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23.12.2009 Issue 51/2009

Weekly Information of Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk e.V. (FGF), Bonn

With this last infoline we would like to say goodbye to you – our readers. Since 1994, we have collected for you in this place more than 8,000 news from the areas of research, politics and society discussions on the question of the health relevance of electromagnetic fields. It was our aim to present you the whole spectrum of results and opinions of the controversially discussed topic – research results with “positive” or “negative” findings, alarming and reassuring media reports, critical and comforting statements. Many facts and opinions which we wanted to provide for our readers as a broad and balanced basis, as we hope, for their own formation of opinion. From our interior point of view we cannot judge if we were successful, but the mainly positive feedback to our newsticker always confirmed us to continue. Many thanks for it.

In our opinion, the situation of the scientific results has stabilized in the course of time, and currently there is no safe evidence that mobile phones bear health risks. Nor is there evidence of the opposite. Therefore research, evaluation and discussion will continue. Unfortunately, FGF will not be able to supply you with information in the future, because the association will stop its activities on December 31, 2009. The FGF website will stay available for at least one year in an unaltered way. If you are still interested in current information on the subject, we would like to point out the involvement of “Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste” (WIK GmbH) in the area of electromagnetic environmental friendliness. Please find more details in the current FGF newsletter (NL 04/09) in the category “Nachrichten”.

We say farewell and wish all our readers a merry Christmas with festive happiness and a delightful and prosperous New Year 2010.

Your FGF Team

FGF Annual Report 2007
The Report 2009 offers a view into the operational business and scientific activities carried out in the last year. It covers all important information about the past fiscal year of the FGF which includes:

• Membership development and organisational structure
• FGF research activities: projects, colloquia and cooperation
• Workshops
• Public relations activities: publications, website, media relations

Zum Download (in German)

Publication: German wide cross sectional survey on health impacts of electromagnetic fields in the view of general practitioners
From the abstract: The proportion of general practitioners (GPs) in Germany who assume health impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMF) is assessed. Moreover, factors associated with this risk perception are examined. CONCLUSION: About a third of German GPs associate EMF with health complaints and thus deviate considerably from current scientific knowledge. To avoid a strong selection bias in the surveys of the perception of EMF risks, use of short questionnaires and late responder analysis are recommended.
Bibliography: Kowall et al., Int J Public Health. 2009 Dec 18. [Epub ahead of print], Full Abstract

Publication: Effect of mobile phone exposure on apoptotic glial cells and status of oxidative oxidative stress in rat brain
From the abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mobile phone exposure on glial cells in brain. The study carried out on 31 Wistar Albino adult male rats. The rat heads in a carousel exposed to 900 MHz microwave. In conclusion, the final score for apoptosis, total antioxidant capacity and catalase in rat brain might be altered by 900 MHz radiation produced by a generator to represent exposure of global systems for mobile communication (GSM) cellular phones.
Bibliography: Dasdag et al., Electromagn Biol Med. 2009;28(4):342-54, Full Abstract

What’s to fear about mobile phones?
Under this headline the current magazine of the European Reserach Aerea informs about the status of the Interphone study. While the interpretation of this study would not yet allow to draw definite conclusions, it would suggest that the use of mobile phones could promote the occurrence of certain brain tumours.
Read the article online at: http://ec.europa.eu

Switzerland: Experts discuss public risk perception of possible electromagnetic radiation
The swiss electromagnetics research & engineering centre (serec) is an interdisciplinary network and competence center with its headquarters at the ETH Zurich. Serec supports research, development, information and training in the area of electromagnetism and intends to transfer knowledge from research to the public. Representatives of the ETH department, of universities and colleges as well as of industry and authorities from all over Switzerland belong to it. Each year several conferences are held on current subjects. On December 21, international experts will discuss the topic "Electrosmog: Risk Assessment and Public Perception". Preliminary Report at: http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch (in German)

Stuttgarter Nachrichten: Italian got ill through mobile phone
According to an article of December 18, 2009, a court in the north Italian town of Brescia decided in the first court case that long and frequent mobile phone calls can cause diseases. The judges were convinced that the plaintiff had got a benignant tumour at the left ear during working hours. According to the court, the plaintiff was entitled to the recognition of a disease caused at the workplace.
http://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de (in German)

Maine to consider cell phone cancer warning
A Maine legislator wants to make the U.S.state the first to require cell phones to carry warnings that they can cause brain cancer, although there is no consensus among scientists that they do and industry leaders dispute the claim.
http://www.pressetext.de (in German), http://www.theepochtimes.com

Website of Pandora Foundation online
The aim of the foundation founded by Professor Dr. Franz Adlkofer, Professor Dr. Michael Kundi and Professor Dr. Karl Richter is the support of free and independent research being of relevance for the citizens' health. The website informs for example about the planned research project MOPHORAD (Potential Health Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation in Childhood and Adolescence).
http://www.stiftung-pandora.eu (in German)

(V.i.S.d.P.: Gerd Friedrich)