mbiorf

mBioRF: Multilevel assessment on Biological effects of RadioFrequency electromagnetic waves (2012-2015)

mBioRF proposal aims to produce beyond state of the art multilevel research data on Biological effects of RF EM waves.

The study will be focused on the interaction between modern systems of RF EMsources andhumans, with emphasis on groups of special interest, such as pregnant women and children.

The research proposal is structured to be developed in three (3) main levels: 

• Cellular  level:

A thorough,  in  depth  study  on  biological  effects  of  low  level  EMF  radiation  is scheduled. We will explore the production of free radicals from cells and generation of an oxidative stress state that has been reported to be involved in many diseases such as atherosclerosis, various neurological diseases, cataract formation, rheumatoid arthritis and most cancers (Franco et al. 2009). The study will be done in total peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from human volunteers in an attempt to minimize any overstatements  from  the  misdetection  of  any  experimental  effects  due  to  the  use  of  cell  cultures  etc. Furthermore,  the  study  will  take  place  under  a  realistic  scenario  during  which  isolated  human  blood lymphocytes  will  be  exposed  to  a  modulated  signal  of  mobile  phones  (3G-UMTS)  under  controlled conditions  in  order  to  well  define  the  radiation.  Numerical dosimetry study  will  enable  the  detailed characterization of the exposure conditions.

• Tissue  level:

Emphasis will  be  placed  on  dosimetric  outcomes  for  children  and  other  groups  (e.g. pregnant women), which are considered of potential sensitivity. The study will focus on the calculation of EM dosimetric quantities, in comparison with international reference levels (ICNIRP 1998), (IEEE 2005), taking into consideration a) the inter-subject variability in the numerical description of anatomical human models, b) the use of updated, age-related dielectric properties that characterize biological tissues and have been  introduced  in  recent  literature  and  c)  the  accurate  description  of  the  EM  source.  Moreover, it will explore the need for more complex and combined design scenarios, such as the use of portable sensors or other antennas in the presence of mobile phones or uncontrolled environments of general EM radiation. Additionally, the temperature (and potential conductivity) variation will be measured non-invasively in experimental head models and healthy volunteer participants, based on microwave radiometry methods. The experimental data will be combined with the corresponding computed ones, along with EM absorbed power information.

•  Neurophysiological  level:

A human  volunteers  study  aims  to  evaluate  potential  alternations  in ElectroEncephaloGram  (EEG)  and  Evoked  Potentials  (EP)  recordings,  due  to  3rd  generation ElectroMagnetic  (EM)  irradiation.  EP  will  be  recorded  due  to  acoustic  or/and  optical  stimuli.  Advanced Digital  Signal  Processing  (DSP)  methods  will  be  used  in  order  to  detect  potential  statistically  significant differences.  In  order  to  study  the  potential  neurophysiological  effects,  alternations  in  the  product  of temperature and conductivity of brain tissue will be also recorded in real time and will be combined with the available information concerning the EM power absorption.