 95% CI = 6-14%, digital phones by 11%, 95% CI = 6-16%, and cordless phones by 8%, 95% CI = 5-12%. For all studied phone types OR for brain tumours, mainly acoustic neuroma and malignant brain tumours, increased with latency period, especially for astrocytoma grade III-IV.

International journal of oncology, 2011

We studied the association between use of mobile and cordless phones and malignant brain tumours.... more We studied the association between use of mobile and cordless phones and malignant brain tumours. Pooled analysis was performed of two case-control studies on patients with malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1997-2003 and matched controls alive at the time of study inclusion and one case-control study on deceased patients and controls diagnosed during the same time period. Cases and controls or relatives to deceased subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Replies were obtained for 1,251 (85%) cases and 2,438 (84%) controls. The risk increased with latency period and cumulative use in hours for both mobile and cordless phones. Highest risk was found for the most common type of glioma, astrocytoma, yielding in the >10 year latency group for mobile phone use odds ratio (OR) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9-3.7 and cordless phone use OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9. In a separate analysis, these phone types were independent risk factors for glioma. The r...

International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE, 2008

Medical electronic devices and metallic implants are found in an increasing number of workers. In... more Medical electronic devices and metallic implants are found in an increasing number of workers. Industrial applications requiring intense electromagnetic fields (EMF) are growing and the potential risk of injurious interactions arising from EMF affecting devices or implants needs to be managed. Potential interactions include electromagnetic interference, displacement, and electrostimulation or heating of adjacent tissue, depending on the device or implant and the frequency of the fields. A guidance note, which uses a risk management framework, has been developed to give generic advice in (a) risk identification--implementing procedures to identify workers with implants and to characterise EMF exposure within a workplace; (b) risk assessment--integrating the characteristics of devices, the anatomical localisation of implants, occupational hygiene data, and application of basic physics principles; and (c) risk control--advising the worker and employer regarding safety and any necessary...

International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2010

The lipocalin type of prostaglandin D synthase or ß-trace protein is synthesized in the choroid p... more The lipocalin type of prostaglandin D synthase or ß-trace protein is synthesized in the choroid plexus, leptomeninges and oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system and is secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid. ß-trace protein is the key enzyme in the synthesis of prostaglandin D2, an endogenous sleep-promoting neurohormone in the brain. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the radio frequency (RF) range have in some studies been associated with disturbed sleep. We studied the concentration of ß-trace protein in blood in relation to emissions from wireless phones. This study included 62 persons aged 18-30 years. The concentration of ß-trace protein decreased with increasing number of years of use of a wireless phone yielding a negative ß coefficient =-0.32, 95% confidence interval-0.60 to-0.04. Also cumulative use in hours gave a negative ß coefficient, although not statistically significant. Of the 62 persons, 40 participated in an experimental study with 30 min exposure to an 890-MHz GSM signal. No statistically significant change of ß-trace protein was found. In a similar study of the remaining 22 participitants with no exposure, ß-trace protein increased significantly over time, probably due to a relaxed situation. EMF emissions may down-regulate the synthesis of ß-trace protein. This mechanism might be involved in sleep disturbances reported in persons exposed to RF fields. The results must be interpreted with caution since use of mobile and cordless phones were self-reported. Awareness of exposure condition in the experimental study may have influenced ßtrace protein concentrations.

International journal of oncology, 2013

We previously conducted a case-control study of acoustic neuroma. Subjects of both genders aged 2... more We previously conducted a case-control study of acoustic neuroma. Subjects of both genders aged 20-80 years, diagnosed during 1997-2003 in parts of Sweden, were included, and the results were published. We have since made a further study for the time period 2007-2009 including both men and women aged 18-75 years selected from throughout the country. These new results for acoustic neuroma have not been published to date. Similar methods were used for both study periods. In each, one population-based control, matched on gender and age (within five years), was identified from the Swedish Population Registry. Exposures were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire supplemented by a phone interview. Since the number of acoustic neuroma cases in the new study was low we now present pooled results from both study periods based on 316 participating cases and 3,530 controls. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, gender, year of diagnosis and socio-...

Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2010

Radiofrequency field (RF) exposure provided cognitive benefits in an animal study. In Alzheimer&#... more Radiofrequency field (RF) exposure provided cognitive benefits in an animal study. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice, exposure reduced brain amyloid-beta (Abeta) deposition through decreased aggregation of Abeta and increase in soluble Abeta levels. Based on our studies on humans on RF from wireless phones, we propose that transthyretin (TTR) might explain the findings. In a cross-sectional study on 313 subjects, we used serum TTR as a marker of cerebrospinal fluid TTR. We found a statistically significantly positive beta coefficient for TTR for time since first use of mobile phones and desktop cordless phones combined (P=0.03). The electromagnetic field parameters were similar for the phone types. In a provocation study on 41 persons exposed for 30 min to an 890-MHz GSM signal with specific absorption rate of 1.0 Watt/kg to the temporal area of the brain, we found statistically significantly increased serum TTR 60 min after exposure. In our cross-sectional study, use of oral snu...

International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2003

Two Swedish epidemiological studies have shown an association between the use of mobile telephone... more Two Swedish epidemiological studies have shown an association between the use of mobile telephones, mainly of the analogue type, and brain tumours. These findings have been corroborated in a Finnish study. Supportive evidence has also come from studies in USA, but these investigations, as well as a Danish study, are inconclusive due to e.g., few exposed subjects, short latency periods and methodological shortcomings. The Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) engaged two epidemiologists from a private company to conduct a review of the literature. They claimed that use of mobile telephones is not associated with increased risk for brain tumours. Their conclusion was, however, based on an unbalanced view of current literature in favour of studies showing no association. These circumstances are further explored in this communication. Contents

Environmental Health, 2011

Case-control studies on adults point to an increased risk of brain tumours (glioma and acoustic n... more Case-control studies on adults point to an increased risk of brain tumours (glioma and acoustic neuroma) associated with the long-term use of mobile phones. Recently, the first study on mobile phone use and the risk of brain tumours in children and adolescents, CEFALO, was published. It has been claimed that this relatively small study yielded reassuring results of no increased risk. We do not agree. We consider that the data contain several indications of increased risk, despite low exposure, short latency period, and limitations in the study design, analyses and interpretation. The information certainly cannot be used as reassuring evidence against an association, for reasons that we discuss in this commentary.

Proceedings of the IEEE, 1980

RF fields, and some recent studies of the exposure are presented.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2005

To investigate the association between the use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk fo... more To investigate the association between the use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk for brain tumours in different geographical areas, urban and rural. Methods: Patients aged 20-80 years, living in the middle part of Sweden, and diagnosed between 1 January 1997 and 30 June 2000 were included. One control matched for sex and age in five year age groups was selected for each case. Use of different phone types was assessed by a questionnaire. Results: The number of participating cases was 1429; there were 1470 controls. An effect of rural living was most pronounced for digital cellular telephones. Living in rural areas yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.4 (95% CI 0.98 to 2.0), increasing to 3.2 (95% CI 1.2 to 8.4) with .5 year latency time for digital phones. The corresponding ORs for living in urban areas were 0.9 (95% CI 0.8 to 1.2) and 0.9 (95% CI 0.6 to 1.4), respectively. This effect was most obvious for malignant brain tumours. Conclusion: In future studies, place of residence should be considered in assessment of exposure to microwaves from cellular telephones, although the results in this study must be interpreted with caution due to low numbers in some of the calculations.

Neuroepidemiology, 2010

We investigated the use of mobile or cordless phones and the risk for malignant brain tumors in a... more We investigated the use of mobile or cordless phones and the risk for malignant brain tumors in a group of deceased cases. Most previous studies have either left out deceased cases of brain tumors or matched them to living controls and therefore a study matching deceased cases to deceased controls is warranted. Recall error is one issue since it has been claimed that increased risks reported in some studies could be due to cases blaming mobile phones as a cause of the disease. This should be of less importance for deceased cases and if cancer controls are used. In this study brain tumor cases aged 20–80 years diagnosed during 1997–2003 that had died before inclusion in our previous studies on the same topic were included. Two control groups were used: one with controls that had died from another type of cancer than brain tumor and one with controls that had died from other diseases. Exposure was assessed by a questionnaire sent to the next-of-kin for both cases and controls. Replies...

JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2001

JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2010

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2010