Biological responses to electromagnetic fields1 (original) (raw)

Electrification in developed countries has progressively increased the mean level of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) to which populations are exposed; these humanmade fields are substantially above the naturally occurring ambient electric and magnetic fields of Ç10 04 Vm 01 and Ç10 013 T, respectively. Several epidemiological studies have concluded that ELF-EMFs may be linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly childhood leukemia. These observations have been reinforced by cellular studies reporting EMF-induced effects on biological systems, most notably on the activity of components of the pathways that regulate cell proliferation. However, the limited number of attempts to directly replicate these experimental findings have been almost uniformly unsuccessful, and no EMF-induced biological response has yet been replicated in independent laboratories. Many of the most well-defined effects have come from gene expression studies; several attempts have been made recently to repeat these key findings. This review analyses these studies and summarizes other reports of major cellular responses to EMFs and the published attempts at replication. The opening sections discuss quantitative aspects of exposure to EMFs and the incidence of cancers that have been correlated with such fields. The concluding section considers the problems that confront research in this area and suggests feasible strategies.-Lacy-Hulbert, A., Metcalfe, J. C., Hesketh, R. Biological responses to electromagnetic fields. FASEB J. 12, 395-420 (1998) Key Words: ELF-EMFs · protein kinase C · tumor development · growth factors · cell proliferation · geomagnetic field 1 This review is dedicated to Dr. Brian Maddock, who died suddenly in October 1997. Brian Maddock had been Administrator of the EMF Biological Research Trust in the U.K. since its inception and played a major role in coordinating and implementing the research programs funded by the Trust. Through his work in that position, he was well known to everyone involved in EMF research in the U.K., and also to many of our colleagues in the U.S. and in Europe. Throughout this community, he was regarded with much respect and affection.

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