Studies about the health effects Radiation form Radio/Television broadcasting

RF Radiation from General broadcasting TV-Radio

Preview of studies “Radiation from Radio/Televion towers”

On this page we present studies on the health effects and disease caused by radio frequency radiation from radio and TV antennas and general broadcasting (radio and TV broadcasting sites, amateur radio and more). In these cases, the radiation is usually not pulsed (except in digital systems), but it is very strong. Most of the exposure here falls on the workers and on people who live nearby.

Today it is already difficult to study the health effects and diseases caused by radiation from radio and TV antennas. The many mobile phone base stations in residential areas, and the large amount of wireless and mobile equipment in homes and personal use, increase people’s overall exposure to pulsed radio frequency radiation. Pulsed radiation also has biological effects, perhaps even more extreme ones.

Partial list of studies about the health effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (mainly RF) form Radio/Television and general RF Broadcasting

Today it is already difficult to study the health effects and diseases caused by radiation from radio and TV antennas. The many cellular base stations in residential areas, and the large amount of wireless and mobile equipment in homes and personal use, increase people’s overall exposure to pulsed radio frequency radiation. Pulsed radiation also has biological effects, perhaps even more extreme ones.

Samuel Milham, USA, 1987 – Excess Risk of Certain Types of Cancer Among Amateur Radio Operators
“Statistically significant increased mortality was seen for cancers of the other lymphatic tissues (SMR = 162), a rubric which includes multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The all-leukemia standardized mortality ratio was slightly, but nonsignificantly, elevated (SMR = 124). However, mortality due to acute myeloid leukemia was significantly elevated (SMR = 176).”
The study:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/127/1/50
– Amateur radio
Cantor, K; Baris, D; Inskip, P, 2003 – Causes of Death Among Amateur Radio Operators – MORTALITY AMONG RADIO AMATEUR OPERATORS
The study examined about 108,586 amateur radio license holders in the USA who lived in California between 1965 and 1995, based on data from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). During this period, the public had much less exposure to radio frequency radiation from personal use. Their causes of death were checked against state records.
The license holders held 5 different types of licenses, which differ in the transmission power and transmission time they are permitted. For some causes of death, the license holders showed a higher risk than the rest of the population:

Glioma: SMR 1.14 (0.97-1.3)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia, men: 1.2 (0.9-1.7)
Hodgkin’s disease among men: SMR 1.3 (0.9-1.9)
ALS overall: SMR 1.21 (0.9-1.6)
The study’s conclusions: “The small excesses found for brain cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and ALS are consistent with previous observations in the electrical, electronics, and broadcasting industries.”
The study:
http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/2003/09001/MORTALITY_AMONG_RADIO_AMATEUR_OPERATORS__ISEE_417_.193.aspx
– Amateur radio

British teams, 1997 and 2001 – Excess Risk of Various Cancers Near a TV Broadcasting Station – Sutton Coldfield, UK
The study performed an advanced statistical analysis of the incidence of various types of cancer among people who lived right next to (up to 2 km) and near (up to 10 km) the Sutton Coldfield TV broadcasting station in the UK, between 1987 and 1994. The results showed more cancer cases among people living right next to and near the station than expected (based on cancer incidence in the general population).
The original study:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=amjepid&resid=145/1/1
(Follow-up study:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/153/2/202.full)
– Radiation from TV broadcasting antennas