Electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Introduction

What is electromagnetic hypersensitivity?

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity, EHS (sometimes called electrical hypersensitivity) is a complex phenomenon, which raises questions in doctors and scientists alike. It is a set of symptoms that people spontaneously attribute to exposure to electromagnetic fields.

The symptoms include:

• Skin problems: redness in the face during work in front of a monitor, tingling and a burning feeling in the vicinity of electric appliances;
• a wide range of other symptoms: fatigue, exhaustion, concentration problems, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations and indigestion. These symptoms are attributed to exposure to the weak electromagnetic fields of electrical or wireless devices by those affected.

These symptoms are non-specific: they may appear in connection with many conditions. They also occur commonly in the general population. People that suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity try to avoid particular sources of electromagnetic fields. In certain cases, people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity are so affected that they isolate themselves, change their lifestyles and even discontinue their professional activities.

Fotocollage van verschillende toestellen (gsm, DECT, pc, hoogspanningslijn,…)

EHS is not a diagnosis

The symptoms appear during an exposure well under the international limits and that causes no reaction in most people. So far, no typical pattern has been found in these symptoms. Additional tests are also unhelpful in making a diagnosis: there is no clinical parameter (such as certain cells in the blood) found for this oversensitivity. In some cases there is an underlying, often chronic condition found that is responsible for the symptoms. In other cases, the symptoms can be explained by a poorly adjusted or uncomfortable work or living environment, such as poor lighting, ventilation, psychosocial factors or professional stress. Further research is needed.

Scientific knowledge

What does science say?

There are different types of studies that can be performed to research the connection between a suspected factor (in this case an electromagnetic field) and symptoms.

In epidemiological studies, the frequency of the symptoms is measured in groups of the population that experience long-term exposure to certain fields, due to the presence of a power transmission line or a mobile phone mast in the vicinity of their home, for example. This kind of investigation can only find a statistical connection and gives cause for deeper investigation. In a few epidemiological studies, a connection has been seen between symptoms and the presence of mobile phone masts.

In order to be certain that this connection is an actual (causal) connection, researchers perform experimental provocation trials. In this type of study, a volunteer reporting electromagnetic sensitivity is placed in two different situations. He or she is alternately exposed to an electromagnetic field or finds him/herself in a sham situation in which no field is present. The volunteers must indicate if they think that there is exposure and whether the symptoms get worse or the number of symptoms increase.

So far, almost 40 good-quality provocation studies have been performed with people reporting electromagnetic sensitivity. In order to be able to rule out the possibility that the electromagnetic field is actually the cause, the experiments are performed blind or double-blind.

In only a few of these studies has a connection been observed between the symptoms and exposure to an electromagnetic field. However, these results were neither statistically strong nor reproducible. The majority of these studies have found no association. This suggests that exposure to electromagnetic fields plays no role – or a very small role – in the existence of EHS. The World Health Organisation has concluded on the basis of these findings that there is no scientific basis to associate symptoms of EHS to exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Yet further investigation is necessary. Provocation trials are generally focused on studying the immediate and acute effects of exposure. They therefore have the following limitations:

- the studies do not take into account the reaction time for the appearance of symptoms due to the relatively short period of exposure;
- the studies only research a single source of electromagnetic fields;
- the studies cause additional stress (as an effect of anticipation).

The symptoms are real

When there is no rational explanation, a case is considered ‘physically or medically inexplicable.’ That is not to say that the symptoms don’t exist: they are not imagined and certainly deserve attention. It only says that current scientific knowledge does not allow us to conclude that exposure to weak electromagnetic fields is the (only) explaining factor.

A more general term for such forms of scientifically unproven sensitivity to environmental factors is Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance, IEI. This term covers several non-specific, medically inexplicable symptoms, without pinning the cause of them to a particular environmental factor. EHS is considered a form of idiopathic environmental intolerance. Another example is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, MCS, in which the symptoms are subjectively attributed to exposure to low doses of chemical substances.

Help

How can ‘hypersensitive’ people be helped?

Even if no causal connection to electromagnetic fields is found, the symptoms themselves are very real. To begin with, the presence of underlying disorders or unhealthy living or working conditions should be examined. The doctor can enlist the help of the Medisch Milieukundigen (Medical environmental experts) from the LOGOs (MMK) in Flanders and the Services d’Analyse des Milieux Intérieurs (SAMI) in Wallonia in tracking down problems at home that carry a risk for occupants. Not only the doctor, but also the municipal environmental service, the housing commission, a nurse or social worker can act as an intermediary. For the identification of health risks on the work floor, every employer must create an internal service for prevention and protection at work (or hire in a recognised external service).

After the medical, psychosocial and environmental conditions have been investigated, it is necessary to treat an electromagnetically sensitive person in a personal, multidisciplinary and global manner.

There are various therapeutic techniques suggested, of which cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proved to be the most efficient. In cognitive behavioural therapy, patients are encouraged to question their assumptions and to look for other causes and interpretations of their symptoms. They look for ways to deal with their symptoms and if necessary, learn techniques to deal with psychosocial stress. The best results are achieved when the treatment is started in a timely fashion.

Reducing the exposure is often seen by the affected people as a solution. This, however, brings the person reporting electromagnetic sensitivity into a vicious circle, in which the existence of symptoms, the attribution of them to one source of electromagnetic fields or another and avoidance follow and support one another. Sometimes a significant amount of money is spent on measures to change the living environment.

The isolation of a person with electromagnetic hypersensitivity can be aggravated by lack of understanding in the professional and familial environments and lack of recognition by the medical world. Although there is currently no clearly outlined therapeutic treatment, it is certain that a good relationship between doctor and patient and the emotional support of people in their environment are important.

Protective measures and remedies

Clinical studies have been performed to test the efficiency of a few protective devices, such as monitor filters or ‘protective’ transmitters. The efficiency of these devices could not consistently be shown, however. Treatments with nutritional supplements and acupuncture have also been studied.

Monitor filters

Studies testing the efficiency of monitor filters did not yield a consistent result. Patients felt while better using a real filter as well as while using a fake filter.

‘Protective’ transmitters

The efficiency of transmitters that emit so-called ‘neutralising’ electromagnetic waves could not be proven in a scientific study. It is therefore recommended that a distrustful view be taken of gadgets claiming to weaken, eliminate or neutralise magnetic fields.

Nutritional supplements

As far as nutritional supplements are concerned, only a single study has researched the possibility of helping patients with vitamins and minerals, without result.

Acupuncture

Patients felt better after a treatment with deep acupuncture as well as with superficial acupuncture. Superficial acupuncture, however, has no influence on the nervous system and cannot therefore be of help.

These results make it likely that the improvement seen in the patients can more easily be effected by a diminished feeling of helplessness and a reduced conviction that all of their symptoms were caused by electromagnetic fields.

Further research

Further research is necessary in order to better understand the causes and other aspects of the symptoms. There are very likely various factors at play in the development of this oversensitivity. For that reason, various possible causes should be examined, whether they are of biological, psychological or psychosocial nature. There are still hypotheses that can be tested more thoroughly, such as the possibility of greater reactivity of the central nervous system. Provocation trials are needed to study the role of electromagnetic fields, with a distinction between different types and sources of fields. In addition, further research should evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic measures in helping people with symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Based on the current results, cognitive behavioural therapy seems to deliver the best results.

Researchers are also studying electromagnetic hypersensitivity in our country. The BBEMG (Belgian BioElectroMagnetic Group) is performing a study to better understand the problem, and to evaluate the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on people.

Source: BBEMG

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