S 214 Senator Hartwell Smart Meter Bill
Briefing for the
Vermont Senate Finance Committee
on Wireless Smart Meters and Potential FCC
Compliance Violations and Health Impacts
Cindy Sage, MA
David O. Carpenter, MD
January 26. 2012
Qualifications:
Authors of this Report
• David O. Carpenter, MD, Director, Institute for Health and
the Environment, School of Public Health, Professor of
Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany,
Rensselaer, NY. MD, Harvard University, 1964.
• Formerly, Dean of the School of Public Health at the
University of Albany and the Director of the Wadsworth
Center for Laboratories and Research of the New York
State Department of Health.
• Co-Editor, BioInitiative Report
• Expert on environmental toxins including EMF/RFR
January 26. 2012
Qualifications:
Authors of this Report
• Cindy Sage, MA, Sage Associates, Owner, Full Member
Bioelectromagnetics Society.
• Environmental Sciences Consultant 1973 – Present
• Co-Editor, BioInitiative Report.
• Technical consultant and expert on power line EMF and
wireless radiofrequency health and planning issues.
• Invited expert for the CCST and Cal PUC proceedings on
smart meters.
• Collaborative on Health and Environment EMF Group.
• University of California, Environmental Studies Founding
Faculty Member and Lecturer (1970-1981).
January 26. 2012
S 214 Hartwell - Informed Consent
and Choice of Meter is Good Policy
•
•
•
•
•
Potential health risks of wireless are established.
FCC violations of safety limits are likely.
S. 214 provides for ‘informed consent’.
S. 214 requires hearings to get vital information.
S. 214 provides customer choice with no-cost
analog meter option.
• S. 214 should be amended to include a
‘community-level opt-out’ to analog meters.
January 26. 2012
FCC Compliance Problems for Meters
• The conditions of FCC approval are not met for many
wireless smart meters as they are being installed and
operated in the US. http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf
• What is proposed for Vermont? Need utilities to provide.
• Other RF sources (AM, FM, TV, and wireless RF) in
existing environment? FCC requirement to use a 100%
duty cycle? ‘Piggybacking’ of RFR signals from one
home to another? Collector meters (3-antenna meters)?
• Tens or hundreds of thousands will likely violate these
FCC conditions, so FCC Grants of Authorization are
invalid.
January 26. 2012
Radiofrequency Classified as a Possible
Human Carcinogen by the WHO IARC
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says
RF of the same kind as wireless smart meters is a 2B
Possible Human Carcinogen in 2011.
• This comes in the middle of the smart grid/wireless smart
meter rollout in US.
• How CAN we continue to roll out wireless meters? Would
we mandate DDT, engine exhaust and lead in every home?
(are also listed as IARC 2B carcinogens)
January 26. 2012
Comparison of FCC Public Safety Limits
against Studies Reporting RFR Health Effects
• The next three slides show graphs of the FCC public safety
limits for RFR vs. a handful of the many scientific studies
documenting bioeffects and adverse health effects at very
low levels of chronic RFR exposure (smart meter level
RFR).
• Effects occur at tens to hundreds of times lower RFR
levels than the FCC safety limits allow. (The FCC limits
are set for a six-foot male (not for small stature adults, not
for children.)
January 26, 2012
SAR Studies at Cell Phone Frequencies Reporting Bioeffects and
Adverse Health Effects Below FCC Safety Limits
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January 26, 2012
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January 26, 2012
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January 26, 2012
Exhibit A
Review of the Science and Public Health
Implications for Decision-Makers
• The BioInitiative Report (2007): A Rationale
for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for
Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF)
• Pathophysiology, Special Issue 18: Vol 2.3 (2009)
January 26, 2012
Important Highlights of the
BioInitiative Report (2007)
• 14 contributors from five countries (international effort)
over 9 months.
• Grew out of Bioelectromagnetics Society annual meetings
- need for overview of low-intensity ELF and RF studies
and their meaning.
• Three past BEMS presidents, five full BEMS members in
the group. Decades of research and policy experience.
• Over 2000 scientific studies reviewed.
• Published on the web August 2007
• Pathophysiology Journal 16:2, 3 Special Issue in 2009
January 26, 2012
BioInitiative Report:
Participants and Topics
• Carl Blackman USA
• Martin Blank USA
• Michael Kundi Austria
Modulation Effects
Stress Proteins (hsp)
Epidemiology Public Health
•
•
•
•
Neurologic Effects
Brain Tumors
Brain Tumors
Proteomics/Genomics
Henry Lai USA
Lennart Hardell Sweden
Kjell H. Mild Sweden
Zhengping Xu China
January 26, 2012
BioInitiative Report:
Participants and Topics
• Olle Johansson Sweden
•
•
•
•
•
•
Immune Function
Hypersensitivity
Eugene Sobel USA
Melatonin - Alzheimers
Zoreh Davanipour USA ALS - Breast Cancer
David Carpenter USA
Public Health
David Gee Denmark
Precautionary Principle
Cindy Sage USA
Editor-EMF Policy Planning
Amy Sage USA
Research Associate
January 26, 2012
Key Findings of the BioInitiative
Report (2007)
• Low-intensity (non-thermal) effects are established for
ELF-EMF and for wireless radiofrequency radiation.
• Existing public safety limits are inadequate to protect
public health.
• New, biologically-based public safety limits and
preventative measures are warranted now.
• It is not in the public interest to wait.
January 26 , 2012
Genotoxicity
• Radiofrequency radiation exposure can induce genetic
damage/changes in cells and organisms at non-thermal
(low-intensity) exposure levels.
• This can lead to change in cellular functions, cancer, and
cell death.
• 2010 Study in EHP reports reduction in DNA repair in
human stem cells exposed to 915 MHz cell phone
frequency at one meter or 0.037 W/Kg (Belyaev, 2010)
January 26, 2012
ELF and RFR Can Be Genotoxic at
Low-Intensity Exposure Levels
• There is substantial evidence that RFR may be
considered genotoxic (cause DNA damage). Of 28 total
studies on radiofrequency radiation (RFR) and DNA damage, 14
studies reported effects (50%) and 14 reported no significant effect
(50%).
Of 29 total studies on radiofrequency radiation and
micronucleation, 16 studies reported effects (55%) and 13 reported no
significant effect (45%). Of 21 total studies on chromosome and
genome damage from radiofrequency radiation, 13 studies (62%)
reported effects and 8 studies (38%) reported no significant effects.
• Extremely-low frequency (ELF-EMF) has also been
shown to be genotoxic and cause DNA damage. Of 41
relevant studies of genotoxicity and ELF-EMF exposure, 27 studies
(66%) report DNA damage and 14 studies (44%) report no significant
effect.
January 26, 2012
Stress Proteins (hsp)
• Cells react to an EMR as potentially harmful:
• Direct interaction of ELF and RF with DNA
has been documented and both activate the
synthesis of stress proteins.
• Biochemical pathway that is activated is the
same pathway in both ELF and RF and it is
non-thermal.
• Existing limits do not protect us.
January 26, 2012
Brain Tumors and Acoustic Neuroma
• Studies on brain tumors and use of mobile phones for > 10
years gave a consistent pattern of an increased risk for
acoustic neuroma and brain tumors (gliomas).
• The risk is most pronounced for high-grade glioma. The
risk is highest for ipsilateral exposure.
• Existing standards do not protect us.
January 26, 2012
Childhood Leukemia
• There is little doubt that exposure to ELF causes childhood leukemia.
• Children who have leukemia and are in recovery have 3 to 4.5 times
poorer survival rates if their ELF exposure where they are recovering is
between 1mG and 2 mG
(Svensen et al, 2007); over 3 mG in another study (Foliart, 2006).
• Gene identified that impairs DNA repair capacity. A 4-fold increased
risk for leukemia in children exposed to ELF near power lines.
Yang, You, Jin, Xingming, Yan, Chonghuai, Tian, Ying, Tang, Jingyan and Shen, Xiaoming(2008) Case only study of
interactions between DNA repair genes (hMLH1, APEX1, MGMT, XRCC1 and XPD) and low-frequency
electromagnetic fields in childhood acute leukemia. Leukemia and Lymphoma ,49:12,2344 — 2350
January 26, 2012
Melatonin and Alzheimer’s
• There is strong epidemiologic evidence that long-term
exposure to ELF MF is a risk factor for AD.
• There is considerable in-vitro and animal evidence that
melatonin protects against AD.
• Human studies indicate that MF exposure can decrease
melatonin production.
• New exposure limits are warranted, and preventative action
is needed now.
New report by Huss et al., 2009 Am J. Epidemiology reports doubling
of AD risk for Swiss population living within 50 m of 220-360 kV line
for 15 or more years.
January 26, 2012
Neurological Effects
• Effects on neurophysiological and cognitive
functions are quite well established.
• Pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields can
affect normal brain functioning.
• CNS effects can occur at very low intensities
(cell phone, base station, WI-FI levels).
January 26, 2012
Neurological Effects
• There is some evidence for effects on sleep, performance,
judgment, reaction time, immune function, and behavior.
• There is good evidence for effects on learning and
memory; synchronization of brainwave activity and
cognition (electrical activity ^s at 0.1 W/kg).
• There is substantial evidence that RF is a stressor: chronic
stress could have serious effects on general health and
wellbeing.
• There is some evidence that low-level RF activates
endogenous opioids (addictive center ) in the brain.
January 26, 2012
Immune Function
•
Both human and animal studies report large
immunological changes with exposure to environmental
levels of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Some of these
exposure levels are equivalent to those of e.g. wireless
technologies in daily life.
•
Measurable physiological changes that are bedrock
indicators of allergic response and inflammatory
conditions are stimulated by EMR exposures (mast cells
increase, for example).
January 26, 2012
Immune Function Changes
• Over-reaction of immune system = inflammatory response
• Profound increases in mast cells in the upper skin
• Increased degranulation of mast cells and larger size of
mast cells in electrohypersensitive individuals
• Presence of biological markers for inflammation that are
sensitive to EMF exposure at non-thermal levels
• Changes in lymphocyte viability
• Decreased count of NK cells and T lymphocytes
• Negative effects on pregnancy (uteroplacental circulatory
disturbances and placental dysfunction with possible risks
to pregnancy).
January 26, 2012
Immune Function - Electrosensitivity
Electrical hypersensitivity is reported by
individuals in the United States, Sweden,
Switzerland, Germany. Denmark and many other
countries of the world. Estimates range from 3%
to perhaps 10% of populations, and appears to be a
growing condition of ill-health leading to lost
work and productivity.
January 26, 2012
Therapeutic Uses of PEMF
• Pulsed RF and PEMF are widely used in therapeutic
medical applications (bone and wound healing).
• FDA approval for such devices is proof of effect.
• PEMFs have been shown to be effective in treating
conditions of disease at energy levels far below current
public exposure standards.
• Smart meters emit pulsed RF = indiscriminate and
involuntary medical treatment of entire populations 24/7?
January 26, 2012
Pathophysiology Journal (2009)
Special Issue on EMF and RFR Wireless
• Peer-reviewed journal of international reputation.
• Published the content of many BioInitiative Report (2007)
chapters.
• Validated the high quality of the BioInitiative Report
science and public health findings.
(Pathophysiology Journal 16: Volumes 2,3)
January 26, 2012
Conclusions
• FCC limits are inadequate to protect public health regarding
new wireless technologies and 60-Hz power frequency
ELF. Rules deal only with thermal injury.
• Exposures to ELF and RFR - with chronic exposure, can
reasonably be presumed to result in adverse impacts to
health and well-being (both are IARC Possible Human
Carcinogens and children are particularly at risk.
• The standard of evidence for judging the science should be
precautionary an preventative, given the evidence we have;
requiring conclusive evidence is indefensible.
• There is inadequate warning to the public and there is no
“informed consent”.
• No positive assertion of safety can be made.
• It is not in the public interest to wait.
January 26, 2012