Importance of Dosimetry for Microwave Radiation including WiFi Karl Maret M.D., M.Eng., B.Sc.(EE) President Dove Health Alliance Aptos, CA kmaret@cruzio.com (831) 662-8421 (Clinic)
Sources of RF/Microwave Radiation Cell Phones DECT Cordless Telephones Wi-Fi in Schools & Homes Smart Meters Home Area Networks TeraHertz Airport Body Scanners High Power Radio & TV Towers Satellites Communication
William Rea, MD Founder & Director of the Environmental Health Center, Dallas Past President, American Academy of Environmental Medicine Sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation is the emerging health problem of the 21st century. It is imperative health practitioners, governments, schools and parents learn more about it.
3% of California s general population are Electrically Hypersensitive 1.1 Million Californians (3% of 37 Million), including 140,000 children and teenagers (Ages 0 17 years)
Energy versus Power Energy is Capacity to do work, amount of work done (Watt, calorie, joule, Newton-meter, BTU) Power is Rate of producing Energy How fast you can do it, how much energy is absorbed (in units of kwhour, Watt-hour) = What you pay utility Example: Energy (Watt) = Current x Voltage 60W=1/2 Amp x 120 Volt x 16-2/3 hours = 1 kw-hr In RF Exposure Dosimetry: Need to know how fast (and powerfully) energy is being delivered to biological organism (Field Strength over Time) as measure of POWER (depends on absorption hence engineers use SAR or Specific Absorption Rate)
SAR is not a good Long-term Measure
FCC Standards too High SAR values based on Standard Anthromorphic Man Exposure standard based on a 200 pound (91 kg) man with a thick skull using phone for 6 minute exposure. Current high standards will adversely affect little kids US has done no research on Microwave Effects since 1990s when EPA programs were essentially shut down due to funding being cut-off.
What will it Take for the FCC to begin to Protect the U.S. Public Again? www.ethics.harvard.edu
American Academy Pediatrics urges reassessment of FCC Standards 2013 Academy wrote FCC and FDA to urge reassessment of wireless exposure standards regarding children and pregnant women who are at greater risk.
Canadian Doctors concern about WiFi Aug 6, 2013 April 22, 2014 May 7, 2015 www.c4st.org/hesa2015
California Medical Association seeks New Standards for Microwaves Reevaluate microwave safety exposure levels including consideration of adverse non-thermal biologic and health effects
RF Field Monitor versus Dosimeter RF Monitors simply measure field strengths Depends on Distance from Source and Power Output of the Transmitter RF Personal Monitors are designed to function while mounted on the human body (Dosimeter) to gauge exposure near body. Today s digital technologies are pulsed RF radiation that appears to affect body differently than continuous wave RF radiation
Averaging Digital Pulses underestimates Biological Impact
ESM-140 German Dosimeter 0.01 70 V/m Range 8 Frequency Bands >24 hours @ every 0.5 sec Displays Data graphically Data export to Excel Light weight = 90 grams Antenna system measures around the entire body
Radiation Characteristic of ESM-140 Dosimeter Dosimeter measures 8 frequencies continually Antenna design measures around entire body
Dosimeter Field Measurements BODY Direction of field Moving to Body from Radiation Source RF Electromagnetic Field bends around body; Field is partially reflected and also partially absorbed Dosimeter modeling studies show field lines around body Dosimeter picks up fields from all around the body
Wi-Fi in Schools (and Homes) Primarily Non-thermal Effects so the Existing Thermal-based Exposure Standards do not protect us. All Wi-Fi Devices such as ipad, ipods, Wi-Fi, and other wireless devices have not been tested in any large scale scientific studies for long-term safety and health effects. Global Epidemiology Experiment now taking place.
5 billion Wi-Fi connected devices worldwide by 2014 Evolution of Wi-Fi 55 X is Faster Ongoing Data Rate 54 Mbps Widely used Data Rate 3 Gbps Data Rate 11 Mbps 14 X Faster Data Rate 150 Mbps Slide source: www.broadcom.com/blog/wireless-technology/
What is new in WiFi, and 4G, 5G 801.11 n (4 th Gen WiFi) and 801.11ac (5 th Gen) utilizes MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs), many antennas, beam forming technologies directing RF energy into specific locations Only by measurements can local hot spots be detected Frequencies & wavelengths important: Adey Windows At 2.4 GHz wave length is 12.5 cm = 5 inches At 5.17 5.83 GHz Wifi = 5.2 5.8 cm ~ 2 inches In future 5G: 21 28 GHz = 1.0-1.4 cm= 0.4 inch Future satellite frequencies -> Could affect Acupuncture Meridians, the Body s Regulatory Systems
Wi-Fi School Dosimetry Measurements Example of Dosimetry Measurements in Boston School described in Commonwealth Club presentation can be seen at https://vimeo.com/132039697 School used latest 4 th and 5 th generation access points using 801.11n and 801.11ac standard Power levels were between 50 and 126 mw max. Data was evaluated using lower Bioinitiative Indoor continuous exposure guidelines 100 µw/ m 2 = 0.1 mw/m 2
Scale= 5 mw/m 2 Exposure during school day was quite variable EHS child responded with headaches to high exposure levels fairly consistently
High exposure levels during morning caused severe headache forcing child to see nurse Child left school early that day
Wi-Fi Levels in Coffee Shops Vary 5 mw/m 2 Low Intensity WiFi 5-11-2015: 7 minutes 5 mw/m 2 High Intensity WiFi Closer to Access Point 5-12-2015: 7 minutes
School WiFi versus Coffee Shop 5 mw/m 2 School readings every 3 seconds on 3-26-2015 5 mw/m 2 Coffee Shop (low levels) readings every 1 seconds on 5-12-15
Magnetite Crystals in Human Brain 5 million crystals/gram In Brain tissue Magnetite Crystals 100 million crystals/gram in brain membranes Magnetite crystals allows us to have a magnetic sense and be oriented to the earth s magnetic field. Also affected by artificial fields Source: Kirschvink JL: Bioelectromagnetics 17(3):187-194, 1996
2011: Brain is sensitive to Non-thermal EMFs! Published in Mainstream Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)! PET Scan study by Dr. Volkow NIH and Brookhaven Nat l Lab Metabolic effect was highest near the antenna, nearest max radiation. PET Scans are highly accurate shows physiological effect on brain The effects on neuronal activity could be due to changes in neurotransmitter release, cell membrane permeability, cell excitability, or calcium efflux. Also through neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels. These sophisticated studies have long term implications (JAMA 2/23/2011)
Precautionary Principle Recommended The precautionary principle applies where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain and preliminary scientific evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern that the potentially dangerous effects on the environment, human, animal or plant health may be inconsistent with the high level of protection chosen. From Vorsorgeprinzip (German) = Foresight Principle European Commission Communication on the Precautionary Principle 2 nd February 2000 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/docum/20001_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/library/pub/pub07_en.pdf
2006:Some Schools are Dismantling WiFi Already beginning in 2006 in UK Also discontinued in some French schools, libraries
What is the Official Data on Brain and Central Nervous System Tumor Incidence from our best Database: Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S.?
Data of Total Brain & CNS Tumor Incidence shows ongoing rise with age & epochs Data is averaged over 5-year epochs to eliminate variability that can create false appearance of dramatic shifts in yearly data. Rising U.S. Incidence of Brain & CNS Tumors Key Question: How have Cell Phones, Cordless Phones And other Wireless Technologies Contributed to this Rise?
Data Source: CENTRAL BRAIN TUMOR REGISTRY OF THE UNITED STATES, PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS IN THE U.S. Statistical Reports 1998-2002: Table 12; 2000-2004: Table 16; 2002-2006: Table16; 2004-2008: Table16; 2006-2010: Table13; 2008-2012: Table12. Pituitary Tumor is the 2 rd most common brain and CNS tumor in the U.S.
Brain Cancer Common in Children We all Need to Protect our Future! Brain Cancer and Leukemia Are 5 X as Prevalent as other Childhood Cancers. Both are affected by ELF and RF Radiation Source: CBTRUS Statistical Report 2007-2011 Neuro-Oncology 16:iv1 iv63, 2014. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nou223
Thyroid Gland is Exposed to Cell Phone Radiation and absorbs more The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for Thyroid region is 10 X compared to the head region acting like an absorption hotspot This may contribute to greater possibility of thyroid cancer development with cell phone use or other wireless exposure. Source: IEEE 68(1):24-32 P.O. Gandhi, 1980. THYROID
Thyroid Cancer Incidence in the U.S. A change in Rate began around 2000. National Telecommunications Act was passed in 1996 allowing the build-out the U.S. Cell Tower Infrastructure Data from U.S. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) database
Summary and Recommendations Dosimetry measurements are possible to access cumulative exposure in schools need more studies Averaging field strength (thermal) underestimates the nature of digital peak exposure (non-thermal) Lower guidelines for wireless long-term exposure are urgently from regulatory bodies EHS children and pregnant women are most at risk WiFi in schools should be replaced by wired or fiberoptic systems offering both safety and speed
Bigger Picture: Technocracy & Global Transformation WiFi, Smart Grids, Smart Meters and other Wireless Technologies are part of a Larger Plan Besides Health Dangers and Environmental Impacts, there are issues of Security, Freedom and Surveillance in Modern Culture of Fear & Aggression
Snowden s U.S. Surveillance Revelations Recent O. Stone Movie Asks the question about our Civic Liberties and how our Digital Presence on the Internet is open to inspection In this context How do we protect our Children and our Schools
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