Comment on ``Designing EMF experiments: What is required to characterize exposure?``
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
Dr. Valberg has taken an important step in describing what, at the present time, can be considered thorough documentation of exposure parameters in health effects studies related to EMFs. His paper provides important guidance for those entering the field and should serve as a reminder to more experienced investigators that good work can be rendered even more valuable by careful reporting. Evidence for the existence of biological effects from exposure to EMFs that may be encountered in residential and industrial environments is now sufficient to conclude that at least some of these effects are not artifacts. The EMF research community must now determine whether EMF biological effects can lead to adverse health effects in humans and, if so, show what field parameters are involved. This objective will be accomplished only through appropriately thought-out and well-documented observation and experimentation. An important implication of Valberg`s discussion is that engineering support in life science laboratories must be on a level sufficient to accurately determine the field parameters listed in the paper. Before the laboratory data can be fully utilized in achieving the overall objectives of EMF health effects research, personal dosimetry will have to be improved so that field parameters found to be important in laboratory studies can be either directly measured or accurately inferred. Such capability will require a new generation of lightweight portable smart dosimeters capable of continuously gathering magnetic field data over a wide range of frequencies. Over the next few years, Valberg`s long list of possible parameters should be narrowed to a short list of parameters that will merit intensive study in the laboratory and in human environments.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 201127
- Journal Information:
- Bioelectromagnetics, Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 16; ISSN 0197-8462; ISSN BLCTDO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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