Dr. Havas' contribution to European Commissiuon

[Guest guest]

Here is Dr. Magda Havas' contribution/response to the Possible effects of

Electromagnetic

Fields (EMF) on Human Health, SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON EMERGING AND NEWLY

IDENTIFIED HEALTH RISKS   (SCENIHR), EUROPEAN COMMISSION  HEALTH & CONSUMER

PROTECTION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL    

_______________________________________________

Dr. Magda Havas, B.Sc. Ph.D.

Environmental & Resource Studies,

Trent University, borough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8

phone:  705 748-1011 x 1232    fax:  705 748-1569

mhavas@...

________________________________________________

Consultation Response Form

SCENIHR opinion on

" Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health "

If you write on behalf of an organization, please specify the following

Type      Academic   Trent University

                  

My comments relate to section 3.4 Intermediate Frequency Fields (IF fields)

for which you have very little information.

Summary:  Our studies show that this intermediate frequency range (IF

fields) between 4 and 100 kHz is biologically active at current exposures

and may contribute to symptoms of electrohypersensitivity (EHS), elevated

blood sugar among diabetics, and exacerbated symptoms for those with

multiple sclerosis.

For the past 3 years I have been working on the health effects of

electromagnetic frequencies in the 4 kHz to the 100 kHz range in homes and

schools.  I attach three papers to this email as follows:

1. Havas, M. and D. Stetzer. 2004. Dirty Electricity and Electrical

Hypersensitivity:  Five Case Studies. World Health Organization Workshop on

Electrical Hypersensitivity, 25-26 October, 2004, Prague, Czech Republic, 13

pp.

2. Havas, M.  M. Illiatovitch, and C. Proctor.  2004.  Teacher and student

response to the removal of dirty electricity by the Graham/Stetzer filters

at Willow Wood School in Toronto, Canada.  Biological Effects of EMFs, 3rd

International Workshop, Kos, Greece, 4-8 October, 2004, pp:311-317.

3. Havas, M.  2006.  Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Biological Effects of

Dirty Electricity with Emphasis on Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis.

Precautionary EMF Approach:  Rationale, Legislation and Implementation, 5th

ICEMS International Workshop, Benevento Italy, 22-25 February 2006.  [Note:

This is the pre-proof copy.  Please do not cite until it is published.  in

press in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine].

Our studies show that when dirty electricity within the frequency range of 4

to 100 kHz is removed from buildings people's health, energy, and sense of

wellbeing improves considerably and many symptoms associated with

electrohypersensitivity (EHS) are reduced or eliminated.  Note that dirty

electricity refers to poor power quality and includes both harmonics and

non-harmonic components that generate high frequencies.  Graham/Stetzer (GS)

filters reduce dirty electricity within the frequency range of 4 to 100 kHz

and have been used in case studies and experimental trials.

Sick building syndrome often associated with air quality and mould, in some

cases, may be due to dirty electricity.  A nurse documented improved health

for both students and teachers at a school in Wisconsin that installed

Graham/Stetzer (GS) filters to improve power quality.  Students with asthma

no longer used their inhalers and a teacher with MS no longer had symptoms.

A study in schools in both Toronto (see reference #2 above) and Minnesota

(unpublished) showed that teacher health, mood, energy improved as did

student behaviour when the dirty electricity in the school was reduced.

Many of the symptoms associated with ADD and ADHD were the ones that

improved particularly among elementary students.

Furthermore, we report that blood sugar for some people with either type 1

and type 2 diabetes is lower when they are in an electromagnetically " clean "

environment.   Insulin injections for type 1 diabetics need to be reduced

once the dirty electricity is removed. Blood sugar levels for some type 2

diabetics change within 30 minutes as they move from dirty to clean

environments. We know that walking reduces plasma glucose levels and is

recommended by doctors for their diabetic patients but exercise on a

treadmill, which produces dirty electricity (high frequency transients),

increases plasma glucose levels (see reference #3 above).

Some people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis  have reduced

tremors, improved motor skills, and more energy when the dirty electricity

is reduced in their living environment.    Response is within a few days to

a few weeks.  MS symptoms return when individuals spend several hours in an

electromagnetic dirty environment common in most retail stores.

At this stage of our studies we do not know what percentage of the diabetic

population and the MS population respond to electromagnetic frequencies

within this intermediate range (4 to 100 kHz).  As we begin to use more

energy efficient lighting (compact fluorescent bulbs for example), the

amount of dirty electricity in the home/work/school environment is likely to

increase substantially resulting in ill health for those who are sensitive

to this form of energy.