title: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: fact or fiction?
abstract: As the prevalence of wireless telecommunication escalates throughout the world, health professionals are faced with the challenge of patients who report symptoms they claim are connected with exposure to some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Some scientists and clinicians acknowledge the phenomenon of hypersensitivity to EMR resulting from common exposures such as wireless systems and electrical devices in the home or workplace; others suggest that electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is psychosomatic or fictitious. Various organizations including the World Health Organization as well as some nation states are carefully exploring this clinical phenomenon in order to better explain the rising prevalence of non-specific, multi-system, often debilitating symptoms associated with non-ionizing EMR exposure. As well as an assortment of physiological complaints, patients diagnosed with EHS also report profound social and personal challenges, impairing their ability to function normally in society. This paper offers a review of the sparse literature on this perplexing condition and a discussion of the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the EHS diagnosis. Recommendations are provided to assist health professionals in caring for individuals complaining of EHS.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Canada. sgenuis@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Genuis
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lipp
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers