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Radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on the blood-brain barrier.

Nittby, Henrietta LU ; Grafström, Gustav LU ; Eberhardt, Jacob LU ; Malmgren, Lars LU ; Brun, Arne LU ; Persson, Bertil R LU orcid and Salford, Leif LU (2008) In Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine 27(2). p.103-126
Abstract
During the last century, mankind has introduced electricity and during the very last decades, the microwaves of the modern communication society have spread a totally new entity--the radiofrequency fields--around the world. How does this affect biology on Earth? The mammalian brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain tissue. There is evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields at non thermal levels disrupts this barrier. In this review, the scientific findings in this field are presented. The result is a complex picture, where some studies show effects on the blood-brain barrier, whereas others do not. Possible mechanisms for the interactions between electromagnetic fields... (More)
During the last century, mankind has introduced electricity and during the very last decades, the microwaves of the modern communication society have spread a totally new entity--the radiofrequency fields--around the world. How does this affect biology on Earth? The mammalian brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain tissue. There is evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields at non thermal levels disrupts this barrier. In this review, the scientific findings in this field are presented. The result is a complex picture, where some studies show effects on the blood-brain barrier, whereas others do not. Possible mechanisms for the interactions between electromagnetic fields and the living organisms are discussed. Demonstrated effects on the blood-brain barrier, as well as a series of other effects upon biology, have caused societal anxiety. Continued research is needed to come to an understanding of how these possible effects can be neutralized, or at least reduced. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that proven effects on biology also should have positive potentials, e.g., for medical use. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine
volume
27
issue
2
pages
103 - 126
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • wos:000256627200002
  • pmid:18568929
  • scopus:46249095735
ISSN
1536-8386
DOI
10.1080/15368370802061995
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Clinic of Neurosurgery: University Hospital, Lund (LUR000009), Radiation Physics, Lund (013034000), Division IV (013230800), Max-laboratory (011012005)
id
9c9c8582-17e4-4d07-91e2-dea30783d8d8 (old id 1168618)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18568929?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:34:45
date last changed
2022-02-28 05:06:28
@article{9c9c8582-17e4-4d07-91e2-dea30783d8d8,
  abstract     = {{During the last century, mankind has introduced electricity and during the very last decades, the microwaves of the modern communication society have spread a totally new entity--the radiofrequency fields--around the world. How does this affect biology on Earth? The mammalian brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain tissue. There is evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields at non thermal levels disrupts this barrier. In this review, the scientific findings in this field are presented. The result is a complex picture, where some studies show effects on the blood-brain barrier, whereas others do not. Possible mechanisms for the interactions between electromagnetic fields and the living organisms are discussed. Demonstrated effects on the blood-brain barrier, as well as a series of other effects upon biology, have caused societal anxiety. Continued research is needed to come to an understanding of how these possible effects can be neutralized, or at least reduced. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that proven effects on biology also should have positive potentials, e.g., for medical use.}},
  author       = {{Nittby, Henrietta and Grafström, Gustav and Eberhardt, Jacob and Malmgren, Lars and Brun, Arne and Persson, Bertil R and Salford, Leif}},
  issn         = {{1536-8386}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{103--126}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine}},
  title        = {{Radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on the blood-brain barrier.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15368370802061995}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/15368370802061995}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}