Biological Effects of Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure and the MUOS Case

Recent and very recent scientific literature shows that both biological and sanitary effects of EMF radiations – from the extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF/EMF) to the high and very high radiofrequencies (RF/EMF) – are clearly established and occur even at very low exposure levels. Overall, there are now almost 4.000 experimental studies that report a variety of short and medium-term effects of EMF, which support the biological plausibility of the increased risks of their long-term genotoxic, carcinogenic and neurodegenerative consequences on exposed human populations. For instance, EMF exposures of cultured mammaliant cells, experimental animals and human subjects may induce genetic and epigenetic effects, such as single and double strand DNA damages, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, sister-chromatid exchanges, alteration or loss of the DNA damage repair processes, abnormal DNA transcription and protein functions, etc.; stimulation of heat-shock protein synthesis; inhibition of apoptosis (programmed cell death); damages to cellular macromolecules due to the impairment of the inactivation of free radicals and the consequent oxidative stress on account of the inhibition of melatonin syntesis and the stimulation of the Fenton’s reaction; modification of the cell membrane permeability and the consequent alteration of the flow of biologically important ions such as Calcium; alteration of the function of the immune system; serious impacts on sperm morphology and functional with consequent effects on the offspring; alterations of the brain functions as a consequence of the interference of a EMF on cerebral frequencies, etc. Many of these bioeffects can reasonably be presumed to result in adverse health effects if the exposures are prolonged or chronic. This is because they interfere with normal body processes (disrupt homeostasis), prevent the body from healing damaged DNA, produce immune system imbalances, metabolic disruption and lower resilience to disease across multiple pathways. Essential body processes can eventually be disabled by incessant external stresses (from system-wide electrophysiological interference) and lead to pervasive impairment of behavioural metabolic and reproductive functions. There is good evidence to suggest that many toxic exposures to the fetus and very young child have especially detrimental consequences depending on when they occur during critical phases of growth and development (time windows of critical development), or where such exposures may lay the seeds of health harm that develops even decades later. Existing FCC and ICNIRP public safety limits are not sufficiently protective of public health, in particular for the young subjects - embryos, fetuses, neonates, very young childs – and for those which are exposed to extremely high ELF and RF/EMF levels. Sufficient evidence comes from epidemiological studies of an increased risk from exposure to EMF of adverse acute effects and even long-term carcinogenic effects that cannot be attributed to chance, bias or confounding. Therefore, according to the rules of IARC, such exposures can be classified at least as Group 2 “probable carcinogenic agents for humans”. The MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) is a military radio-transmission system that is proposed for installation close to the small village of Niscemi (Sicily, Italy). Ours study presents the results of electromagnetic radiation models in that area and documents the scientific sanitary reasons why the MUOS system should not be installed in Niscemi.