Comments on: Neoroscience and wireless communication

Neoroscience and wireless communication

mojohand — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 10:54:43 -0800

Neoroscience and wireless communication An apparently non-hysterical warning from scientist Leif Salford, who cautions that by using hand-held cellular devices we're conducting "the largest human biological experiment ever."

According to the Independent (UK) article, it's been proven that microwave radiation opens 'the blood-brain barrier, allowing a protein called albumin to pass into the brain.' Lund's latest work 'goes a step further, showing the process is linked to serious brain damage.'

That in turn causes ... uh, what was I writing about? I forget.

Sorry. Seriously, is there anyone in the room competent to comment on the validity of this warning? (Via Gizmodo)

By: carfilhiot

carfilhiot — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 11:43:15 -0800

Kill all mobile phones. Kill all mobile phones. Well there have been lots of rumours for a long time now, so it's kinda hard to tell, and it probably won't stop people from using their phones. most frequent mobile phone users do seem to suffer from brain damage though.

By: BigCalm

BigCalm — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 11:58:46 -0800

Th e straight dope

By: adrianhon

adrianhon — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 12:00:01 -0800

I'm a neuroscientist, but it's not really possible to comment on Lund's study without reading the full paper - which, alas, I cannot do because it's not public domain and I'm not at uni at the moment. I had a look at the abstracts of the two relevant papers, though, and they seem to indicate that there is albumin leakage following exposure to GSM wavelengths, and furthermore, that the leakage causes neuronal damage. However, it's not all cut and dried that we're killing our brains by using mobile phones. For example, I'd like to compare the power levels Lund used in his study with those used by normal mobile phones. Also, to what extent might the microwaves dissipate if there was a thicker layer of bone and tissue between the source and the brain (as there would be in humans)? Does Lund have a possible mechanism for microwaves opening up the blood brain barrier? Is the opening selective for albumin, or for a range of proteins (probably the latter, but it's worth checking)? How does this compare with other studies carried out in this area? How stringent were his controls, and by what methods did he identify 'damaged' neurones? These aren't criticisms - for all I know, they're all answered in the paper - and it would be interesting to know the answers.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 12:30:43 -0800

Albumin, eh? I suppose we could, then, see the resurrection of the "This is your brain on..." fried-egg commercials.

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 13:10:57 -0800

fortunately, I only use my cell phone as a vibrating marital aid!

By: namespan

namespan — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 13:17:09 -0800

There has to be such a thing as too much information, even on metafilter.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 15:32:22 -0800

I think we did away with all boundaries with the poop-filter FPP a day or two ago. Ugh.

By: dg

dg — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 17:46:37 -0800

most frequent mobile phone users do seem to suffer from brain damage though. Hard to tell which causes which, though.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 18:20:28 -0800

I only use my cell phone as a vibrating marital aid! so. tell us mcsweetie. is it aiding your marital activity?

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 18:28:39 -0800

He and his wife live in separate cities due to work. They have a lot of phone sex...

By: y2karl

y2karl — Sun, 14 Sep 2003 19:32:09 -0800

most frequent mobile phone users do seem to suffer from brain damage though First evidenced by their increased inclination to make one handed right or left turns without signaling while talking on their albumin releasing devices.

By: cx

cx — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 05:03:06 -0800

"The Black Shakes"

By: biffa

biffa — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 10:37:49 -0800

by using hand-held cellular devices we're conducting "the largest human biological experiment ever" I bet their are more wankers than mobile phone users (though I make no claims about mutual exclusivity)

By: Owen Boswarva

Owen Boswarva — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 12:54:36 -0800

I'm a neuroscientist, but it's not really possible to comment on Lund's study without reading the full paper - which, alas, I cannot do because it's not public domain and I'm not at uni at the moment. Here's a link to a PDF of the Lund University paper: 'Nerve Cell Damage in Mammalian Brain after Exposure to Microwaves from GSM Mobile Phones'

By: Duug

Duug — Tue, 16 Sep 2003 13:30:28 -0800

Try this article. The site may be a bit - ahem - over the top, but the article quotes some fairly eminent people, even if it is a little old.