Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment
Abstract
Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment Dominique Belpomme, Philippe Irigaray. Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non- ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment. Environmental Research. May 7, 2022, 113374. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113374. Highlights • Electrohypersensitivity is caused by electromagnetic fields. • Electrohypersensitivity is a neurological disorder with inflammation, oxidative stress, blood brain barrier opening and neurotransmitter abnormalities. • Electrohypersensitivity must be defined by the decrease of brain electromagnetic fields tolerance threshold. Abstract Much of the controversy over the cause of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) lies in the absence of recognized clinical and biological criteria for a widely accepted diagnosis. However, there are presently sufficient data for EHS to be acknowledged as a distinctly well-defined and objectively characterized neurologic pathological disorder. Because we have shown that 1) EHS is frequently associated with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in EHS patients, and 2) that both individualized disorders share a common pathophysiological mechanism for symptom occurrence; it appears that EHS and MCS can be identified as a unique neurologic syndrome, regardless its causal origin. In this overview we distinguish the etiology of EHS itself from the environmental causes that trigger pathophysiological changes and clinical symptoms after EHS has occurred. Contrary to present scientifically unfounded claims, we indubitably refute the hypothesis of a nocebo effect to explain the genesis of EHS and its presentation. We as well refute the erroneous concept that EHS could be reduced to a vague and unproven “functional impairment”. To the contrary, we show here there are objective pathophysiological changes and health effects induced by electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in EHS patients and most of all in healthy subjects, meaning that excessive non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly noxious for health. In this overview and medical assessment we focus on the effects of extremely low frequencies, wireless communications radio frequencies and microwaves EMF. We discuss how to better define and characterize EHS. Taken into consideration the WHO proposed causality criteria, we show that EHS is in fact causally associated with increased exposure to man-made EMF, and in some cases to marketed environmental chemicals. We therefore appeal to all governments and international health institutions, particularly the WHO, to urgently consider the growing EHS-associated pandemic plague, and to acknowledge EHS as a new real EMF causally- related pathology. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
This overview argues that electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is a well-defined neurologic pathological disorder and that EHS is causally associated with increased exposure to man-made non-ionizing EMF. The authors report objective pathophysiological changes attributed to EMF exposure (including inflammation, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier opening, and neurotransmitter abnormalities) and state that non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly harmful to health.
Outcomes measured
- Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) symptoms and diagnosis criteria
- Neurological disorder characterization
- Inflammation
- Oxidative stress
- Blood-brain barrier opening
- Neurotransmitter abnormalities
- Association with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)
- Nocebo effect hypothesis (refuted by authors)
Limitations
- Narrative overview/medical assessment; methods for evidence selection and appraisal are not described in the abstract.
- No quantitative results, exposure metrics, or sample sizes are provided in the abstract.
- Causality claims are asserted without detailing the underlying study designs or strength of evidence in the abstract.
Suggested hubs
-
ehs
(0.98) The paper centrally addresses electrohypersensitivity (EHS), its proposed mechanisms, and causality claims.
-
who-icnirp
(0.55) The abstract references WHO causality criteria and calls on WHO and international institutions to act.
View raw extracted JSON
{
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"study_type": "review",
"exposure": {
"band": "mixed",
"source": "man-made electromagnetic fields (ELF, wireless RF, microwaves)",
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"duration": null
},
"population": "People with electrohypersensitivity (EHS); also references to healthy subjects",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
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],
"main_findings": "This overview argues that electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is a well-defined neurologic pathological disorder and that EHS is causally associated with increased exposure to man-made non-ionizing EMF. The authors report objective pathophysiological changes attributed to EMF exposure (including inflammation, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier opening, and neurotransmitter abnormalities) and state that non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly harmful to health.",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [
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"No quantitative results, exposure metrics, or sample sizes are provided in the abstract.",
"Causality claims are asserted without detailing the underlying study designs or strength of evidence in the abstract."
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
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"peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
"stance": "concern",
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"summary": "This narrative overview and medical assessment argues that electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is an objectively characterized neurologic disorder and that it is caused by exposure to man-made non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. The authors state that EHS is associated with biological changes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier opening, and neurotransmitter abnormalities, and they refute a nocebo explanation. They call for governments and international health institutions, including WHO, to recognize EHS as an EMF causally related pathology.",
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"It focuses on extremely low frequency (ELF), wireless radiofrequency (RF), and microwave exposures as relevant triggers.",
"The authors claim EHS is causally associated with increased exposure to man-made EMF using WHO causality criteria.",
"EHS is described as frequently associated with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), with a proposed shared pathophysiological mechanism.",
"The authors explicitly refute the nocebo hypothesis for the genesis and presentation of EHS.",
"The paper argues that excessive non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly harmful to health.",
"It proposes defining EHS by a decreased brain EMF tolerance threshold.",
"It urges governments and international health institutions to acknowledge EHS as an EMF-related pathology."
],
"categories": [
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"RF Health Effects",
"ELF Health Effects",
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"tags": [
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"Multiple Chemical Sensitivity",
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"Extremely Low Frequency",
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"Blood-Brain Barrier",
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"keywords": [
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"suggested_hubs": [
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"social": {
"tweet": "Review argues electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is a neurologic disorder causally linked to man-made non-ionizing EMF (ELF, RF, microwaves), citing inflammation/oxidative stress/BBB changes and rejecting a nocebo explanation.",
"facebook": "This overview and medical assessment argues that electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is an objectively characterized neurologic disorder and claims it is causally associated with increased exposure to man-made non-ionizing EMF (ELF, wireless RF, microwaves). The authors discuss proposed biological changes and call on governments and WHO to recognize EHS as an EMF-related pathology.",
"linkedin": "Environmental Research review: authors argue electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is a distinct neurologic disorder and claim causal association with increased exposure to man-made non-ionizing EMF (ELF, RF, microwaves), discussing proposed pathophysiological markers and policy implications."
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