Stop Smart Meters! (uk)

via Can Cell Phones Damage DNA and Cause Cancer? Dr. Henry Lai – YouTube

Hat tip to Giles – thanks.

Josh del Sol and his highly skilled crew of film makers have just $1500 left to find of their $7500 target for “Stop Smart Meters: The Film” and just two days left to get it (funding window closes Wednesday).  If you want to see the Smart Meter agenda hit the silver screen and thus awaken a far greater audience to this issue, please contribute what you can here http://smartmeterfilm.com.

This moving story from Today Tonight Australia shows the devastating effects of cancer and has many calling for a moratorium on mobile phone use for under 16s.

via Mobile phone cancer danger – Today Tonight – Yahoo!7 News.

[SSM UK Comment]  Evidence that smart living doesn’t involve smart phones… [/]

Jake Reilly, a college student gave up his cell phone and computer for 90 days. No texting, facebook, email, twitter etc. What he learned changed his life. He writes, “Everything was so much simpler, I had relationships with people, not profiles.”

“I had nothing but time on my hands.” “I was immeasurably more calm and peaceful.”

After doing it for 90 days, I didn’t want it to be over.” Here’s his video:

via College project: 90 days without cell phone, social media | EMF Safety Network.

A Greek study led by Adamantia Fragopoulou and Lukas Margaritis has demonstrated important protein changes in the brain of animals following whole body exposure to RF electromagnetic fields, similar to the kind of microwave radiation emitted from cell phones, portable phones, WiFi and wireless computer equipment [and smart meters - Ed.]. The study, was published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Early Online: 1-25, 2012.

Important regions of the brain necessary for learning, memory and other functions of the mammalian brain were impacted by the microwave radiation, including the hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal lobe, at exposures below the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) safety guidelines.  A total of 143 proteins in the brain were impacted by the RF radiation over a period of 8 months, providing new evidence for a potential relationship between everyday cell phone use, wireless transmitters and wireless computer equipment and electrosensitivity symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness and sleep disorders, as well as with tumors, Alzheimer’s and even metabolic effects.

The study simulated 3 hours of cell phone exposure over eight months, 8 hours of DECT portable phone exposure over eight months, and included a sham exposure control group. The results showed both down regulation and up regulation of the proteins.

Several neural function related proteins (i.e. Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Alpha-synuclein, Glia Maturation Factor beta (GMF), and apolipoprotein E (apoE)), heat shock proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins (i.e. neurofilaments and tropomodulin), were shown to be impacted by the radiation, as well as proteins of the brain metabolism (i.e. Aspartate aminotransferase, Glutamate dehydrogenase), in nearly all of the brain regions studied.

Figure 2 from the study shows the 143 proteins that have changed (up- or down-regulated) and their functional relationship based on a literature survey.

Adamantia F. Fragopoulou, M.Sc., PhD Candidate, in the Dept of Cell Biology and Biophysics at University of Athens, Greece, lead author of the study, says, “Our study is important because it shows for the first time protein changes in the mouse brain after EMF exposure and in particular in very crucial regions like hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal lobe, all involved in learning, memory and other complicated functions of the mammalian brain. We have demonstrated that 143 proteins are altered after electromagnetic radiation, including proteins that have been correlated so far with Alzheimer’s, glioblastoma, stress and metabolism. In its perspective, this study is anticipated to throw light in the understanding of such health effects like headaches, dizziness, sleep disorders, memory disorders, brain tumors, all of them related, to the function of the altered brain proteins

Lukas H. Margaritis, PhD, Professor Emeritus (as of Sept 2010) of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Dept of Cell Biology and Biophysics, University of Athens, head of the Athens research group, says, “A high throughput approach (mass characterization of biomolecules, similar to microarrays that analyze the total genes of an organism) as that of the Proteomics* has never been used so far in EMF research of BRAIN TISSUES following whole body exposure of model animals (mice) at SAR values below ICNIRP’s recommendations. It is also the first time that wireless DECT phones base radiation is involved in lab animal studies and specifically in such molecular effects. The message taken out of this work is that people should be very cautious when using mobile phones next to their body (especially next to their brain), whereas the wireless DECT should be located as far away as possible from places that people use to spend many hours a day, not to mention children of all ages.”

PRESS RELEASE RELEASED BY UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS TEAM

Athens, Greece. January 21, 2012. The research group of Professor Lukas Margaritis (Faculty of Biology, University of Athens and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens), within the framework of the activities seeking for the truth underlining the possible effects of daily life electromagnetic fields, has performed this study as part of the Doctorate Dissertation of Adamantia F. Fragopoulou.

Using ordinary working conditions of mobile phone and wireless DECT base and by applying state of the art proteome science approaches, they demonstrated that a large number of major brain proteins have been changed. Namely proteins that are responsible for the integrity of brain functions, in such critical regions like hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal lobe are below normal levels whereas an equally large number are found well above physiological levels. These “underexpressed” or “overexpressed” proteins may play a role in the short term or long term effects reported as a consequence of mobile phone exposure, including memory deficits, headaches, sleep disorders, brain tumors.

As pointed out in the “DISCUSSION” section of the paper, the possible start-up events may involve the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) leading to oxidative damage (as suggested recently by Blank and Goodman of Columbia University in New York City); heat shock protein activation; and finally, changing the expression of a large number of brain proteins, as was demonstrated in this study.

The Fragopoulou et al. study is the first large-scale analysis of the mouse brain proteome to be published so far. The research team having recently been awarded a large “Thalis” grant is potentially aiming in elucidating the EMF effects from the molecular level up to the organism level, exploiting the most suitable model systems (mice, insects, nematodes, lizards, cell cultures, human skin).

Published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Early Online: 1–25, 2012 Copyright Q Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Abstract:

Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation
Adamantia F. Fragopoulou1, Athina Samara2, Marianna H. Antonelou1, Anta Xanthopoulou3, Aggeliki Papadopoulou3, Konstantinos Vougas3, Eugenia Koutsogiannopoulou2, Ema Anastasiadou2, Dimitrios J. Stravopodis1, George Th. Tsangaris3 & Lukas H. Margaritis1
1Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Athens University, Athens, Greece, 2Genetics and Gene Therapy Division, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece, and 3Proteomics Research Unit, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the proteome of cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe in Balb/c mice following long-term whole body irradiation. Three equally divided groups of animals (6 animals/group) were used; the first group was exposed to a typical mobile phone, at a SAR level range of 0.17- 0.37 W/kg for 3 h daily for 8 months, the second group was exposed to a wireless DECT base (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications/Telephone) at a SAR level range of 0.012- 0.028 W/kg for 8 h/day also for 8 months and the third group comprised the sham-exposed animals. Comparative proteomics analysis revealed that long-term irradiation from both EMF sources altered significantly (p , 0.05) the expression of 143 proteins in total (as low as 0.003 fold downregulation up to 114 fold overexpression). Several neural function related proteins (i.e., Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Alpha-synuclein, Glia Maturation Factor beta (GMF), and apolipoprotein E (apoE)), heat shock proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins (i.e., Neurofilaments and tropomodulin) are included in this list as well as proteins of the brain metabolism (i.e., Aspartate aminotransferase, Glutamate dehydrogenase) to nearly all brain regions studied. Western blot analysis on selected proteins confirmed the proteomics data. The observed protein expression changes may be related to brain plasticity alterations, indicative of oxidative stress in the nervous system or involved in apoptosis and might potentially explain human health hazards reported so far, such as headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, memory deficits, and brain tumor long-term induction under similar exposure conditions.

Sources and more information:
Faculty of Biology, University of Athens and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine
Electromagnetic Health.org

[SSM UK Comment] This good news story from Merseyside provides some insight into how much growing concern there is about the Smart Meter programme – with individuals, groups, organisations and now politicians speaking out with their objections. [/]

“A RADIATION campaigner is celebrating after plans to force homeowners to install energy smart meters were abandoned.

“Formby resident Eileen O’Connor, director of EM Radiation Research Trust, joined forces with Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson to speak out against the controversial plans over fears about the potential health effects of smart meters.

“Under Government proposals, every household was due to have a smart meter by 2019 as part of a £12billion programme to stop gas and electricity bills being estimated. But now household will get the chance to reject the meters.

“The move is a victory for campaign groups and MPs who raised concerns with ministers that the devices emit electromagnetic radiation.”

Story continued at Smart meter victory for Formby campaigners who expressed concerns over health effects – Formby Times.

[SSM UK Comment]  We are grateful to Dr Tresidder for allowing us to post this open letter directly.  It was originally posted at www.es-uk.info/.  We also applaud Dr Tresidder for taking the conscientious decision to speak out in the interests of raising awareness within the medical community about the realities of electro-sensitivity and wireless microwave radiation.

Dr Andrew Tresidder MB BS MRCGP Cert Med Ed, Springmead Surgery, Summerfields Road, CHARD, Somerset, TA20 2EW

drtresidder@es-uk.info

January 2012

Open letter to GP and other Medical Colleagues

Dear Colleague

Electrosensitivity / Electromagnetic Sensitivity

This letter is probably being passed to you by one of your patients, for informational purposes.

Thankyou for spending a few moments to read it. I write as a medical colleague, trained at Guy’s Hospital, and a Somerset GP since 1989. I have served on our Somerset Local Medical Committee, and currently am a GP Patient Safety Lead at NHS Somerset, a GP Appraiser and teacher of medical students. My particular interest is Health and Emotional Well Being, including Physician Health.

Electrosensitivity is an invisible, but very real problem for many people, and manifests in many ways. It is caused by the interaction of artificial electromagnetic fields with biological systems, both from field effects from cables and appliances, and from transmission effects from transmitting technology. Mechanisms are thought to include calcium efflux from cells, interference with the blood-brain barrier, general sympathetic upregulation, and interference with free radical pair recombination amongst others

A number of my patients have symptoms and illnesses which have been caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields, and which have been relieved by avoidance of the same fields. Examples are a 22 year old whose headaches and tiredness were abolished and sleep pattern improved after moving her mobile phone on charge away from the bed, removing the mobile from her body space by day, and switching off other electrics; a 78 year old whose headaches so concerned me that blood tests, an MRI and neurology opinion were sought (both normal) – his symptoms disappeared after switching off his home wifi hub router and cordless phone; a 64 year old very fit man who had noticed 4 months of decreased vitality and increased irritability – both reversed after changing the wireless router to a wired one; a 40 year old and a 60 year old whose headaches disappeared (one) and migraines substantially reduced (the other) after removing cordless phones from the bedroom. Another adult has had tingling of face and muzzle area, and loss of ability to speak and think fluently when near a wifi router, whilst a child had a prolonged feverish illness for several weeks after a viral illness, which coincidentally completely resolved when transmitting wifi, baby alarm and cordless phones were removed from the house (ie failure to recover normally and rapidly from a viral illness). Diagnosis in all of these cases is mainly on history, supported in some by the use of an Electrosmog Detector

Other symptoms that more sensitized people can develop include headaches, fatigue, poor sleep patterns, altered sensation and tingling, irritation and rashes, earaches and unsteadiness, confusion and difficulty in memory, aches and numbness, mood swings, faintness, tremors and restless legs, and other sensitivities.

I have observed all the above in patients that I have seen, and suspect that the problem is far more widespread than is recognized. Please note, the above are all short term effects – the jury will be out for some time on long term effects, though we already know the correlation between EM fields and childhood leukaemia, whilst there is increasing evidence linking dementia with EM Fields. During the Cold War microwaves were used as offensive tools to cause ill health.

Because of my interest, I have become a trustee of the charity ES-UK (www.es-uk.info). This has given me the opportunity to meet many people whose lives have become a misery because of the severity of their problems, and who have had to take all sorts of measures to avoid exposure to EM fields. I am convinced that this is very real, but under-recognized problem. Regulatory and safety levels and information provided by the Health Protection Agency and ICNIRP may be lagging the developments in research and the harms occurring. Meanwhile the Council of Europe has recommended caution in the roll-out of transmitting technologies (wifi etc), especially in schools and the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research into Cancer has reclassed transmitting technologies as a Class 2b possible carcinogen (instead of having no potential for harm). The UK Government and industry are committed to the rollout of Smart Meters and wifi coverage without appreciating the increasing number of people affected.

There is now a considerable amount of good scientific research on the matter world wide, and the area deserves urgent investigation – however, research always lags the appearance of the problem in susceptible individuals – so we should all heed the precautionary principle advised by Sir William Stewart of the Stewart Inquiry.

We are seeing a developing picture – possibly the patient who has asked you to read this is one of the “canaries” in the coal mine (Canaries were used to detect carbon monoxide, dioxide and methane, as they were affected before the miners were). The incidence is not certain, but some reports show 3-5% moderately affected, less than 1% severely – but possibly 20% slightly affected. I myself am moderately affected.

Treatment is problematic – but essentially includes avoidance of EM fields as much as possible, as well as nutritional support, and antihistamines for rashes and irritation. It will certainly be a developing field to help the many people affected.

It took a long time for adverse effects to be noted from tobacco, from lead in petrol, and from asbestos – and the relevant industries were not exactly helpful in admitting the possibility of any problems. Expect to see lots of lobbying that rubbishes the helpful factual information such as on the websites noted below – even though Michael Bevington’s book alone has 828 references.

Please take your patient seriously – you may be the first doctor in your area to diagnose and support in this new field of illness – and you may have other patients who are helped – by you!

Thankyou for reading this

With good wishes

Andrew Tresidder

Resources

www.es-uk.info and www.powerwatch.org.uk have a good deal of useful info, as does the Bristol University site from Prof Denis Henshaw www.electric-fields.bris.ac.uk 

The Powerwatch Handbook by Alasdair and Jean Philips (Amazon) is recommended, as is www.emfields.org/library/index.aspwww.electromagneticman.co.uk, www.electromagneticman.co.uk/are-you-at-risk/the-es-test

Electromagnetic Sensitivity by Michael Bevington – an excellent overview with 828 scientific references from ES-UK, BM Box ES-UK, London WC1N 3XX for £10

via Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt about Lyme Disease – YouTube.

“One of my primary treatments for Lyme disease is to put people in protective clothing that shields them from incoming microwaves,” he says.  ”We shield the bedside.  We turn off the wireless internet at home.  We put shielding paint on the houses.  That has been a more successful strategy to treating Lyme disease and to get people neurologically well than any of the antibiotics or any of the antimicrobial compounds.”

[Dr Klinghardt is]… “convinced that the increased virulence we’re now seeing is related to the dramatic increase in electromagnetic fields and microwave radiation from cell phones, cell towers, and all manner of wireless technologies. Therefore, EMF and microwave radiation mitigation are part of the standard protocol, as any subsequent treatment of Lyme disease will not be as effective unless these external factors are addressed.”

“Dear Commissioners

“The Board of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine opposes the installation of wireless “smart meters” in homes and schools based on a scientific assessment of the current medical literature (references available on request). Chronic exposure to wireless radiofrequency radiation is a preventable environmental hazard that is sufficiently well documented to warrant immediate preventative public health action.

“As representatives of physician specialists in the field of environmental medicine, we have an obligation to urge precaution when sufficient scientific and medical evidence suggests health risks which can potentially affect large populations.  The literature raises serious concern regarding the levels of radio frequency (RF ‐ 3KHz – 300 GHz) or extremely low frequency (ELF – 300Hz) exposures produced by “smart meters” to warrant an immediate and complete moratorium on their use and deployment until further study can be performed.”

Full report here http://aaemonline.org/images/CaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission.pdf

Thanks to Stop Smart Meters (Australia) for the story.

[SSM UK] Comment:   Whilst we welcome the good news that we will no longer be forced to have Smart Meters installed in our own homes, the programme continues at a pace.  The fact that we can now officially say “no” to installations on our own property with the Government’s permission does not mean that our neighbours, family, friends, place of work and other Smart Meter targets will be alert enough to do so.  In many cases, refusing a smart meter installation could be of little consequence if eight of our neighbours inadvertently consent to having one installed because they are not aware of their dangers.  The same applies for one’s place of work, school, college, local shops or anywhere else that co-existence with a smart meter is unavoidable for a period of time.

We continue to call for this programme to be STOPPED.

Read the Telegraph story here: Smart meters for energy to be voluntary – Telegraph.