Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
203-207
ISSN: 0253-9268. Revisión/review.
Electromagnetic Radiation:
Harmful or beneficial?
A. González Arias
Abstract. Nowadays there is a ‘boom’ in the study of medical applications of the low frequency
electromagnetic radiation. A great deal of reviews and papers are published, in support and against it.
Most of these articles are not devoted to biological studies of the effects on tissues, but to statistical
studies carried out on persons, with the a priori assumption that the treatment will be always innocuous
or favorable. On the contrary, others blame the radiation coming from high-tension lines and electro
domestic equipment as the cause of all type of harmful effects. ¿Who is right?
Keywords: Electric and magnetic fields effects, in biological systems 87.50.C-, therapeutic
applications, 87.50.ct
Introduction
At the moment there is a boom in the study of an ongoing basis, but Pulses of short duration,
Medical applications of electromagnetic radiation with a somewhat higher frequency. Many articles
from Low intensity and low frequency, appear for and against Therapies applied to
understood as such Radiations with frequencies of specific diseases (arthritis, Head, fractures) and
20-100 Hz and intensities Of 20-100 μT. Also summary or review articles Are multiplied, to the
pulsed fields are used, Which are not applied on point practically Impossible to review them all.
The number of publications Is such that there are “A substantial amount of evidence indicates That
already even 'summaries of Summaries'. 1 the effects of electromagnetic fields on the Cell
A quick review shows that most of the biochemistry ... can be related to the density Of
Publications is not devoted to the study of tissues induced currents, with most of the effects
and Biological, biochemical or biophysical Occurring at levels in excess of 10 mA / m2 ...
evaluation of the effects Of the radiation, but these Effects occur at levels that exceed the
statistical studies are carried out In order to endogenous currents Normally present in living
establish whether the procedure will be Or not tissues. From this perspective, it is extremely
beneficial for a particular ailment. The results difficult to interpret The results of recent
Are very dissimilar: sometimes no benefit is epidemiological studies Which report a
reported any; In others the benefit is within the correlation between the incidence of Cancer and
limits of The reliability of applied statistics, which exposure to magnetic fields of frequency 50-60 Hz
makes them Very doubtful, and only in a few and extremely low flow densities. The levels of
reports of applications Very specific effects current density induced by the exposure Are, in
appear clearly differentiated With the control almost all cases, significantly Less than the levels
groups. Other summaries report that many of that cause disturbances Measurements in the
these reports Statistics do not include control laboratory on the Biological”.7
groups (and thus Its reliability is null because of
the placebo effect). In this specific summary, the Skeptics are not lacking either. An article by S.
conclusion was More studies', something that is Solomon, Doctor of the Department of Neurology
repeated enough in many Articles.2 of Montefiore Medical Center of New York, after
a very Exhaustive analysis of all the factors
The number of articles where they are involved in Pain concludes that improvement in
summarized and compared Different therapies is pain or other symptoms Is often falsely attributed
actually colossal. The summary Of Summaries on to an alleged therapy, When in fact the referral
Various Treatments for Osteoarthritis In the knee takes place because The disease has continued its
already mentioned in [1] (23 in total), Reports normal course.8 Of course, there are also non-
only two results concerning therapies based summaries In statistics, but in biochemical
Electromagnetic - indeed, contradictory 3,4, for To and biophysical studies Complex at the cellular
come to the conclusion, after a broad discussion, level. A research group of The Technical
That it is much better to do exercises. university of Dresden has published A very
One of the most widespread applications of comprehensive summary of 86 pages (15 edicated
therapies Electromagnetic is related to the to listing about 400 references) that includes The
fractures of the Long bones A meta-analysis of 11 action of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic
statistical articles Selected between 1980 and fields At the cellular level. The great diversity of
2008 with rigorous criteria Of reliability, themes Treated makes it virtually impossible to
concluded that: reach a General conclusion.9 In statistical studies,
since there are no effects Undesirable
“Although Electromagnetic stimulation has been immediately, it is customary to assume that the
evaluated In multiple randomized trials, current Procedure will not be detrimental to the patient.
evidence Little justification for the relatively high But Nobody guarantees that in the long run it
Clinical use ... in the repair of fractures”.5 could be. Examples Very specific in history, and it
is appropriate to recall What happened with the x-
Another summary 2009 on the cardiovascular rays in its beginnings, Where there were no
effects of The radiation claims that attempts to immediate damages to the After application.
reproduce both Epidemiological studies such as
laboratory Have been generally unsuccessful. It is X-rays and female beauty
concluded that The misleading results reported to
date require Clarification with deeper studies.6 Soon after the first equipment to appear
Although most of these reports refer to Beneficial Radiographs, emerged in the United States.
effects on people, there are They say the opposite, Beauty salons That used the x-rays to depilate the
and attribute harmful effects to Low-frequency hairs in different Parts of the body, mainly young
radiation, whatever its intensity (For example, that women. The procedure was promoted, among
from Electrical). However a summary published others, by Albert C. Geyser, who presented
in 1992 Expresses: himself with the Following attributes (depending
on the original in English): „Medical Director of
the Tricho System, Formerly, Professor of been seriously injured ... It is Noted that in each
Physiological Therapy and Chief of Clinic at case an irritation appeared from the Of the third
Fordham University, Lecturer and Chief of or fourth session and that, nevertheless, The
Electro and Roentgenray Clinic at Cornell application of treatments. We can not leave To
College, Lecturer and Chief of the Electro and marvel at the stupidity of the operators and Of the
Radio Therapy Clinic at the New York Polyclinic, persistence and ignorance of the victims. Any
etc.‟ In short, as if to believe on foot Everything Measure to protect from their own foolishness the
he said. Women looking to improve their appearance is
recommended. It is amazing that in many
communities Medical practice minutes only
include the prescription Medications and allow
any physiotherapist to Apply their practices
without permission or interference, with a Total
disregard for the potential dangers of his
behavior. "