ABSTRACT FROM”HEALTH AND SAFETY BULLETIN: ACTU VTHC
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT, BOS 93, CARLTON SOUTH, 3053, VICTORIA,
AUSTRALIA NO. 31
ST AUGUST,
1983.
Electromagnetic radiation is the general
scientific term for the spectrum of radiant energy emissions encompassing
electric and magnetic fields: microwave and radio frequency radiation;
infra-red, (visible) and ultraviolet radiation (including lasers); as well as
high-energy gamma and X-rays.
STUDY RESULTS INDICATE THAT THERE IS NO
SAFE LEVEL OF EXPOSURE TO ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS, STRESS, DISEASE AND
DEATH MAY COME FROM THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF
EXPOSURE:
1. Leukaemia;
2. Nervous,
haemotopoetic and immuno-competent cell effects reports on the effects on
the nervous system include behavioural, metabolic and structural (at the
cellular and subcellular levels) changes, Erythrocyte production and Haemoglobin
synthesis may be impaired and immunological reactivity changed;
3. Chromosomal
aberrations, as well as interference in the process of cell division (which is
under genetic control) using the Ames Test there have been a variety of
radiation’s found to be highly mutagenic (both direct and mediated by heat).
Mutagens in the Ames test turn out to be human cancer agents (carcinogenic to
man);
4. Irradiation
of male and female have been found to cause reproductive anomalies in
males: damage to the testicles and interference in sperm production, reducing
its quantity or producing abnormal sperm cells, or causing sterility; in females
it has interfered in the oestrus cycle. “Testicular lesions seem to be
readily reversible unless neurosis occurs.” (WHO, 1982);
5. Teratogenic
damaging to a developing foetus as well as causing birth abnormalities. A
variety of abnormalities at birth have been found, including abnormalities of
the central nervous system, eye deformities, cleft palate and other
deformities;
6. Formation of
cataracts and other lens opacities in the eye, leading to blindness. The
lens is peculiarly vulnerable to radiation damage, having no regenerative
capabilities. A ‘latent period’ between exposure and development of a
cataract is characteristic, and may be compared with the similar latent period
found with ionizing radiation effects;
7. The
electrical activity of the brain, as measured by means of an EEG, may be
influenced by a wide variety of exposure patterns. Short-term exposures
induce transient changes in EEG patterns. Structural changes from
long-term exposure cause holes to be created in nerve cells and the brain filled
with fluid, alteration of the permeability of the blood/brain barrier, and
affects nerve cell membranes in such a way that an efflux of calcium (needed for
electrical firing of neurons) is caused. One of the end points of these
nervous system effects is demonstrable changes in behaviourless movement and
eating less and failing to behave in a way they have been conditioned by value
systems;
8. Clicking or
buzzing sound in the ears caused by direct neural stimulation or caused by a
small but fast rise in temperature in the ear which creates a small pressure
wave in the inner ear either way, clicking in the ears is a bothersome
experience;
9. Changes in
blood cell counts through a disturbance of bone marrow, abnormalities in blood
cell structures in the bone marrow, and in the lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and
the spleen;
10. Lowered resistance
to infection;
11. If the rate of
increase in temperature exceeds the person’s ability to dissipate heat, then
hyperthermia (an extremely high body temperature) will occur, followed by burns,
haemorrhage, tissue destruction, and death;
12. Hormone levels
have been disturbed, and blood fat levels altered (with implications for liver
health and ultimately heart disease);
13. High exposure
levels produce shock, marked disturbances in heart rhythm, expressed by variable
or depressed heart beat (arrhythmia, tachycardia or bradycardia);
14. Subject symptoms
described include headache, nausea, vertigo, extreme fatigue;
15. Other subjective
complaints over a longer term included irritability, weakness, decrease in
sexual activity, pains in the chest and generalised ill-feeling; objective
complaints measured were in the nervous system, disturbances in reflexes and in
EEG, signs of organic lesions in the nervous system;
16. Abnormal sweating,
significant changes in white blood cell counts (lymphocytosis and
monocytosis);
17. Neurosis of the
stomach wall and fatal haemorrhage;
18. Changes in
menstrual pattern, increased incidence of miscarriage and decreased lactation in
nursing mothers, retarded foetal development and increased abnormalities
including abnormalities of the central nervous system or still born babies, and
changes in spermatogenesis;
19. Thyroid
disorders.
20. DEATH!
The
full report gives references and background information for industrial
purposes. It is possible the full report good be obtained by writing to
the ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions) at the given address.
