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Health – Heart-circulatory system, heat regulation, blood

The heart-circulatory system is the human body’s transport system of the human body and responsible for the maintenance of blood circulation. Oxygen and nutrients are transported to every cell of the body and their metabolic products removed. In addition the heart-circulatory system also plays a central role in protecting against illnesses and in heat regulation. In industrialised counties illnesses of the heart-circulatory system are amongst the most frequent causes of disease and death. In particular stress, smoking, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet are responsible for this. 

The influence of EMFs

The effects of high and low frequency EMFs on the heart-circulatory system have been studied in many scientific papers. In so doing cardio vascular changes, such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiograms (ECG) and blood circulation were investigated in connection with mobile telephone use or occupational radiation exposure.

The majority of studies noted no change to the pulse, blood pressure and heart beat due to high frequency radiation. Several deviations in the results could be attributed to other influences. No clear indications of increased blood circulation due to mobile telephone use were determined. The feeling of warmth that has often been reported is primarily due to holding the telephone next to the ear (insulation effect) and the warmth of the battery, not due to additional radiation exposure.

The current studies provide no evidence for measurable effects on the heart-circulatory system in the range of low frequency radiation. Furthermore no connection with cardiovascular illnesses could be observed.

Selected literature (overviews)

Literature List 2019 on RF Exposure and the Cardiovascular System

Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU) (2007). Hochfrequente Strahlung und Gesundheit. Bewertung von wissenschaftlichen Studien im Niedrigdosisbereich. Bern: BAFU.

Dürrenberger, G., Leuchtmann, P., Röösli, M., Siegrist, M., Sütterlin, B. (2015). Fachliteratur-Monitoring "EMF von Strom-Technologien". BFE, Bern. Publication 291030, section 3.3.6.3.

Hug, K., Röösli, M. (2013). Strahlung von Sendeanlagen und Gesundheit. Bewertung von wissenschaftlichen Studien im Niedrigdosisbereich. Stand: Dezember 2012. Umwelt-Wissen Nr. 1323. Bern: BAFU.

Independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) (2012). Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.  U.K. Health Protection Agency, Oxfordshire. Chapter 7.2.1, 262-263.

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (2010). Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric and magnetic fields (1Hz to 100kHz). Health Physics, 99, 6, 818-836.

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection ICNIRP (2009). Exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields, bilogical effects and health consequences (100 kHz-300 GHz). Chapter II.5.3, 161-169.

Kheifets, L., A. Ahlbom, C. Johansen, M. Feychting, J. Sahl and D. Savitz (2007). Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and heart disease. Scand J Work Environ Health, 33, 1, 5-12.

McNamee, D.A., Legros A.G., Krewski, D.R., Wisenberg, G., Prato, F.S.,Thomas, A.W.(2009). A literature review: the cardiovascular effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 82 (8), 919-933.

Sienkiewicz, Z., Schüz, J., Poulsen, A.H., Cardis, E. (2010). Risk analysis of human exposure to electromagnetic fields. European Health Risk Assessment Network on Electromagnetic Fields Exposure (EFHRAN): D 2 - Report - risk analysis of human exposure to electromagnetic fields. Brussels: European Commission.