EMF EFFECTS ON CANCER,
MELATONIN AND TAMOXIFEN
sent in by Shivani Arjuna
In 1992 the European Parliament passed resolution B3-0280/92 which included in
part:
“E: whereas the results of many in vivo and in vitro studies show increasingly
clearly that the interaction mechanisms underlying such disorders and diseases
[cancer, nervous disorders and circadian rhythm changes], centred mainly in the
cell membrane, lead to disruption of melatonin secretions, ornithine
decarboxylase activity and T-lymphocyte efficacy, testify to the probable role
of non-ionizing radiation in promoting cancer,” ....
The 1981 WHO report in part concludes:
"Effects have been reported at power densities too low to produce biologically
significant heating."
and
"The general population includes persons of different ages (infants, small
children, young adults and senior citizens) and different states of health,
including pregnant women. The possible greater susceptibility of the developing
fetus to microwave/RF exposure may deserve special consideration. Exposure of
the general population should be kept as low as possible and limits should
generally be lower than for occupational exposure. In view of the fact that data
are still required to clarify interaction mechanisms and determine threshold
levels for effects, it is recommended that microwave and RF exposure of
occupationally exposed workers and the general population should be kept as low
as readily achievable." .....
“Existing standards, lacking appropriate use of epidemiological data, are not
sufficient to provide a reasonable level of protection against long-term cancer
hazards or against symptomatic, or physiological effects of R.F. radiation. This
is in part because of the failure to evaluate currently available
epidemiological information. Omission of critical studies occurs, as well as
acceptance of a superficial conclusion concerning the meaning of the studies
which were cited. The standards do provide a reasonable level of protection
against thermal effects. ....
“Epidemiological studies, although quite limited in number, provide evidence of
an association of long term exposure to RF/microwave
and lower frequency EMFs and cancer incidence. Although a number of different
cancers have been reported to result from such exposure, leukemia and brain
cancer appear to be the most prevalent.” ....
Below are
excerpts from a longer article found at:
http://kmaisch.customer.netspace.net.au/emfacts/forum/1_4ezine3.html
Tamoxifen: This is crucial infomation for anyone with breast cancer, or any form of
cancer. Electromagnetic fields have been found to increase the growth rate of
cancer and to block the anti-cancer action of melatonin, tamoxifen, calmodulin
antagonist W-13 and antiestrogen ICI 182,780.
Tamoxifen, which is the most widely used therapy for treatment of breast cancer,
has proven effective in treating breast cancer in its early stages and is also
used by over one million women throughout the world who have had breast cancer,
to prevent its recurrence. Although tamoxifen is not as effective as melatonin
in inhibiting the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro , the drug has
been shown to be about 100 times more effective in inhibiting breast cancer cell
growth if the cells have first been pre-treated with a physiological
concentration of melatonin.
....
Research reported in 1993 by Liburdy, et al. found that melatonin reduces the
growth rate of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in culture, but that a 12mG 60
Hz magnetic field can block the ability of melatonin to inhibit breast cancer
cell growth. ( 5 )
Examined in this report are five in vitro studies, from three major
laboratories, using human breast cancer cell cultures, with results showing that
low level powerline frequency magnetic fields in the order of 12 milligauss can
block melatonin and/or Tamoxifen's ability to suppress breast cancer cells.
It is this body of laboratory evidence and the three human exposure studies also
mentioned herein, that have significant implications for the successful
treatment of breast cancer and calls for immediate action from researchers and
oncologists alike. The failure to do so, under the excuse of "more research
needs to be done" is not acting in the best interests of breast cancer patients,
to say the least.
In June 1996 at the 18 th. Annual Meeting of the Bioelectro-magnetics Society
(BEMS), the following three studies were presented. When these three studies are
added to recent research presented at the Second World Congress for Electricity
and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine, held in Bologna Italy, in June of 1997,
there now exists an important body of scientific research in relation to breast
cancer and electromagnetic fields.
ELF INHIBITION OF MELATONIN AND TAMOXIFEN ACTION ON MCF-7 CELL PROLIFERATION;
FIELD PARAMETERS.
(J.D. Harland and R.P. Liburdy. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.)
from this study:
In addition, all field magnitudes of 12 mG or higher that have been tested thus
far (12mG, 20mG, 1Gauss) have been effective at blocking melatonin." ( 6 ).
A lower field of 2mG did not have any significant effect, suggesting a threshold
might exist between 2 and 12 mG.
INDEPENDENT REPLICATION OF THE 12-mGauss. MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECT ON MELATONIN AND
MCF-7 CELLS IN VITRO.
C.F.Blackman, S.G. Benane, D.E. House and J.P. Blanchard. National Health &
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
USA.
This study was specifically designed to attempt to replicate the previous study,
with the cooperation of the originating laboratory. The results independently
confirmed the previous study's findings that a) Melatonin can inhibit the growth
of human breast cancer cells MCF-7 in culture, and b) A 12 mG 60 Hz magnetic
field can completely block melatonin's oncostatic action.
INHIBITION OF MELATONIN'S ACTION OF MCF-7 CELL PROLIFERATION BY MAGNETIC
FIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY.
(S.M.J. Afzal and R.P. Liburdy. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
University of California, USA.)
This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that ELF and VLF magnetic
fields associated with Video Display Terminals (VDT's) influence human breast
cancer cell growth in vitro by altering melatonin's natural oncostatic activity.
This hypothesis was based on the findings of the two previously mentioned
studies.
The conclusions of this study appear to suggest that 12 mG VDT magnetic fields
also inhibit the oncostatic action of melatonin in vitro and that the magnetic
field component was the operative factor in the 12 mG 60 Hz exposures.
Preliminary data from two seperate experiments indicated significant growth
inhibition (33% and 22%) on day 6 in the 2 mG magnetic field conditions.(8 )
DIFFERENTIAL INHIBITION OF TAMOXIFEN'S ONCOSTATIC FUNCTIONS IN A BREAST
CANCER CELL LINE BY A 12 mG MAGNETIC FIELD.
(J.D. Harland, M.Y. Lee, G.A. Levine, R.P. Liburdy, Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, University of California, USA.)
from this study: RESULTS: We observe a blocking effect of a 12 mG magnetic field of the pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780
This blocking effect appears to be even greater than that seen for tamoxifen:
from 18% inhibition at 2 mG, to 15% enhancement of growth at 12 mG. However we
also find that the 12 mG field has an even greater inhibition of the calmodulin
antagonist W-13, from 16% inhibition at 2 mG to 28% enhancement of growth at 12
mG Future
research will be directed at further characterizing the specificity of the 12 mG
field interaction "
Some studies have suggested that EMF effects on melatonin may depend on whether
the field is continuous or intermittent. Reif and Burch found that magnetic
fields in the home that were "temporally coherent"(less intermittent) had a very
significant association with lower melatonin levels at night. They concluded
that, "The intensity and temporal characteristics of magnetic fields appear to
be involved in melatonin suppression."
If environmental EMF's, and electric blanket use are a confounding factor, this
should be possible to check by questioning the subjects on their habits, maybe
even taking home and workplace EMF exposure readings. If some participants are
found to be exposed to prolonged EMF exposures in the order of 2 to 12
milliGauss, there
appears to be a dose-response relationship from 2 to 12 milliGauss)
it may be advisable to recommend avoiding these exposures. Since the studies
examined in this paper found no effect at 2 mG, this may be a safe level to aim
to keep prolonged exposures under.
It may also be advisable to do actual measurements of melatonin levels in those
subjects identified as being prone to breast cancer. Women with breast cancer
have shown a lower nocturnal increase in melatonin levels than control women.
Even a cursory review of the main data set shows a 53% increase in leukaemia
incidence at magnetic field exposure levels above 2 mG; a 72% increase (which is
statistically significant) above 3 mG; and a more than 600% increase at
exposures of between 4 and 5 mG.
As to the role of cancer promoters, Dr. Robert O.Becker in his book, Cross
Currents states: "Cancer promoters, however, have major implications for the
incidence of cancer because they increase the number of cases of cancer that
become evident. We are constantly exposed to cancer-causing agents in our
environment ranging from carcinogenic chemicals to cosmic rays.
As a result, we are always developing small cancers that are recognised by our
immune system and destroyed. Any factor that increases the growth rate of these
small cancers gives them an advantage over the immune system, as a result more
people develop clinical cancers that require treatment." Therefore, it would be
fair to say that in the situation
of residential and occupational exposures, where cancer patients are routinely
being exposed to levels in the order of 12 mG, the necessity of avoiding these
exposures is paramount.
Since the recent World Conference on Breast Cancer, held in Ontario Canada,
there is an increasing overseas awareness that EMFs are a risk factor with
breast cancer, but at present there are no figures as to the degree of risk. In
relation to breast cancer patients, an important first step is to determine how
many are being exposed to EMFs of the order of 2 to 12 mG?
An important initial step would be to conduct detailed surveys of groups of
breast cancer patients to build up a profile of any prolonged exposures in
relation to the 12 milligauss level. If we take 2 mG as a no-effect level and 12
+ mG as a definite level of effect, we could get some idea of the percentage of
participants who are most likely at increased risk from this exposure. Ideally
such a survey would be conducted independently in several countries, using the
same criteria and results then compared.
The outcome of this would be to develop effective advice for patients to avoid
exposures, which can come from many sources, such as electric blankets,
electrically heated water beds, improperly grounded home wiring, in-floor
electrical heating systems, older computer monitors, flourescent lighting
systems, occupational exposures, etc.
Although this paper only deals with powerline EMFs, electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
from radiofrequency and microwave emissions are also now being implicated in
breast cancer.
Besides some epidemiological studies, such as one showing a significant increase
in breast cancer for female radio operators, there is evidence that breast cancer tumors absorb significantly more EMR than other cancers, or
healthy tissue. To quote from
one study, conducted at Duke University, North Carolina, USA, in 1993.
"In general, at all frequencies tested [50 to 900 MHz], both conductivity and
relative permittivity were greater in malignant tissue than in normal tissue of
the same type. For tissues of the same type, the differences in electrical
properties from normal to malignant were least for kidney (about 6% and 4%
average differences over the frequency range in permitivity and conductivity,
respectively), and these differences were the greatest for mammary gland (about
233% and 577% average differences in permittivity and conductivity,
respectively) (27)
The ability of breast cancer tumors to absorb significantly more EMR than normal
tissue should be of concern when compared to an official joint statement, made
in the Information sheet, Safety of Mobile Phones and Towers - The Answers
(Nov.1995) by the Australian Radiation Laboratory, Spectrum Management Agency,
Austel and the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation, (under
the heading, "Is Cancer an issue?")
"There is yet insufficient scientific knowledge of many aspects of health
effects of radio waves. One common question is: Do radio waves from mobile phones
increase the risks of cancer? The answer is that there is no experimental
evidence that radio waves directly cause cancer. Laboratory studies on animals
suggest that where cancer exists, radio waves may accelerate its growth."
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