Cardiovascular disease: Time to identify emerging environmental risk factors

2017 · Harm · Insufficient evidence

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HarmInsufficient evidencePaper 2329

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease: Time to identify emerging environmental risk factors Bandara P, Weller S. Cardiovascular disease: Time to identify emerging environmental risk factors. Eur J Prev Cardio. October 3, 2017. No Abstract Excerpts In our latest review, 242 RF-EMR studies that investigated experimental endpoints related to oxidative stress (OS)16 were identified. A staggering 216 (89%) of them found significant effects related to OS, similar to a previous review.17 These are being further analysed following presentation at the recent Australasian Radiation Protection Society conference.18 Mostly in-vivo animal studies and in-vitro studies have demonstrated increased markers of endogenous OS and/or affected antioxidant levels in different tissue/cell types upon exposure to RF-EMR. Some studies have further demonstrated amelioration of RF-induced OS upon treatment with various antioxidants. Limited human studies at this stage complement these studies demonstrating OS and/or reduced antioxidant status upon acute radiofrequency exposure under experimental settings,19 in mobile phone users20 and residents near mobile phone base stations.21 Renowned physical scientists have recently presented experimental evidence and a theoretical explanation on how low-intensity RF-EMR can generate OS .22 OS is known to be implicated in CVD 23,24 and therefore RF-EMR, a new ubiquitous environmental exposure, may contribute to CVD by maintaining chronic OS, and thereby causing oxidative damage to cellular constituents and altering signal transduction pathways. Although a few western countries have recently taken steps to reduce public exposure to RF-EMR, particularly of children, such as discouraging the use of wireless devices by children and banning/restricting WiFi in schools, 38,39 there is largely inaction at this stage. Intriguingly, a professor in public health at the University of California recently went to court and accessed the cell phone safety 'fact sheet' (on health risks with instructions to reduce exposure) prepared by the Californian Department of Public Health.40 It is reported that this document, originally prepared in 2009 and revised 27 times up to 2014, was abandoned due to influences from vested interests. Meanwhile in France, a physician took legal action to access data from government testing of mobile phones 41 revealing that most phones would not even pass the entirely thermally based (tissue heating) current exposure standards if held directly against the body, such as in a garment pocket. It is clearly time to investigate the potential role of RF-EMR exposure from common wireless device use on CVD. Noting that existing research findings are influenced by the funding source, 42 fresh directives are necessary for objective high quality research to expand current primary and secondary prevention strategies. 43 journals.sagepub.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The article states that a prior review identified 242 RF-EMR studies on oxidative stress endpoints, with 216 (89%) reporting significant oxidative-stress-related effects, largely from in-vivo and in-vitro studies. It also notes limited human studies reporting oxidative stress and/or reduced antioxidant status with acute RF exposure, in mobile phone users, and in residents near base stations, and argues RF-EMR may contribute to CVD via chronic oxidative stress.

Outcomes measured

oxidative stress (markers)
antioxidant status/levels
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (hypothesized/implicated)

Limitations

No specific methods for the described review are provided in the excerpt (e.g., search strategy, inclusion criteria, risk of bias).
The excerpt emphasizes that evidence is mostly from in-vivo animal and in-vitro studies; human evidence is described as limited.
CVD contribution is presented as a potential mechanism/implication (via oxidative stress) rather than direct CVD outcome evidence.
Potential influence of funding source on findings is mentioned, suggesting possible bias in the literature.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wireless devices (mobile phones, WiFi, base stations)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "oxidative stress (markers)",
    "antioxidant status/levels",
    "cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (hypothesized/implicated)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The article states that a prior review identified 242 RF-EMR studies on oxidative stress endpoints, with 216 (89%) reporting significant oxidative-stress-related effects, largely from in-vivo and in-vitro studies. It also notes limited human studies reporting oxidative stress and/or reduced antioxidant status with acute RF exposure, in mobile phone users, and in residents near base stations, and argues RF-EMR may contribute to CVD via chronic oxidative stress.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No specific methods for the described review are provided in the excerpt (e.g., search strategy, inclusion criteria, risk of bias).",
    "The excerpt emphasizes that evidence is mostly from in-vivo animal and in-vitro studies; human evidence is described as limited.",
    "CVD contribution is presented as a potential mechanism/implication (via oxidative stress) rather than direct CVD outcome evidence.",
    "Potential influence of funding source on findings is mentioned, suggesting possible bias in the literature."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMR",
    "wireless devices",
    "mobile phones",
    "WiFi",
    "base stations",
    "oxidative stress",
    "antioxidants",
    "cardiovascular disease"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Mentions banning/restricting WiFi in schools and reducing children's exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.4,
      "reason": "Discusses exposure standards being thermally based and policy actions to reduce exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1177/2047487317734898
PubMed: Not supplied

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