The immune response of women with prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations.

Abstract

Twelve women, five of them housewives, exposed in their residences to electromagnetic fields (EMFs)emitted by radio-television broadcasting stations for a mean period of 13 years, were investigated. The EMFs in the balconies of the homes were (mean + S.D.) 4.3 + 1.4 V/m in the year 2000 and 3.7 + 1.3 V/m in 2005, while the exposure in the nearby area was <2.0 V/m. The EMF exposed women showed in 2000 reduced blood NK lymphocytes as well as PHA stimulated PBMC proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-gamma release. In the year 2005, the EMF exposed women and 48 control women with similar ages(mean 43 years), smoking habits, atopy and social level were investigated. State (temporary) and trait(tendency of the personality) anxiety were determined by STAI I and II, respectively. Blood cytotoxic activity and lymphocyte subsets were also determined. The ratio STAI I/STAI II of the EMF exposed group was lower than that of the control group. The blood cytotoxic activity of the exposed women was lower (p<0.01), percent of B CD45+-CD19+ lymphocytes higher and percent of CD45+-CD3+-CD8+ cells lower (p<0.05). Moreover, cytotoxic activity/CD45+-CD16+-56+ NK lymphocytes of the controls was negatively correlated with STAI I and STAI II (p<0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrates reduced blood cytotoxic activity and increased trait anxiety in relation to state anxiety in EMF exposed women. An effect of EMFs on immune functions, in part mediated by nervous mechanisms, may be hypothesized. However, the influence of lifestyle may not be excluded.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Twelve women exposed at home to EMFs from radio-television broadcasting stations (balcony mean field 4.3±1.4 V/m in 2000; 3.7±1.3 V/m in 2005; nearby area <2.0 V/m) showed in 2000 reduced blood NK lymphocytes, reduced PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation, and reduced IL-2 and IFN-gamma release. In 2005, compared with 48 controls of similar age and characteristics, exposed women had lower blood cytotoxic activity (p<0.01), higher percent B CD45+-CD19+ lymphocytes and lower percent CD45+-CD3+-CD8+ cells (p<0.05), and a lower STAI I/STAI II ratio than controls; the authors conclude reduced cytotoxic activity and increased trait anxiety in relation to state anxiety in exposed women.

Outcomes measured

• Blood NK lymphocytes
• PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation
• IL-2 release
• IFN-gamma release
• State and trait anxiety (STAI I and II; ratio STAI I/STAI II)
• Blood cytotoxic activity
• Lymphocyte subsets (B CD45+-CD19+, CD45+-CD3+-CD8+, CD45+-CD16+-56+ NK lymphocytes)

Limitations

• Small exposed sample (n=12)
• Observational design; residual confounding possible
• Authors note lifestyle influences cannot be excluded
• Exposure characterized as V/m at balconies/area; limited detail on frequency spectrum and individual exposure variability

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Long-term exposure assessment context, though exposure is residential rather than occupational.

{
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "radio-television broadcasting stations (residential exposure)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "mean 13 years"
    },
    "population": "Women residing near radio-television broadcasting stations",
    "sample_size": 12,
    "outcomes": [
        "Blood NK lymphocytes",
        "PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation",
        "IL-2 release",
        "IFN-gamma release",
        "State and trait anxiety (STAI I and II; ratio STAI I/STAI II)",
        "Blood cytotoxic activity",
        "Lymphocyte subsets (B CD45+-CD19+, CD45+-CD3+-CD8+, CD45+-CD16+-56+ NK lymphocytes)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Twelve women exposed at home to EMFs from radio-television broadcasting stations (balcony mean field 4.3±1.4 V/m in 2000; 3.7±1.3 V/m in 2005; nearby area <2.0 V/m) showed in 2000 reduced blood NK lymphocytes, reduced PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation, and reduced IL-2 and IFN-gamma release. In 2005, compared with 48 controls of similar age and characteristics, exposed women had lower blood cytotoxic activity (p<0.01), higher percent B CD45+-CD19+ lymphocytes and lower percent CD45+-CD3+-CD8+ cells (p<0.05), and a lower STAI I/STAI II ratio than controls; the authors conclude reduced cytotoxic activity and increased trait anxiety in relation to state anxiety in exposed women.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Small exposed sample (n=12)",
        "Observational design; residual confounding possible",
        "Authors note lifestyle influences cannot be excluded",
        "Exposure characterized as V/m at balconies/area; limited detail on frequency spectrum and individual exposure variability"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radio-television broadcasting stations",
        "residential exposure",
        "RF EMF",
        "immune function",
        "cytotoxic activity",
        "NK cells",
        "lymphocyte subsets",
        "IL-2",
        "IFN-gamma",
        "anxiety",
        "STAI"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Long-term exposure assessment context, though exposure is residential rather than occupational."
        }
    ]
}

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