TERATOGEN UPDATE - ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS

Public concern is increasing about the potential health effects of ext remely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) naturally pre sent or generated by electrical appliances and those of very low frequ ency (VLF) fields, like those generated by video display terminals (VD Ts). There are arguments in favour of EMFs being biologically active b ut no mechanism has been identified that explains the link between EMF s and bioeffects. More than 50 studies on exposures of animals to EMFs have been performed within the last few years. Although there were a few statistically significant effects in the studies reviewed, no repl icable results were found among laboratories. The extent of effects ob served, if any, was always low, and deserves further investigation bef ore relevance to humans can be considered. Human data reviewed concern the potential reproductive effects (mainly spontaneous abortions, low birthweight, and congenital malformations) of exposure to various sou rces of EMFs: maternal residence, heated waterbeds, electric blankets, and ceiling heating coils, occupational exposure (mainly video displa y terminals), and magnetic resonance imaging. The totality of the evid ence that is thus far available provides no convincing evidence to ind icate that low frequency EMFs of the sort that might be met in occupat ional or daily life exposures does any harm to the human reproductive process. It is suggested that those counseling pregnant women follow t he guidelines established by WHO in agreement with the International N on-ionizing Radiation Committee. This group does not consider that the results of published studies provide a basis for restricting human ex posure to electromagnetic fields and radiation. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, I nc.