Fw: Indoor+Built Environment; 10, 5, 2001

[Guest guest]

: The Journal " Indoor+Built Environment "

: Volume 10, Issue 5, cover date September-October 2001 is now available on

the WEB at:

:

: This issue's ToC:

: http://www.karger.com/IBE/2001/010/05/toc

: Journal's upcoming ToC:

: http://www.karger.com/journals/ibe/ibe_new.htm

: Journal's ToC:

: http://www.karger.com/journals/ibe/ibe_bk.htm

: Journal Home Page:

: http://www.karger.com/journals/ibe/ibe_jh.htm

:

: Please find below a text version of the table of contents

:

: --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

: Table of Contents

: --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

: Journal: Indoor+Built Environment (10/5)

: Editor: J.A. Hoskins, Reigate

: Issn: 1420-326X

: E-Issn: 1423-0070

:

: --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Editorial

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:283

: Title : Communicating the Effects of Radiation on Health

: Author(s): Henri Métivier

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 0; References: 0

:

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:284-290

: Title : Evaluation of the Health Impact of the Radio-Frequency Fields

from

: Mobile Telephones

: Author(s): R. De Seze, A.-L. Mausset, J. Ayoub, G. Pina, L. Miro

:

: Info : Figures: 4; Tables: 0; References: 14

:

: Keywords : Nervous system; Electro-encephalogram; Auditory system;

: Endocrine system; Microwaves; Mobile telephones

: Abstract : Expansion of the use of mobile phones increases concern about

any

: eventual health risks from the microwaves they emit. In this

work, we

: have looked at whether these microwaves could disturb the

nervous

: system, the auditory system or the endocrine system. No

significant

: effect was observed in the responses of the auditory brainstem

or the

: endocrine system, but a slight increase in activity was

observed on

: the Q-EEG. The functional significance of this effect remains

to be

: evaluated, as well as any possible health impact.Copyright ©

2002

: S. Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:291-298

: Title : Toxicologic Study of Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted by

Television

: and Video Display Screens and Cellular Telephones on Chickens

and Mice

: Author(s): M. Bastide, B.J. Youbicier-Simo, J.C. Lebecq, J. Giaimis

:

: Info : Figures: 2; Tables: 4; References: 34

:

: Keywords : Electromagnetic radiation; Television screens; Video display

units;

: Cellular telephone; Chickens; Mice

: Abstract : The effects of continuous exposure of chick embryos and young

: chickens to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by video

: display units (VDUs) and GSM cell phone radiation, either the

whole

: spectrum emitted or attenuated by a copper gauze, were

investigated.

: Permanent exposure to the EMFs radiated by a VDU was associated

with

: significantly increased fetal loss (47-68%) and markedly

depressed

: levels of circulating specific antibodies (IgG), corticosterone

and

: melatonin. We have also shown that under chronic exposure

conditions,

: GSM cell phone radiation was harmful to chick embryos,

stressful for

: healthy mice and, in this species, synergistic with cancer

insofar as

: it depleted stress hormones. The same pathological results were

: observed after substantial reduction of the microwaves radiated

from

: the cell phone by attenuating them with a copper

gauze.Copyright ©

: 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:299-305

: Title : Electric and Magnetic Fields with a Frequency of 50-60 Hz:

Assessment

: of 20 Years of Research

: Author(s): Jacques Lambrozo

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 4; References: 26

:

: Keywords : 50-60 Hz; Electric field; Magnetic field; Epidemiology;

: Limit values of exposure

: Abstract : Since electricity is used everywhere, exposure to

electromagnetic

: fields of extremely low frequency (50-60 Hz) is unavoidable in

our

: daily life. The question of whether these electromagnetic

fields

: could possibly have any biological or health effects has been a

major

: environmental issue for more than 20 years. At high field

strengths,

: biological effects such as nerve and cardio-stimulation through

the

: induction of currents in the body have been noted. These

biological

: effects have been used in the drafting of standards for public

and

: professional exposure. However, it is the search for effects at

low

: field levels that has been the focus of much research. The main

: results of this research can be summarised as follows: in vivo

: studies on whole animals have shown that there is no convincing

: evidence that electromagnetic fields cause cancer or birth

defects,

: and despite some reduction in pineal and blood melatonin in

rodents,

: studies on lambs, baboons and humans do not support such an

effect of

: electromagnetic fields, while in vitro studies have shown that

: exposure to electromagnetic fields at usual residential levels

(<100

: <mu>T) does not produce any significant in vitro effects that

could

: be replicated in independent studies. These results, correlated

with

: the data provided by more recent epidemiological studies, do

not show

: that exposure to electromagnetic fields at the usual

residential

: exposure levels presents a human health hazard.Copyright ©

2002 S.

: Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:306-309

: Title : Growth, Development, Reproduction, Physiological and

Behavioural

: Studies on Living Organisms, Human Adults and Children Exposed

to

: Radiation from Video Displays

: Author(s): A.M. Laverdure, J. Surbeck, M.O. North, J. Tritto

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 0; References: 22

:

: Keywords : Radiation; Video display terminal; Growth; Reproduction

: Abstract : Various living organisms, human workers and children were

tested for

: any biological action resulting from exposure to radiation from

video

: display terminals (VDTs). VDTs were powered by a 50-Hz

alternating

: voltage of 220 V. Measured electric and magnetic fields were 13

V/M

: and 50 nT, respectively. Living organisms were maintained under

their

: normal breeding conditions and control values were obtained

before

: switching on the VDT. Various effects related to the

irradiation time

: were demonstrated, i.e. growth delay in algae and Drosophila, a

body

: weight deficiency in rats, abnormal peaks of mortality in

Daphnia and

: Drosophila, teratological effects in chick embryos and

behavioural

: disturbances in rats. The embryonic and neonatal periods showed

a

: high sensitivity to the VDT radiation. In humans, after 4 h of

: working in front of a VDT screen, an increase in tiredness and

a

: decrease in the resistance of the immune system were observed

in

: workers. In prepubertal children, 20 min of exposure were

sufficient

: to induce neuropsychological disturbances; pre-pubertal young

people

: appear to be particularly sensitive to the effect of the

radiation.

: In human testicular biopsies cultured in vitro for 24 h in

front of a

: VDT screen, mitotic and meiotic disturbances, the appearance of

: degeneration in some aspects of the cells and significant

: disorganisation of the seminiferous tubules were demonstrated

and

: related to modification of the metabolism of the sample. An

: experimental apparatus has been developed and tested that aims

to

: prevent the harm from VDT radiation. Known commercially as the

: emf-Bioshield®, it ensures effective protection against

harmful

: biological effects of VDT radiation.Copyright © 2002 S.

Karger AG,

: Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:310-316

: Title : Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on Humans

: Author(s): J.P. Césarini

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 4; References: 15

:

: Keywords : Ultraviolet radiation

: Abstract : Solar radiation, including its ultraviolet (UV) components, is

a key

: factor in life on earth. While small quantities of UV are

beneficial

: for people (for example, through the production of vitamin D),

the

: considerable amount to which people sometimes expose themselves

may

: have extremely noxious effects including actinic erythema,

sunburn,

: photo-induced diseases, photo-worsened diseases, actinic ageing

and

: skin cancers. Since the last century, human exposure to UV has

: increased either by social-behaviour modifications, or by

: anthropogenic disruption to the environment through, among

other

: things, industrial development. The World Health Organisation's

(WHO)

: INTERSUN programme has several components: action for

reconstruction

: of the ozone layer through, for example, preventing dumping of

: chlorofluorocarbons; creation and popularisation of a global UV

: Index; prevention campaigns underlining the risks from UV

exposure

: including dissemination of information to daily newspapers.

These are

: all aimed at reducing the amount of UV radiation that people

receive.

: In addition the WHO advises against exposure to UV artificial

sources

: to reduce overall the quantity of UV received.Copyright ©

2002 S.

: Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:317-324

: Title : Evaluation of the Risk of Exposure to Radon

: Author(s): G. Monchaux

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 0; References: 18

:

: Keywords : Radon; Radon daughters; Dosimetry; Exposure; Human studies;

: Animal studies

: Abstract : The aim of this project was to assess the risk due to

inhalation of

: radon and its decay products using a horizontal approach across

a

: large-scale research programme. The central objective was the

: assessment of human risk, a task that required a combination of

: several programmes and involved a multidisciplinary approach.

Five

: main topics were addressed: radioactive aerosol studies,

modelling,

: human studies, animal studies and retrospective assessment of

radon

: exposure. The five studies were distributed between working

groups.

: The rationale of this project was to pool the expertise from

: laboratories working in different fields of radiation

protection.

: This paper summarises the main achievements made through this

: multidisciplinary research programme and the synergies that

occurred

: between the different groups.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG,

Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:325-331

: Title : Radon in Buildings: A Report on the Situation in France

: Author(s): M.C. Robé, J. Brenot, J.P. Gambard, G. Ielsch, D. Haristoy, V.

Labed,

: A. Beneito, A. Thoreux

:

: Info : Figures: 2; Tables: 0; References: 12

:

: Keywords : Radon; Radon reduction; Risk management

: Abstract : Radon is a radioactive gas of natural origin that tends to

accumulate

: in buildings. Although the levels recorded can be reduced, this

: requires the co-operation of residents, and the French

population has

: a very poor understanding of radon-induced risk. The

justification

: for keeping a close watch on indoor radon concentrations is the

: underlying risk of lung cancer as a consequence of exposure to

high

: levels. Two official statements dealing with radon risk

management

: were issued in 1999 in France to define the thresholds that

should

: not be exceeded. The results of measurement campaigns, the

number of

: buildings where concentrations above these thresholds are

likely to

: occur, the identification of high-radon potential areas and the

: actions taken locally together with the way that the risk from

radon

: and remedial actions are perceived are reviewed

herein.Copyright ©

: 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:332-338

: Title : Evaluation of Doses Related to Ionising Radiation Sources:

Means and

: Uncertainties

: Author(s): A. Rannou

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 1; References: 6

:

: Keywords : United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic

Radiation; UNSCEAR;

: International Commission on Radiological Protection; ICRP;

: Absorbed dose; Relative biological effectiveness; Biokinetic

models;

: Dosimetry

: Abstract : People are exposed to several types of ionising radiation from

both

: natural and man-made sources. A set of concepts and dosimetric

: quantities, along with approximations or models, may be used to

: evaluate doses from these radiation sources whatever they are

and

: whatever their form or the energy and the intensity of their

: radiation. This scheme is considered to provide reliable

results for

: the purposes of protection against radiation. However, some

: limitations are also illustrated which account for the various

and

: complex mechanisms which intervene in the real situation of

exposure

: to radiation.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

:

: ____________________

: Paper : Original Paper

: Citation : Indoor Built Environ 2001;10:339-342

: Title : Suggestion for an Indicator of 'Seriousness' in Radiation

Protection

: Author(s): J.-L. Pasquier

:

: Info : Figures: 0; Tables: 0; References: 0

:

: Keywords : Radiation protection; Dose rate; Risk

: Abstract : Now is an appropriate time to elaborate on an indicator for the

: 'seriousness' of radioactivity to make general sense of the

concepts

: of radio-protection. A number of solutions could be proposed,

but the

: simplest and most understandable one for the public would

consist of

: comparing each incident or accident of exposure to a reference

: situation, chosen by some convention; hence the idea of a

: 'radioactive decibel'.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

:

:

: --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

: Copyright © 2001 by S. Karger AG, Basel - Switzerland

: --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------