The expression of heat-shock proteins (HSP) had been observed after exposure to low-level radiofrequency fields (RFR) exposure in worms and in human endothelial cells . These data have been ...hypothetically linked at best to stress, and at worse to cancer. Further studies failed to confirm these RFR bioeffects, while very few experiments have looked at the expression of Hsp in mammals exposed to RFR. Earlier however, changes in hsp70 mRNA were reported in the brain on rats exposed to a GSM-900 signal. In this study, we have investigated the effects of a single exposure or repeated exposures to two mobile phone-related RFR signals (GSM-1800 MHz and UMTS) on Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression in rat brains. Groups of 8 male Wistar rats were exposed to RFR using a loop antenna at a brain averaged specific absorption rate (BASAR) of 2.6 W/kg. BASAR characterisation was performed as previously described at 900 MHz . Rats were submitted to either a single 2-hour exposure or repeated exposures (two hours/day, five days/week, four weeks). Controls for restraining stress, cage-control and positive-control rats were included. Rats were trained to the setup to avoid stress. At the end of exposure, rat brains were fixed, frozen, and coded. 10 μm sections were prepared and stained with anti-Hsp25 and anti-inducible Hsp70 antibodies. The cerebral cortex and the hippocampus were analysed. The significance of differences between groups was evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Repeated exposures to UMTS induced an increased expression of Hsp25 and Hsp70 in the retrosplenial cortex and in the hippocampus. A drop in the amount of both Hsp was observed in both the cortex and the hippocampus after a single exposure to GSM-1800, while repeated exposures to GSM-1800 increased Hsp25 expression in the motor and retrosplenial cortex and Hsp70 in the motor cortex. Decreased expression of Hsp, as observed after single exposure to GSM-1800, has been described after treatments with Benzoapyrene or TNFα, but its physiological significance is not clearly established. Our results suggested that repeated exposures to UMTS and GSM-1800 are capable of increasing HSP expression. According to the experimental evidence of the carcinogenic potential of low-level RFR, increase in HSP expression is unlikely to be linked to cancer. We hypothesised that repeated exposures to mobile phone signals may be perceived as a stress and may participate in an adaptative process in the rat brain.
In the present study, we determined whether exposure of mammalian cells to 3.2-5.1 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) radiofrequency fields could induce DNA damage in murine C3H 10T one half ...fibroblasts. Cell cultures were exposed to 847.74 MHz code-division multiple access (CDMA) and 835.62 frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) modulated radiations in radial transmission line (RTL) irradiators in which the temperature was regulated to 37.0 ± 0.3 degree C. Using the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA damage, we found no statistically significant differences in either comet moment or comet length between sham-exposed cells and those exposed for 2, 4 or 24 h to CDMA or FDMA radiations in either exponentially growing or plateau-phase cells. Further, a 4-h incubation after the 2-h exposure resulted in no significant changes in comet moment or comet length. Our results show that exposure of cultured C3H 10T one half cells at 37 degree C CDMA or FDMA at SAR values of up to 5.1 W/kg did not induce measurable DNA damage.
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RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESThe authors investigate the relative sensitivity of rat mesangial cells to iodinated contrast media (CM) and control solutions versus less differentiated cells(ie, human ...fibroblasts) and compare the effects of low-osmolar ionic (ioxaglate) and nonionic (iopamidol) and high-osmolar ionic (diatrizoate) CM on rat mesangial cells.
METHODSThe cytotoxic effects of ioxaglate and control solutions of sodium chloride and mannitol were assessed by neutral red uptake in isolated rat mesangial cells and human fibroblasts. In a second series of studies, the cytotoxic effects of ioxaglate, iopamidol, and diatrizoate (0 to 100 mg I/mL) on rat mesangial cells were compared.
RESULTSRat mesangial cells were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of ioxaglate than the less differentiated human fibroblasts between 70 and 100 mg I/mL. A similar discrepancy was observed in the case of control solutions, sodium chloride, and mannitol. Ioxaglate and iopamidol induced a similar level of cytotoxicity in rat mesangial cells whereas the high-osmolar agent diatrizoate was significantly more cytotoxic. However, the calculated inhibitory concentrations of 50% of all three CM were associated with similar osmolalities, suggesting a major role for this parameter in the case of such media.
CONCLUSIONSRat mesangial cells are more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of CM and hyperosmolar solutions than the less differentiated human fibroblasts. High-osmolar CM are more cytotoxic than ionic and nonionic low-osmolar CM to rat mesangial cells. Ionicity seems to play no deleterious role at similar iodine concentrations because ioxaglate and iopamidol had equivalent cytotoxic effects on mesangial cells.
This paper describes the design of a zero-current crossing detection circuit for a high-power (650 V, 6000 A) magnetic generator. The magnetic pulses are produced by discharging a capacitor C d into ...a coil in resonant mode via thyristors and are used to stimulate living tissues. The generator delivers short (340 μs), high-intensity 2 Tesla magnetic pulses. Half-sine or full-sine waveforms are available. When full-sine current into the coil is selected, a smooth transition between the 2 half-sines is required: the second thyristor must be triggered shortly before the first one switches off to ensure continuity in tissue excitation. The period of the resonant circuit is computed in advance, irrespective of interchangeable coil inductance and damping factors. The system core consists of a toroid sensor encircling the high-current main wire of the coil associated with an integrator circuit. The detection of three main events: the starting time and zero-crossing time of the sensor voltage and the zero-crossing time of the potential across C d , makes it possible to detect the pulse period right from the beginning of the second quarter period. Electronic design and validation tests are presented in section II. The results and possible improvements are discussed in the final section.
There is some evidence from epidemiological studies of an association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Our aim was to perform, for the ...first time, an animal study in a controlled magnetic environment. We used the SOD-1 mouse model to assess the possible effect of ELF magnetic fields on development of the disease. Seven mice per group were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields at two intensities (100 and 1000 µTrms) before the onset of the clinical signs of ALS. Exposure lasted 7 weeks, and body weight, motor performance and life span were monitored. Our results did not reveal any evidence of a link between ELF exposure and ALS in this transgenic animal model.
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L'environnement électromagnétique, et donc l'exposition aux champs électromagnétiques, existe depuis toujours. En revanche, le nombre de sources d'exposition a augmenté de façon inégale au cours de ...l'histoire humaine. La source primaire principale et omni-présente est le champ magnétique statique terrestre, appelé champ géomagnétique. Sa valeur moyenne est de 50 µT. Dans l'Antiquité, le savant grec Thalès serait le premier à s'être intéressé à l'électricité, mais c'est à la fin du 18ème siècle et surtout au 19ème siècle que l'électricité artificielle fait son apparition et devient indispensable aux sociétés dites modernes. Les télécommunications se développent également à partir du 19ème siècle et trouvent une extension avec les nouvelles technologies de communication sans fil au siècle dernier. Des applications industrielles et médicales non invasives ont également été développées au cours des dernières décennies, comme l'imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM), la stimulation magnétique transcrânienne et d'autres signaux électromagnétiques complexes. Au total, le nombre de sources d'exposition, généralement de faible puissance, ne cesse de croître et les développements technologiques se poursuivent, avec éventuellement de nouveaux usages qui peuvent parfois être à l'origine de nouveaux types d'exposition. L'évaluation des risques liés à l'exposition aux champs électromagnétiques date du 20ème siècle avec la notion de radioprotection et l'apparition des organismes dédiés à la radioprotection. Une distinction entre la radioprotection stricte (protection contre la radioactivité) et la protection contre les rayonnements non-ionisants ou champs électromagnétiques est intervenue dans les années 1960. En France, la Société Française de Radio Protection comporte une section " ionisant " et une section " non-ionisant ". Au plan international, à l'instar de la CIPR pour les rayonnements ionisants, l'ICNIRP est l'organisme qui propose les normes d'exposition aux rayonnements non-ionisants. Ces normes sont établies à partir de l'analyse collective des articles scientifiques parus dans des journaux à comité de lecture. C'est donc sur les connaissances scientifiques que se fait l'évaluation des risques liés à l'exposition aux champs électromagnétiques, et les propositions de limites d'exposition peuvent évoluer si les résultats des évaluations périodiques du risque le nécessitent. Cependant, le développement de nouvelles technologies et/ou de nouveaux usages, la question des faibles doses et des expositions à long terme ont généré une demande sociétale forte et incité les industriels et/ou les autorités à financer de nouvelles recherches. Classiquement en toxicologie, le risque caractérisé est directement lié à la " dose " de l'agent en cause et c'est le cas ici des champs électromagnétiques. Aussi, généralement, les pathologies associées se développent rapidement et apparaissent de façon aiguë, exception faite du cancer. Implicitement, des expositions à des intensités ou puissances faibles, comme celles générées par les nouvelles technologies de communication sans fil par exemple, ne peuvent pas générer ces manifestations physiopathologiques. Pourtant, avec la téléphonie mobile, force est de constater que l'on approche, pour la première fois, une source RF près du cerveau. En revanche, les techniques d'IRM évoluent vers l'utilisation de champs magnétiques statiques, intenses jusqu'à 11 teslas. Or, peu de recherches ont été menées avec des champs statiques aussi intenses. Des questions sanitaires légitimes se posent alors quant aux effets sanitaires liés aux nouvelles technologies utilisant des champs électromagnétiques, et la recherche fournit des éléments de réponse. Dans les années 1990, la thématique " santé-environnement " émerge avec, notamment, la question des enfants et leur possible plus grande sensibilité aux toxiques de l'environnement . Les champs électromagnétiques ne sont pas toujours cités dans ces documents. En 1996, l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) établit le Projet International pour l'étude des champs électromagnétiques (International EMF project). Ce projet se propose " d'évaluer les effets sanitaires et environnementaux provoqués par des champs électriques et magnétiques statiques ou variables dans les fréquences allant de 0 à 300 GHz ". Ainsi, l'OMS publie régulièrement des recommandations de recherche qui sont une référence incontournable pour les instituts de recherche. L'OMS justifie ce programme " au titre de sa Charte pour la protection de la santé publique et en réponse à la préoccupation suscitée par la possibilité d'effets sanitaires imputables à l'exposition à des sources de champs électromagnétiques ". Ainsi, des aspects sociétaux justifient également notre recherche. En parallèle, la notion de principe de précaution s'est développée jusqu'à l'inscription de la charte de l'environnement, et donc du Principe de Précaution, dans le préambule de la constitution française en 2005. Consacré dans le champ de la protection de l'environnement - il s'agit de ne pas attendre de disposer de toutes les certitudes scientifiques sur l'existence d'un risque de dommage grave et irréversible pour agir - ce principe demande " la mise en œuvre de procédures d'évaluation des risques " et la recherche doit être considérée comme un élément à part entière de ce principe. Je présente dans ce document mes activités de recherche depuis ma soutenance de thèse en 1997. Mes recherches incluent des études de confirmation et des études originales dans une approche toxicologique qui s'inscrit pleinement dans la démarche d'évaluation du risque. Le processus d'évaluation des risques est en effet un processus dynamique qui tient compte des nouvelles données scientifiques. Je contribue ainsi à l'évaluation du risque à la fois par mes recherches et par l'activité d'expertise que j'exerce en parallèle, laquelle vise à recenser et évaluer les données scientifiques disponibles. Ce document présente un rappel succinct de la notion de champs électromagnétiques et des mécanismes d'action pour les interactions avec le vivant, puis une synthèse des travaux réalisés en cinq sections : (i) Systèmes d'exposition, dosimétrie et expositions ; (ii) Études de confirmation d'effets biologiques des champs magnétiques et des champs RF ; (iii) Étude d'effets biologiques des champs RF ; (iv) Étude d'effets biologiques des champs magnétiques et (v) Expertise. Viennent ensuite mes perspectives de recherche, pour les quatre prochaines années.
The processes of politicization Jacques Lagroye
Política & sociedade (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil),
12/2017, Volume:
16, Issue:
37
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The article discusses the processes of politicization of the social space as a major phenomenon in the making of politics in the West, which implied the emergence of different orders of specialized ...activities that have historically differentiated one from another and institutionalized. The analysis points out several ways in which other social spheres are requalified in political terms by certain actors in a process of transgression and mixing between fields or sectors of society. Since it appears as a transgression of the fundamental differentiation of these orders, or spaces of activities, and of the categories that allow them to be classified, politicization happens to provoke an intense work of legitimation, which requires the possible convergence of the objectives of actors who, nevertheless, incarnate differentiated roles.
Previous studies have shown that spontaneously active cultured networks of cortical neuron grown planar microelectrode arrays are sensitive to radiofrequency (RF) fields and exhibit an inhibitory ...response more pronounced as the exposure time and power increase. To better understand the mechanism behind the observed effects, we aimed at identifying similarities and differences between the inhibitory effect of RF fields (continuous wave, 1800 MHz) to the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA.sub.A) receptor agonist muscimol (MU). Inhibition of the network bursting activity in response to RF exposure became apparent at an SAR level of 28.6 W/kg and co-occurred with an elevation of the culture medium temperature of ~1°C. Exposure to RF fields preferentially inhibits bursting over spiking activity and exerts fewer constraints on neural network bursting synchrony, differentiating it from a pharmacological inhibition with MU. Network rebound excitation, a phenomenon relying on the intrinsic properties of cortical neurons, was observed following the removal of tonic hyperpolarization after washout of MU but not in response to cessation of RF exposure. This implies that hyperpolarization is not the main driving force mediating the inhibitory effects of RF fields. At the level of single neurons, network inhibition induced by MU and RF fields occurred with reduced action potential (AP) half-width. As changes in AP waveform strongly influence efficacy of synaptic transmission, the narrowing effect on AP seen under RF exposure might contribute to reducing network bursting activity. By pointing only to a partial overlap between the inhibitory hallmarks of these two forms of inhibition, our data suggest that the inhibitory mechanisms of the action of RF fields differ from the ones mediated by the activation of GABA.sub.A receptors.
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The potential health risks of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile communications technologies have raised societal concerns. Guidelines have been set to protect the ...population (e.g. non-specific heating above 1 °C under exposure to radiofrequency fields), but questions remain regarding the potential biological effects of non-thermal exposures. With the advent of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication, assessing whether exposure to this new signal induces a cellular stress response is one of the mandatory steps on the roadmap for a safe deployment and health risk evaluation. Using the BRET (Bioluminescence Resonance Energy-Transfer) technique, we assessed whether continuous or intermittent (5 min ON/ 10 min OFF) exposure of live human keratinocytes and fibroblasts cells to 5G 3.5 GHz signals at specific absorption rate (SAR) up to 4 W/kg for 24 h impact basal or chemically-induced activity of Heat Shock Factor (HSF), RAt Sarcoma virus (RAS) and Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinases (ERK) kinases, and Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein (PML), that are all molecular pathways involved in environmental cell-stress responses. The main results are (i), a decrease of the HSF1 basal BRET signal when fibroblasts cells were exposed at the lower SARs tested (0.25 and 1 W/kg), but not at the highest one (4 W/kg), and (ii) a slight decrease of As
O
maximal efficacy to trigger PML SUMOylation when fibroblasts cells, but not keratinocytes, were continuously exposed to the 5G RF-EMF signal. Nevertheless, given the inconsistency of these effects in terms of impacted cell type, effective SAR, exposure mode, and molecular cell stress response, we concluded that our study show no conclusive evidence that molecular effects can arise when skin cells are exposed to the 5G RF-EMF alone or with a chemical stressor.
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Sources of low-frequency fields are widely found in modern society. All wires or devices carrying or using electricity generate extremely low frequency (ELF) electric fields (EFs) and magnetic fields ...(MFs), but they decline rapidly with distance to the source. High magnetic flux densities are usually found in the vicinity of power lines and close to equipment using strong electrical currents, but can also be found in buildings with unbalanced return currents, or indoor transformer stations. For decades, epidemiological as well as experimental studies have addressed possible health effects of exposure to ELF-MFs. The main goal of ICNIRP is to protect people and the environment from detrimental exposure to all forms of non-ionizing radiation (NIR). To this end, ICNIRP provides advice and guidance by developing and disseminating exposure guidelines based on the available scientific research. Research in the low-frequency range began more than 40 years ago, and there is now a large body of literature available on which ICNIRP set its protection guidelines. A review of the literature has been carried out to identify possible relevant knowledge gaps, and the aim of this statement is to describe data gaps in research that would, if addressed, assist ICNIRP in further developing guidelines and setting revised recommendations on limiting exposure to electric and magnetic fields. It is articulated in two parts: the main document, which reviews the science related to LF data gaps, and the annex, which explains the methodology used to identify the data gaps.
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