[GSM fields and health: an updated literature review].
The fields and waves of wireless technologies (GSM or Global System for Mobile communication, Internet, etc.) are by nature not ionizing. At their frequencies, the only mechanism of interaction established to date with living tissues is the transformation of electromagnetic energy in thermal energy in tissues. However, the data of the currently available literature still do not allow to exclude with certainty the possibility of biological effects, and possibly health effects, for exposure intensities lower than the levels likely to cause effects known to be heat activable. In term of equivalent situation of exposure to the GSM fields and waves, the lowest intensities possibly in question correspond in theory to the maxima to which the GSM user can be exposed. These values themselves are at least 3 to 4 orders of magnitude above those commonly encountered in the vicinity of GSM base stations. Finally, epidemiological studies are always in hand and should allow, in the years to come, to raise the uncertainties evoked as for a possible increase in the risk of certain tumours of the head in regular user of the mobile phone, including the GSM.
Vanderstraeten
J
J
Unité de Recherche en Santé au Travail et Toxicologie Environnementale, Ecole de Santé Publique, U.L.B., Bruxelles. jacques.vanderstraeten@ulb.ac.be
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008872:Microwaves; D023421:Models, Animal; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D051381:Rats