“Smart” meters and health: overview of research & resources

Smart meters and health issues: Overview

Independent research clearly shows there are potentially serious negative health effects from electromagnetic or wireless radiation – and at a much lower intensity than what a smart meter radiates. Despite assurances from most governments and power companies, there are now thousands of published scientific studies which indicate that the proliferation of smart grid radiation could potentially be catastrophic for all organic life. Pressured by a mounting of scientific evidence, finally in 2011 the World Health Organization classified this type of radiation as a Class 2B possible carcinogen.

With respect to symptomatic results with smart meters to date, thousands have already reported serious health problems since the installation of smart meters in their homes, apartments or places of business.

During the filming of Take Back Your Power, we worked with an independent environmental consultant who tested a room of smart meters in Vancouver, British Columbia. The result was a radiation level 198 times higher* than threshold for “extreme concern” set by the international Building Biology guidelines. As in our measurements, radiation has been confirmed and measured time and again as pulsing every several seconds, again blatantly contrary to statements made by governments and utilities.

Medical Statements:

The Scientists
World Health Organization
Dr. Mercola Interviews Vicki Warren
Dr. David Carpenter
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
Santa Cruz Health Department
Austrian Medical Association Objects to Smart Meter Rollout
Academy of Environmental Medicine 2nd statement

Scientific Study Database – partial list:

General:

• Blackman C. Cell phone radiation: Evidence from ELF and RF studies supporting more inclusive risk identification and assessment.Pathophysiology. 2009 Aug;16(2-3):205-16. [Abstract]
• Hallberg Ö, Johansson O. Long-term sickness and mobile phone use. J Aust Coll Nutr & Env Med. 2004;23:11-12.
• Johansson O. Electrohypersensitivity: State-of-the-art of a functional impairment. Electromag Biol Med. 25: 245-258, 2006. [Abstract]
• Khurana VG, Hardell L, et al. Epidemiological evidence for a health risk from mobile phone base stations. Int J Occup Health. 2010, July-Sept. 16(3):263-7. [Abstract]
• Santini R. [Cellular telephones and their relay stations: a health risk? (article in French)] Presse Med 1999; 28: 1884-1886. [Abstract]
• Santini R, Seigne M, et al. [Danger of cellular telephones and their relay stations (article in French)]. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2000; 48: 525-528. [Abstract]
• Santini R, Santini P, et al. [Investigation on the health of people living near mobile telephone relay stations: I/Incidence according to distance and sex (article in French)]. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2002; 50: 369-373. [Abstract]

Cancer – Studies Linking Exposure to RF Energy to Development of Tumors:

Genotoxcity – Studies Linking Exposure to RF Emissions and Effects on DNA:

• Aitken RJ, Bennetts LE, et al. Impact of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA integrity in the male germline. Inter J Androl 28:171-179, 2005. [Abstract]
• Balode, Z. Assessment of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation by the micronucleus test in bovine peripheral erythrocytes. Sci Total Environ180(1):81-85, 1996. [Abstract]
• Belyaev IYa, Alipov YD, et al. Resonance effect of microwaves on the genome conformational state of E. coli cells. Z Naturforsch [C] 47(7-8):621-827, 1992. [Abstract]
• Belyaev IY, Shcheglov VS, et al. Resonance effect of millimeter waves in the power range from 10(-19) to 3 x 10(-3) W/cm2 on Escherichia coli cells at different concentrations. Bioelectromagnetics 17(4):312-321, 1996. [Abstract]
• Belyaev IY, Hillert L, et al. 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons. Bioelectromagnetics.26(3):173-184, 2005. [Abstract]
• Belyaev IY, Koch CB, et al. Exposure of rat brain to 915 MHz GSM microwaves induces changes in gene expression but not double stranded DNA breaks or effects on chromatin conformation.Bioelectromagnetics. 27:295-306, 2006. [Abstract]
• Busljeta I, Trosic I, Milkovic-Kraus S. Erythropoietic changes in rats after 2.45 GJz nonthermal irradiation. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 207(6):549-554, 2004. [Abstract]
• d’Ambrosio G, Massa R, et al. Cytogenetic damage in human lymphocytes following GMSK phase modulated microwave exposure.Bioelectromagnetics 23:7-13, 2002. [Abstract]
• Diem E, Schwarz C, et al. Non-thermal DNA breakage by mobile-phone radiation (1800MHz) in human fibroblasts and in transformed GFSH-R17 rat granulosa cells in vitro. Mutat Res. 583:178-183, 2005. [Abstract]
• Ferreira AR, Knakievicz T, et al. Ultra high frequencyelectromagnetic field irradiation during pregnancy leads to an increase in erythrocytes micronuclei incidence in rat offspring. Life Sci. 80:43-50, 2006. [Abstract]
• Fucic A, Garaj-Vrhovac V, et al. X-rays, microwaves and vinyl chloride monomer: their clastogenic and aneugenic activity, using the micronucleus assay on human lymphocytes. Mutat Res 282(4):265-271, 1992. [Abstract]
• Gadhia PK, Shah T, et al. A Preliminary Study to Assess Possible Chromosomal Damage Among Users of Digital Mobile Phones.Electromag Biol Med 22:149-159, 2003. [Abstract]
• Gandhi GA. Genetic damage in mobile phone users: some preliminary findings. Ind J Hum Genet 11(2): 99-104, 2005. [Abstract]
• Gandhi G, Singh P. Cytogenetic damage in mobile phone users: preliminary data. Int J Hum Genet 5(4):259-265, 2005.
• Garaj-Vrhovac V, Fucic A, Horvat D. The correlation between the frequency of micronuclei and specific chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes exposed to microwave radiation in vitro. Mutat Res281(3):181-186, 1992. [Abstract]
• Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z. The effect of microwave radiation on the cell genome. Mutat Res 243(2):87-93, 1990. [Abstract]
• Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z. The relationship between colony-forming ability, chromosome aberrations and incidence of micronuclei in V79 Chinese hamster cells exposed to microwave radiation. Mutat Res263(3):143-149, 1991. [Abstract]
• Garaj-Vrhovac V. Micronucleus assay and lymphocyte mitotic activity in risk assessment of occupational exposure to microwave radiation.Chemosphere 39(13):2301-2312, 1999. [Abstract]
• Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z. The effect of microwave radiation on the cell genome. Mutat Res 243(2):87-93, 1990. [Abstract]
• Haider T, Knasmueller S, et al. Clastogenic effects of radiofrequency radiations on chromosomes of Tradescantia. Mutat Res 324(1-2):65-68, 1994. [Abstract]
• Lai H, Singh NP. Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells. Bioelectromagnetics 16(3):207-210, 1995. [Abstract]
• Lai H, Singh NP. Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells after acute exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. Int J Radiat Biol 69(4):513-521, 1996. [Abstract]
• Lai, H, Singh NP. Melatonin and a spin-trap compound block radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells. Bioelectromagnetics 18(6):446-454, 1997a. [Abstract]
• Lai H, Singh NP. Interaction of microwaves and a temporally incoherent magnetic field on single and double DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells.Electromag Biol Med 24:23-29, 2005. [Abstract]
• Lai H, Carino MA, Singh NP. Naltrexone blocks RFR-induced DNA double strand breaks in rat brain cells. Wireless Networks 3:471-476, 1997. [Abstract]
• Lixia S, Yao K, et al. Effects of 1.8GHz radiofrequency field on DNA damage and expression of heat shock protein 70 in human lens epithelial cells. Mutat Res. 602:135-42, 2006. [Abstract]
• Markova E, Hillert L, et al. Microwaves from GSM Mobile Telephones Affect 53BP1 and gamma-H2AX Foci in Human Lymphocytes fromHypersensitive and Healthy Persons. Environ Health Perspect.113(9):1172-1177, 2005.
• Mashevich M, Folkman D, et al. Exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to electromagnetic fields associated with cellular phones leads to chromosomal instability. Bioelectromagnetics 24:82-90, 2003. [Abstract]
• Narasimhan V, Huh WK. Altered restriction patterns of microwave irradiated lambdaphage DNA. Biochem Int 25(2):363-370, 1991. [Abstract]
• Nikolova T, Czyz J, et al. Electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes in embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells. ASEB J. 19(12):1686-1688, 2005.
• Ono T, Saito Y, et al. Absence of mutagenic effects of 2.45 GHz radiofrequency exposure in spleen, liver, brain, and testis of lacZ-transgenic mouse exposed in utero. Tohoku J Exp Med. 202(2):93-103, 2004.
• Paulraj R, Behari J. Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation. Mutat Res. 596:76-80, 2006. [Abstract]
• Pacini S, Ruggiero M, et al. Exposure to global system for mobile communication (GSM) cellular phone radiofrequency alters gene expression, proliferation, and morphology of human skin fibroblasts.Oncol Res 2002;13: 19-24. [Abstract]
• Sarimov R, Malmgren LOG, et al. Nonthermal GSM microwaves affect chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes similar to heat shock.IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 32:1600-1608, 2004. [Abstract]
• Sarkar S, Ali S, Behari J. Effect of low power microwave on the mouse genome: a direct DNA analysis. Mutat Res 320(1-2):141-147, 1994. [Abstract]
• Semin IuA, Shvartsburg LK, Dubovik BV. [Changes in the secondary structure of DNA under the influence of external low-intensity electromagnetic field (article in Russian)] Radiats Biol Radioecol35(1):36-41, 1995. [Abstract]
• Sykes PJ, McCallum BD, et al. Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation on Intrachromosomal Recombination in pKZ1 Mice. Radiat Res 156(5):495-502, 2001. [Abstract]
• Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. [Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro.] Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 24(8):465-467, 2006. [Abstract]
• Tice RR, Hook GG, et al. Genotoxicity of radiofrequency signals. I. Investigation of DNA damage and micronuclei induction in cultured human blood cells. Bioelectromagnetics 23:113-126, 2002. [Abstract]
• Trosic I. Multinucleated giant cell appearance after whole body microwave irradiation of rats. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 204(2-3):133-138, 2001. [Abstract]
• Trosic I, Busljeta I, et al. Micronucleus induction after whole-body microwave irradiation of rats. Mutat Res 521(1-2):73-79, 2002. [Abstract]
• Trosic I, Busljeta I, Modlic B. Investigation of the genotoxic effect of microwave irradiation in rat bone marrow cells: in vivo exposure.Mutagenesis. 19(5):361-364, 2004.
• Trosic I, Busljeta I. Erythropoietic dynamic equilibrium in rats maintained after microwave irradiation. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 57(3):247-251, 2006. [Abstract]
• Zhang DY, Xu ZP, Chiang H, Lu DQ, Zeng QL. [Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells.] Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 40(3):149-152, 2006. [Abstract]
• Zhang MB, He JL, et al. Study of low-intensity 2450-MHz microwave exposure enhancing the genotoxic effects of mitomycin C using micronucleus test and comet assay in vitro. Biomed Environ Sci15(4):283-290, 2002. [Abstract]
• Zotti-Martelli L, Peccatori M, et al. Induction of micronuclei in humanlymphocytes exposed in vitro to microwave radiation. Mutat Res 472(1-2):51-58, 2000. [Abstract]
• Zotti-Martelli L, Peccatori M, et al. Individual responsiveness to induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes after exposure in vitro to 1800-MHz microwave radiation. Mutat Res. 582(1-2):42-52, 2005. [Abstract]

Cellular Stress Response – Studies Linking Exposure to RF Emissions to Production of Stress Proteins:

• Blank M. Goodman R. Electromagnetic Fields Stress Living Cells.Pathophysiology. 2009 Aug;16(2-3):71-8. [Abstract]
• Daniells C, Duce I, et al. Transgenic nematodes as biomonitors of microwave-induced stress. Mutat Res 1998; 399: 55-64. [Abstract]
• Leszczynski D, Joenvaara S, et al. Non-thermal activation of the hsp27/ p38MAPK stress pathway by mobile phone radiation in human endothelial cells:Molecular mechanism for cancer-and blood-brain barrier-related effects.
  Differentiation 70: 120-129, 2002. [Abstract]
• Shallom JM, DiCarlo AL, et al. Microwave exposure induces hsp70 and confers protection against hypoxia in chick embryos. J Cell Biochem86:490-496, 2002. [Abstract]

Cardiovascular Effects – Studies Linking Exposure to RF Emissions to Heart Disturbances

• Havas M, Marrongelle J, et al.Provocation study using heart rate variability shows microwave radiation from 2.4 GHz cordless phone affects autonomic nervous system. Eur. J. Oncol. Library Vol. 5, 2010.

Brain Effects – General:

• Volkow ND, Tomasi D, et al. Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism. JAMA. 2011;305(8):808-813. [Abstract]

Brain Effects – Studies Linking Blood Brain Barrier and Nerve Effects to Exposure to RF Emissions:

• Leszczynski D, Joenvaara S, et al. Non-thermal activation of the hsp27/p38MAPK stress pathway by mobile phone radiation in human endothelial cells: Molecular mechanism for cancer- and blood-brain barrier-related effects. Differentiation 2002; 70: 120-129. [Abstract]
• Salford LG, Brun A, et al. Permeability of the bloodbrain barrier induced by 915 MHz electromagnetic radiation, continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 50, and 200 Hz. Microsc Res Tech 1994; 27: 535-542. [Abstract]
• Salford LG, Brun AE, et al. Nerve cell damage in mammalian brain after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 June; 111(7): 881–883.

Immune Response – Studies Linking Exposure to RF Emissions and Immune Reactions:

• Electrical Hypersensitivity – Human Studies in the UK. Conference Presentation WHO International Workshop on Electrical Hypersensitivity, October 25-26, 2004, Prague, Czech Republic.
• Gangi S, Johansson O. A theoretical model based upon mast cells and histamine to explain the recently proclaimed sensitivity to electric and/or magnetic fields in humans. Med Hypotheses 2000; 54: 663-671. [Abstract]
• Johansson O. “Electrohypersensitivity: Observations in the human skin of a physical impairment,” Symposium on “Electrical Sensitivity in Human Beings”. Royal Society of Medicine, London, U.K., September 11, 2004. [Extended abstract]
• Kimata H. Enhancement of allergic skin wheal responses by microwave radiation from mobile phones in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2002; 129: 348-350. [Abstract]

Several additional documents: Health

Many pages of health complaints submitted by customers with smart meters: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292

Other smart meter complaints, in addition to health: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=1223 and http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=872

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Smart Meter Report: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=3676

Property devaluation by cell towers

Additional Studies:

Experts Comment on Smart Meter Health Effects:

“The notion that non-ionizing radiation is harmless – the assumption of innocence – is no longer tenable. Research findings suggest that radiofrequency exposures are potentially carcinogenic and have other health effects. Therefore, prudent avoidance of unneeded exposures is recommended as a precautionary measure.” John R. Goldsmith, M.D., M.P.H., TV Broadcast Towers and Cancer: The End of Innocence for Radiofrequency Exposures, American Journal of Industrial Medicine 32:689-692 (1997) http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/publicpolicy.html

“…we are creating a potential time bomb. If smart meters are placed on every home, they will contribute significantly to our exposure and this is both unwise and unsafe” Havas report on smart meters for California Council on Science and Technology, January 17, 2011 http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/01/18/havas-report-on-smart-meters-for-ccst/

“… no positive assertion of safety can be made … currently, the data made available by the utilities that are installing smart meters is non-existent, piecemeal and without sufficient basis to verify.” Sage report on radio-frequency (RF) exposures from smart meters, February, 2011 http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/?page_id=460

“… All transmitters inside your home or office will communicate with a Smart Meter attached to the outside of each building. That meter, in turn, will transmit at an even higher frequency to a central hub installed in local neighborhoods. In what are called “mesh networks,” signals can also be bounced from house-meter to house-meter before reaching the final hub. So exposures will not just be from your own meter, but accumulating from possibly 100-to-500 of your neighbors’ as well… That’s a hefty barrage of radiation.” – from “The Problems With Smart Grids” by B. Blake Levitt and Chellis Glendinning, Mar 18 2011 http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-03-23/problems-smart-grids

“…..When the chart is corrected to reflect the same units of measurement,it appears that smart meters are at least 100x more powerful than cell phones, which are increasingly being linked with brain tumors.” Dan Hirsch, UC Santa Cruz Nuclear Policy expert, 21 Apr 2011 http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/04/20/daniel-hirsch-on-ccsts-fuzzy-math/

“It’s one thing to be on a cell phone for one hour per day, but if you are exposed to smart meter or a cell tower, you are exposed 24/7 so the effect is cumulative.” Henry Lai, PhD, Professor, Bioelectromagnetics Research Laboratory, Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Washington (Seattle) http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/emf_concerns_causing_smart_grid_interference/

“We have evidence…that exposure to radiofrequency radiation…increases the risk of cancer, increases damage to the nervous system, causes electrosensitivity, has adverse reproductive effects and a variety of other effects on different organ systems. There is no justification for the statement that Smart Meters have no adverse health effects. ……An informed person should demand that they be allowed to keep their analog meter” Dr. David Carpenter, a Harvard Medical School-trained physician who headed up the New York State Dept. of Public Health for 18 years before becoming Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Albany, where he currently directs the Institute for Health and the Environment http://nosmartmeters.blogspot.com/…/public-health-physician-warns-of-smart.html

“The duration of the radiation seems to be more important than its strength, with the effects being cumulative as more and more cells are damaged. …….Diem et al. (2005) also found that the effect on DNA damage was still greater if the microwaves were pulsed or modulated to carry information (modulation involves sudden stops and starts of the signal, which are even more damaging). Smart meters, which operate 24/7 and radiate modulated microwaves intermittently, can therefore be expected to be particularly harmful to DNA.” Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy, Lecturer in Biology (retired), Imperial College London “How Smart Meters May Cause Autism And Cancer”, July 2011 http://www.foodsmatter.com/es/dect_smart_meters/articles/smart_meters_autism_2011_goldsworthy.pdf

“Who can support that the constitution, any constitution of any country should allow installations to take place (as the one with Smart Meters) against the rights for health of the citizens”. Professor Lukas H. Margaritis, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Faculty of Biology, Department of Cell Biology & Biophysics, Electromagnetic Biology Laboratory http://www.ccst.us/projects/smart2/documents/letter20.pdf

“Cells in the body react to EMF’s as potentially harmful, just like any other environmental toxins, including heavy metals and toxic chemicals. The DNA in living cells recognizes electromagnetic fields at very low levels of exposure; and produces a biochemical stress response. …. The science is very strong and we should sit up and pay attention” Dr. Martin Blank, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, quoted in “Radiofrequency Radiation: The Invisible Hazards of “Smart” Meters “ by Dr. Ilya Sandra Perlingieri http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26082? http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26082

“It should be noted that we are not the only species at jeopardy, practically all animals and plants may be at stake……the inauguration of smart meters with grudging and involuntary exposure of millions to billions of human beings to pulsed microwave radiation should immediately be prohibited…” Olle Johansson, PhD., Dept. of Neuroscience,Karolinska Institute, Sweden: “Open Letter on SmartMeters” http://sunroomdesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Olle-Johansson-The-California-Council-on-Science-and-Technology-response.pdf

“The question for governmental agencies, especially those concerned with public health and safety, is that given the uncertainty, should we err on the side of safety and take the precautionary avoidance measures? Unknown does not mean safe. ….Governmental agencies for protecting public health and safety should be much more vigilant towards involuntary environmental exposures because governmental agencies are the only defense against such involuntary exposure. Given the uncertainty of the SmartMeter safety, one rational first step of public policy could be to require household consent before installation of SmartMeters. Finally, because of the nature of universal exposure, many susceptible and vulnerable populations including pregnant women and young children are unknowingly exposed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Usually, the threshold of harmful level is much lower for susceptible populations.” Dr. De-Kun Li, Research Scientist, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland California; Lecturer, Stanford University, Department of Health Research and Policy. HYPERLINK http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org/Dr-DeKun-Li-Letter-re-Smart-Meter-Safety,5,1298

Additional resources

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Rosemary Found to Offer Best Protection against Radiation Poisoning
http://www.naturalnews.com/026079_radiation_exposure_rosemary.html