NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MICROWAVE EXPOSURE RELATED TO MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Due to the wide and growing use of mobile communication, there is incr easing concern about the interactions of electromagnetic radiation wit h the human organism, and, in particular, with the brain. In the prese nt report, experimental studies on putative electrophysiological, bioc hemical and morphological effects of continuous or pulsed microwave ra diation are briefly reviewed. Such effects have been described in vitr o and in vivo using animals and humans. Particularly, effects on neuro nal electrical activity, cellular calcium homeostasis, energy metaboli sm, genomic responses, neurotransmitter balance and blood-brain barrie r permeability have been reported. However, some results have either b een disputed, since experimental replication led to contradictory find ings, or been related to procedural side effects. Since neurological d isturbances induced by mobile telephone devices would be of considerab le interest for public health, the authors recognize that further expe rimental studies, involving strict positive and negative control condi tions, will be required in the future. At the present state of knowled ge there is no positive evidence that pulsed or continuous microwave e xposure in the non-thermal range confers elevated risk to the health o f the brain. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.