In This Issue...

• Hansson Mild Reviews Accomplishments
• BEMS Presidents' Letter to The Congress
• Blank Elected Vice President (President Elect)
• 1996-1997 BEMS Officers
• O'Connor to be Newsletter Editor
• BES Journal Offers Reduced Rate
• Tenforde Reports on NCRP EMF Program
• SPRBM Column
• Grants for US/Former Soviet Union Scientists
• Back Issues of Journal Available
• BEMS Standing Committee Chairs
• Student Awards to Lšschinger and Lazzi
• ANSI/IEEE Engineering Evaluation
• Meetings and Workshops
• Contact Information

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HANSSON MILD REVIEWS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE SOCIETY AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

It gives me great pleasure to talk to you at this Annual Meeting, looking back at the year that has just past. It has been a year with several positive happenings and I will comment on some of them.

Looking back over the past year.....During this past year we came to an agreement with the European Bioelectromagnetics Association (EBEA) about the journal Bioelectromagnetics. As you surely noticed, Bioelectromagnetics is now the joint journal for three societies: BEMS, the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM) and EBEA. The negotiations with EBEA started in 1989 and in the autumn of 1995 at an EBEA Board meeting held in Kuopio, Finland, EBEA accepted the terms and signed the agreement.

This new situation led to the addition of two new Associate Editors from Europe -- Dr. Alessandro Chiabrera of Italy and Dr. Peter Semm of Germany. This also entailed my stepping down as Associate Editor, a job that has been interesting and rewarding. I will continue to work with Bioelectromagnetics as a member of the Editorial Board.

Although we continue to face the challenge of a faster publication time, you should be aware that we are all trying to reduce the time from submittance to printing as much as possible. However, there are several links in the chain from manuscript to printed paper, and we can all contribute here, both as reviewers and as authors. Please, when you are asked to review a paper, if you do not think you can do it within the given time, return the paper immediately. Do not wait until six months have elapsed and then admit you did not have time. Authors are reminded to read and follow the instructions -- this also helps quicken the process. Finally, return revisions as quickly as possible, or at least tell the Editors when they can expect your revision.

Although I point out the challenges we face with our journal, the overall picture is very positive. We have a very good journal and I am confident that it will continue to be so in the future. Thanks for a great year, Editor-in-Chief, Ben Greenebaum, and best of luck for the future.

The second thing of importance that happened this year was our official statement on ELF electromagnetic fields and biological effects. Although the accomplishment of this has been the work of the Board, the momentum behind it has been our Past President, Dr. James Lin. Jim has been the principal editor, debating and incorporating suggestions for wordings -- all the "ifs," "buts," and "howevers." This is the first statement made by The Bioelectromagnetics Society and it has been a new experience to all of us. We on the Board felt that such a statement was needed, and looking at it now we think we have a balanced statement. Thank you, Jim.

The third thing I would like to bring up is our Homepage on the Internet [http://www.bioelectromagnetics.org/index.html]. We have been discussing this for at least two years and now it is a reality because of the efforts of Dr. Jeff Saffer at Battelle. Thanks, Jeff, for work well done. We also express our thanks to Battelle for giving up space on their server for this purpose. For several years, I have been asking to have the abstracts a few weeks in advance of the annual meeting -- and as with our Homepage this has become a reality. Hopefully, next year we will be able to have them available on the Homepage even earlier so that we can all prepare for the Annual Meeting from our homes. That way we should be more inclined to go into discussion while at the meeting and not have to spend our evenings reading the next day's abstracts. We will see what happens next year.

It is also a great pleasure to see the BEMS flag being shown in meetings other than our Annual Meeting. In February 1996, the local Washington, DC BEMS Chapter arranged a one-day workshop on EMF issues. The attendance was approximately 50 people. At the Radiation Research Society (RRS) meeting in April, 1996, we were also present. Anticipating that some of the talks at the RRS meeting might miscredit bioelectromagnetics research, Professor Abe Liboff attended to provide a balance to any negative statements that might arise. We thank Abe for taking this assignment so quickly and doing a fine job. Next year, BEMS is co-sponsoring a workshop at the International Physiological Society Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia. For further information about this workshop you may talk to me during this meeting or write or call later.

It has also been a pleasure to head your Board and to work with a group of dedicated, hard working and cooperative Officers and Board members. Some of them are retiring from their positions today. Let us recognize Stuart Allen, Lee Rosen, Jeffrey Saffer, and Jan Walleczek. Our Past President, Jim Lin, has also finished his term and his contributions will be missed.

Our Society is continuing to grow. Currently we have about 700 members who have paid their dues for 1996. Last year the membership count was 776 - from 34 countries. The Society management has this year, as every other year, been handled excellently by W/L Associates. Dr. Bill Wisecup and his coworkers have been taking care of all things -- from the small to the major issues -- that are necessary to manage a society smoothly. Although from an individual member basis, we are not always aware of the extent of work involved, let me assure you that they have their hands full. As always they come up with excellent arrangements for the Annual Meeting - as we are witnessing here in Victoria. There is hard work behind making a meeting of this size successful - and the devil is in the details. My thanks to Bill and his coworkers.

Looking to the future.....Finally, I am going to do some crystal gazing to see what the future might bring. I see radio waves with 900 and 1800 MHz, and people holding small devices to their ears and talking - talking wherever they are. Although we still have quite some way to go before we can say that we understand the ELF area, many of us will be engaged in research concerning mobile phones and the possible health effects associated with the use of these phones. Why? First there will be an enormous increase in the number of users of phones, and thus also the number of individuals exposed. Since we do not have all the answers regarding health and weak field effects, there is an important and immediate need to continue the research efforts to find answers. Research money will be available for some time to come. In Europe the EU is talking about setting up a research program of the order of 50 million ECU (~ 60 million U.S. dollars). This program will be open world wide and not just restricted to Europe. So, you are welcome to join.

Next, I see more and more people in the laboratories measuring the DC field in experimental set-ups. Very few papers will be published about ELF research without a measurement of the DC field in the laboratory. I also see more and more of the prudent avoidance strategy being applied as well by manufacturers of electrical appliances and the power companies as they build new lines and make electrical installations. Finally, I can see work being done on the use of electromagnetic fields in medicine -- fields from DC to daylight -- and this work will include both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

With this, I thank you for your attention. It has been an honor to serve as your President.

Kjell Hansson Mild
National Institute for Working Life
P. O. Box 7654
S-907 13 UmeŒ, Sweden
Tel: +46 90 16 50 98
Fax: +46 90 16 65 08

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BEMS PRESIDENTS' LETTER GOES TO CONGRESS FOLLOWING STRONG URGING FROM MEMBERS

Public concern continues to grow about possible connections between exposure to electric and magnetic fields and such diseases as childhood leukemia, breast cancer, and Alzheimer's Disease. At the same time, daily exposure of the public to electric and magnetic fields is increasing rapidly due to new electronic and communications technology, more use of electric power, and new medical applications of electric and magnetic fields. As leaders of the largest international scientific society studying biological effects of electric and magnetic fields, we are concerned about a potential decline in research in this area, due in part to public statements by those who we believe are lacking in the requisite multidisciplinary expertise.

The biological processes involved in human diseases are complex and multifaceted. Moreover, electric and magnetic fields, unlike many other environmental agents, are not characterized by a single quantity but involve many different factors. Proper approaches to such complex scientific questions can be achieved only by a multidisciplinary collaboration of biologists, physicians, engineers and biophysicists. A wealth of published, peer-reviewed scientific evidence indicates that exposure to different combinations of electric and magnetic fields consistently affects biological systems in the living body as well as in laboratories, including:

• Altering the function of nerve cells.
• Changing the density and healing rate of bone.
• Disturbing the balance of important hormones.
• Changing the growth rate and drug sensitivity of cancer cells.
• Modifying the immune system's ability to fight disease.
• Altering the heart rate.

Major strides have been made in the past 20 years of research in this area. The program has only recently expanded to a critical mass of interdisciplinary and multi-laboratory effort that, in our opinion, must be continued. In this still emerging area of scientific research, controversy about reported results is a natural and healthy part of the scientific process. Such controversy should not be the basis for discarding programs of research before the important questions are answered conclusively.

We believe it is essential that research in this area be continued. Without U.S. government funding, the remaining available sources of funds are too limited, too focused by discipline, and may in some cases carry questions of bias. The governments of other industrialized countries such as Sweden, Japan, Germany, and Norway are presently spending significant amounts of money to further research in this area. But without US leadership, the task of determining the potential health risks and benefits involved in the distribution and use of electric and magnetic energy will be difficult to complete.

We are also concerned that international standards may be imposed before adequate scientific knowledge is available. Failure to continue this research could ultimately result in extensive costs to the energy and communications industries, both in litigation and product development.

Public concern can be reduced only when the issues and questions are resolved by careful research. We ask that you take these views into account when making decisions regarding the future of research into the effects of electric and magnetic fields. The undersigned will be happy to confer with you in detail or provide any further information you may need in order to make an informed decision.

Richard A. Luben, BEMS President, 1996-97
Kjell Hansson Mild, BEMS Past President, 1995-96
Martin Blank, BEMS President-Elect, 1997-98

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BLANK ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT (PRESIDENT ELECT)

Martin Blank Vice President (President Elect)
Craig Byus Biological/Medical Sciences
Henry Lai Biological/Medical Sciences
Frank Barnes Engineering/Physical Sciences
Gregory Lotz At Large

Retiring members of the Board include: Stuart Allen, James Lin, Lee Rosen, Jeffrey Saffer, and Jan Walleczek.

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1996-1997 BEMS Officers and Board

Richard Luben - President
Martin Blank - Vice President/President Elect
Robert Liburdy - Secretary/Treasurer
Ben Greenebaum - Editor-in-Chief
Kjell Hansson Mild - Past President

Paul GaileyvEng./Physical Sciences
Janie Blanchard - Eng./Physical Sciences
Frank Barnes - Eng./Physical Sciences
Raphael Lee - Bio./Medical Sciences
Ewa Czerska - Bio./Medical Sciences
Eugene Goodman - Bio./Medical Sciences
Arthur Rosen - Bio./Medical Sciences
Craig Byus - Bio./Medical Sciences
Henry Lai - Bio./Medical Sciences
Indira Nair - At Large
Jukka Juutilainen - At Large
Gregory Lotz - At Large

Carol Jordan Evans - Newsletter Editor
Mary Ellen O'Connor - Newsletter Editor
William G. Wisecup - Executive Director
Raphael Lee - BES Liaison
Ferdinando Bersani - EBEA Liaison
Raphael Lee - SPRBM Liaison

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NEW EDITOR OF NEWSLETTER

It has been an honor to serve the Society.

Carol Jordan Evans
Newsletter Editor

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BES JOURNAL TO BE OFFERED TO BEMS MEMBERS AT REDUCED RATES

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TENFORDE REPORTS ON NCRP PROGRAM ON EMF AT BEMS '96

The History and Organization of NCRP...The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) was formed by Congress in 1964 as a non-government, non-profit organization with the charter to assess effects of radiation on human health and the environment, and to recommend exposure guidelines. The Council consists of 75 members, representing a broad range of expertise in radiation biology, physics, measurement technology, epidemiology, and public policy. Members serve six-year terms, with the possibility of renewal.

Officers include the President (C. B. Meinhold), Vice President (S. J. Adelstein), Secretary/Treasurer (W. R. Ney), Assistant Secretary (C. D. Hobelman), and Assistant Treasurer (J. F. Berg). Ten members of the Council are elected to the Board of Directors, and nine members serve as Scientific Vice Presidents coordinating major areas of NCRP report activities. The NCRP has 50 active committees. A total of 122 scientific reports have been published by the NCRP as well as numerous commentaries, statements, and proceedings of annual meetings.

SC89 Charter... The NCRP has undertaken several major report activities related to the possible human health effects of nonionizing electromagnetic fields. These activities are coordinated by an "umbrella committee," designated as NCRP Scientific Committee 89. Its charter is to identify issues and provide coordination and oversight for NCRP report activities related to occupational, medical, and public exposures to nonionizing electromagnetic fields with frequencies from 0 to ~ 2 x 1015 Hz (DC to deep ultraviolet region of the spectrum), and to ultrasound. Areas considered under the charter include: dosimetry and exposure assessment (both theoretical and applied aspects); mechanisms of interaction with biological systems, including humans; biological responses and human health effects; recommendations on acceptable exposure levels in occupational, medical, and public environments; and procedures for mitigation of exposure in public and occupational settings.

SC89 Committee Members... Scientific Committee 89 initiated its work in 1992. Today SC89 consists of 10 members representing a broad range of scientific disciplines, and is chaired by T. S. Tenforde, NCRP's Scientific Vice President for Nonionizing Radiation. His areas of expertise are static and ELF fields. Members include James E. Cleaver (UV), Arthur W. Guy (RF), David G. Hoel (epidemiology and biostatistics), James C. Lin (RF and hyperthermia), David H. Sliney (UV and lasers), Jan A. J. Stolwijk (ELF and RF), Richard A. Tell (RF), Marvin C. Ziskin (ultrasound), and Thomas M. Koval (NCRP, Sr. Staff Scientist).

Published Reports and Proceedings... NCRP reports related to nonionizing electromagnetic fields include: Report No. 67 (1981), "Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Properties, Quantities and Units, Biophysical Interactions, and Measurements;" Report No. 86 (1986), "Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields;" and Report No. 119 (1993), "Practical Guidance on the Evaluation of Human Exposures to Radiofrequency Fields." Contents of Report 119 (SC89-2, Chair Richard Tell) include: quantities and units; interactions with materials and objects; dosimetry; instruments and measurement techniques; and hazard evaluation procedures for common sources. Proceedings No. 8 contains papers from the 1986 NCRP meeting on "Nonionizing Radiation and Ultrasound."

Reports in an Advanced Stage of Publication... SC89-1 report, "Biological Effects of Static Magnetic Fields," chaired by D. D. Mahlum, has been reviewed by Council and approved for publication. It is expected to go to the printer in 1997. Report contents include: quantities and units; interaction mechanisms; effects on plants; genetic, developmental, behavioral, and physiological effects; human studies; and pacemakers and other medical devices. The report of SC89-3, "Extremely-Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields," chaired by W. R. Adey, is in draft form and has undergone critical peer review; submission to Council for review and approval is anticipated to occur in late 1996. Contents include: human exposures to ELF fields; dosimetry; membrane-mediated signal transduction mechanisms; biological effects in laboratory systems and human populations; mechanisms and models of ELF field effects; and recommended exposure guidelines. Committee 89 is involved in the final preparation of Proceedings No. 16 from the 1994 NCRP Annual Meeting, "Extremely-Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields: Issues in Biological Effects and Public Health."

New NCRP Report Activities Undertaken in 1995... Two new NCRP report activities have been undertaken in 1995 - SC89-4 and SC89-5. Committee 89-4, chaired by O. Gandhi, "Modulated Radiofrequency Fields," with relevance to wireless communication systems, will include the physical properties and biological interactions of amplitude- and pulse-modulated RF fields; possible human health effects; and exposure guidelines. Committee 89-5, chaired by J. C. Lin and co-chaired by C.-K. Chou, "Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields," plans to update NCRP Report No. 86 published in 1986. The report will include biological interactions and laboratory studies; epidemiological studies on human health effects; and exposure guidelines.

Areas Under Discussion for New SC89 Report Activities... Areas under discussion for new report activities include: biological interactions and health effects of UV radiation; applications and radiation protection aspects of UV lasers; safety of medical untrasound procedures; and dosimetry, biological interactions, and possible health effects of fields from appliances and other devices (e.g., VDUs, cellular telephones, police radar units, RF heaters and sealers, microwave ovens).

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SOCIETY FOR PHYSICAL REGULATION IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE COLUMN

The 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM) will be held October 9-12, 1996, in Chicago, Illinois, at the University of Chicago and the Midland Hotel. SPRBM council will be meeting Wednesday prior to the meeting. The meeting will start with registration and a mini reception on Wednesday evening. The conference then opens with a symposium on the "Influence of Mechanical Forces on Vertebrate Evolution and Design" featuring Drs. Biewener and Alexander. Drs. Biewener and Alexander will discuss the evolution of locomotor strain patterns, skeletal safety factors and bone remodeling and tendons. The symposium will be followed by paper and poster presentations. Thursday afternoon Dr. Samiento will present the Presidential Lecture on "Physical Forces in Medicine, the Next Century," followed by a reception at the Fields Museum. Friday will open with a symposium on "Osteoarthrosis: Physical Factors in Bone and Cartilage Remodeling and Disease." Dr. Schaffler will discuss the "Cartilage Bone Interface Force Response" and Dr. Grodzinsky will discuss the "Cartilage Matrix Cell Response to Stress." The symposium will be followed in the morning by papers and posters related to the symposium topic. Friday afternoon's papers and posters will be concerned specifically with electrical stimulation effects. On the final day of the meeting, the opening symposium will be "Mechanisms of Cellular Mechanochemical Signal Transduction." Dr. Johnson-Wint will discuss the "Mechanism of Force Generation by Cells." The meeting will conclude with a full day of paper and poster presentations.

We hope to see you at the home of the deep dish pizza!

For more information, contact: SPRBM, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 (Tel: 301-571-0680; Fax: 301-530-7049; Email: sprbm@faseb.org)

[Any comments or suggestions regarding topics of interest for this column are welcome from both SPRBM and BEMS members. Please contact Laura MacGinitie, Dept. of Engineering, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447, (Tel: 206-535-7407; Fax: 206-536-5055; Email: macginla@plu.edu) or Mark Otter, Department of Orthopaedics, State University of NY, T18-030 Health Science Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8181 (Tel: 516-444-7671; Email: mark@bone.ortho.sunysb.edu).]

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INTERNATIONAL GRANTS FOR U.S. AND FORMER SOVIET UNION SCIENTISTS

A detailed program announcement and application instructions are available from the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) at http://www.crdf.inter.net; Email: information@crdf.org; Telephone: 703-526-9720; Fax: 703-526-9721; and from Ms. Karen Peterson, Program Officer for Russia and the NIS, Fogarty International Center, Building 31, Room B2C11, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2220, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220 (Telephone: 301-496-4784; Fax: 301-480-3414; Email: p9k@cu.nih.gov).

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BACK ISSUES OF THE JOURNAL AVAILABLE

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BEMS 1996-1997 STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS APPOINTED

Membership - Jukka Juutilainen
Nominating - Kjell Hansson Mild
Budget - Robert Liburdy
Election - Ewa Czerska
Awards - Craig Byus
Inter-Society Affairs - Gregory Lotz
URSI - Henry Lai
BES - Raphael Lee
IEEE/EMBS - Janie Blanchard
EBEA - Kjell Hansson Mild
SPRBM - Ben Greenebaum
NCRP - Richard Luben
ICNIRP - Kjell Hansson Mild
RRS - Richard Luben
Development - Paul Gailey
Publications - Janie Blanchard
Journal - Ben Greenebaum
Public Affairs - Kjell Hansson Mild

Members of Craig Byus' Awards Committee, and the date when their terms expire include: Indira Nair (1997), Stephen Cleary (1997), Michael Repacholi (1998), Shoogo Ueno (1998), Arthur Pilla (1999), and Bernard Veyret (1999), plus the previous d'Arsonval Award winners for a period of five years after receiving the Award (Carl Durney, 1998; Om Gandhi, 2000). Assisting Kjell Hansson Mild with Public Affairs will be the four previous BEMS Presidents - James Lin, Mary Ellen O'Connor, Om Gandhi, and Mays Swicord. Members of Kjell Hansson Mild's Nominating Committee include Janie Blanchard and Bernard Veyret.

Two Ad Hoc Committees and their Chairs include: (1) Education and Outreach, Arthur Rosen, and (2) International Advisory Task Force, Stuart Allen and Kjell Hansson Mild.

The President of the Second World Congress scheduled for 1997 is J¿rgen Bach Andersen; BEMS representatives to the Board of Directors for the Congress are John D'Andrea, James Lin, and Mary Ellen O'Connor.

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BEMS '96 STUDENT AWARDS GO TO LOESCHINGER AND LAZZI

Members of the Student Awards Committee included: Chairman Lee Rosen, Larry Anderson, Carl Durney, Om Gandhi, Indira Nair, Michael Repacholi, Carl Sutton, and Ueno Shoogo. Students were judged on content, presentation, ability to answer questions, and innovation or creativity.

Student awards are an important part of the BEMS Annual Meeting. The newly appointed Awards Committee Chairman, Dr. Craig V. Byus, strongly encourages students and their mentors to participate in the competition. If there are any questions, he may be contacted at the Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521 (Tel: 909-787-4535; Email: craig.byus@ucr.edu).

In earlier experiments, it has been demonstrated that human skin fibroblasts (HSF) can percept and react to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields [ELF-EMF; 20 Hz; sinus; 6-8 mT] in distinct ways: Firstly, a long-term exposure of ELF-EMF (21 days) reduced the proliferation rate of non-transformed and non-activated HSF and led to an acceleration of the clearly defined terminal differentiation process. Secondly, short-term exposures (40-60 min) could influence the intracellular free calcium ([Ca]i)-oscillation pattern measured by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy at the single cell level. Approximately 36% of all cells observed showed two specific reactions: 1. In non-oscillating cells ELF-EMF-dependent [Ca]i-oscillations with a frequency of 0,005-0,04 Hz were induced. 2. Spontaneously oscillating cells increased the calcium spike frequencies. In order to elucidate the ELF-EMF-induced signal transduction pathway in the present study, the protein kinase A activity and the expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc were analyzed. The activity of the cAMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA) was determined by a non-radioactive detection assay (Promega). c-myc expression (RNA and protein) was quantified by a non-radioactive Northern Blot and an ELISA technique. All experiments were performed after a 20-60 min exposure of normal HSF to a specific sinusoid electromagnetic field (20 Hz; 0.2 mT and 7 mT.)

Results.....In ten independent experiments, a 60 min ELF-EMF exposure significantly increased the activity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (Table 1). As demonstrated by the use of the PKA-specific inhibitor KT5270, the ELF-EMF-specific signal could be inhibited (Table 1).

0.2mT 7mT 7mT+KT5270
ratio E/C+SEM 1.95+0.28 3.01+0.59 1.8+0.22
Table 1: Relative PKA activity in control (C) and ELF-EMF-exposed cells (E) at 0.2 and 7 mT.

By means of Northern Blot analysis ELF-EMF exposure (60 min) of HSF cells resulted in a slight reduction of the c-myc proto-oncogene expression as compared to control conditions. However, as tested by ELISA techniques after a 60 min exposure no significant change of c-myc expression was detected at the protein level.

Discussion.....Regulation of proliferation and terminal differentiation processes require an intracellular signal transduction pathway which is possibly mediated by changes in intracellular calcium concentrations and oscillations, protein kinase A activity as well as the modulation of the expression of specific growth regulating proto-oncogenes. The observed increase of the cAMP-dependent PKA and the down-regulation of the c-myc mRNA could be an initial step of the ELF-EMF-induced growth inhibition and accelerated terminal differentiation of the HSF cells after long-term exposure.

Supported by the Bundesamt fur Strahlenschutz (St. Sch 4040/5) and the Deutsche For-schungsgemeinscaft (Ha2358/1). Collaborators on the research project included S. Thumm, H. Hammerle, and H. P. Rodemann, Eberhard-Karls-University of TŸbingen, 72076 TŸbingen, Germany.

The Finite-Difference Time-Domain method has been used to calculate the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) distribution in the human head due to mobile telephones. A millimeter resolution model of the human head, based on the MRI scan of an adult male volunteer, was developed with a cell size of 1.974 x 1.974 x 3 mm3. By scaling this model, we have also obtained reduced size models representative of 10- and 5-year old children. In all these models 15 tissue types were identified, and the dielectric parameters available in the most recent literature were assigned to each of the tissues. To perform realistic simulations the ear was squished, and the phone was placed against the ear without any cell gap. To understand the phenomenon of the EM coupling between the head and the telephone, several effects were considered at both frequencies of 835 and 1900 MHz (including the role of the antenna length l/4 and 3l/8) and the difference in tissue properties. Especially, we have considered the effect of varying dielectric properties of fat, bone, and cartilage since these are not as well characterized. We have also performed simulation with a homogeneous model obtained from the shape of the heterogeneous model and with head tilted at a typical angle of 30°. Significant results for the 1-g average SAR are reported in the following table, for both frequencies of 835 and 1900 MHz. The time-averaged radiated power is assumed to be 600 mW in the case of 835 MHz, and 125 mW for the irradiation frequency of 1900 MHz. The calculated peak 1-g SARs are given in W/kg.

It should be noted that the homogeneous model over-estimates the result in all the cases with percentage differences that are difficult to predict. The effect that was observed for 835 MHz, lambda/4 antenna, for models of the 10- and 5-year old children is also very interesting. In both these cases the peak 1-g SARs are higher than those obtained for the model of the adult male, while the same effect was not observed at 1900 MHz. For the models of the children, a larger in-depth absorption of EM energy produced averaged SARs for internal tissues that are several times higher than for the model of the adult. Some data on this important issue are summarized in the following table, where the average SARs of some organs are given for the 835 MHz, lambda /4 antenna. The time-averaged radiated power is assumed to be 600 mW. Results are reported in mW/kg.

For the case of the 30° tilted head, lower 1-g average SARs than those for the case of antenna held vertically relative to head were found at 835 MHz for the lambda /4 antenna, while a similar effect was not observed at 1900 MHz.

Conclusions.....As expected, the SAR distributions for 3 lambda /8 antennas were found to be considerably smaller than those for lambda /4 antennas, at both frequencies of 835 and 1900 MHz. Homogeneous brain-equivalent models overestimate peak 1-g SARs for all the considered cases. Finally, higher internal tissue SARs are obtained both at 835 and 1900 MHz for 10- and 5-year old children.

Collaborators on the research project included, C. M. Furse and O. P. Gandhi, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Utah, USA.

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ENGINEERING EVALUATION OF LITERATURE FOR ANSI/IEEE STANDARD REVISION

The Engineering Evaluation Working Group of the IEEE SCC28 Subcommittee 4 was formed in the Summer of 1993. The mission of the Working Group was to review and perform an engineering evaluation of papers in the database of the Literature Surveillance Group - also of the IEEE SCC28 Subcommittee 4. Experienced and committed engineers were recruited to serve on the Working Group. Among the 21 members, seven are from academia, eight from industry, and six from Government.

In the Spring of 1995, eight papers were selected from the database for a test review. Five papers were rated acceptable as engineering documentation and three were rated inadequate. The concurrence rate among the reviewers was very high. After the test review, the evaluation form was revised. In November 1995, ninety-four papers were selected for the first formal review. Among them, 43 in vitro, 37 in vivo, and 14 epidemiology papers. Each paper was randomly distributed to two reviewers. The results were returned before the end of April, 1996: 50 papers were rated acceptable, 18 papers were rated not acceptable, and 26 of them had a score difference greater than two. These 26 papers were sent to a third randomly selected reviewer (not the original two reviewers). This second cycle of review resulted in 14 accepted papers and 12 unaccepted papers. Therefore, a total of 64 papers (33 in vitro, 27 in vivo, four epidemiology) were deemed acceptable in engineering reporting, and 30 unacceptable (10 papers in each category). A copy of the evaluation form is enclosed in this Newsletter.

There are some members who need to observe deadlines and others who are too tough or too soft on the evaluation. The concurrence rates for the three categories were greater than 70 percent. Overall, the review process is satisfactory and the reviewers worked very hard. I am proud of this group. Among the reviewers, Ed Aslan was awarded for the earliest responses and Ron Petersen for the most detailed reviews.

There are currently 1,087 papers in the SCC28 Subcommittee 4 database. We have a lot of work to do over the next few years. We need a few more dedicated engineers to help us. If you are interested in this challenging task, please send an Email to me (ckc@smtplink.coh.org).

C.K. Chou, Ph.D.
City of Hope National Medical Center
Duarte, California

[IEEE SCC28, SC IV, Engineering Evaluation Working Group: Chairman - C.K. Chou, City of Hope National Medical Center; Edward Aslan, LORAL Microwave-Narda; Tadeusz M. Babij, Florida International University; Quirino Balzano, Motorola; Howard Bassen, FDA; Jules Cohen, Jules Cohen & Associates, P.C.; Kenneth R. Foster, University of Pennsylvania; Dennis E. Hadlock, Innovative Technical Analysis Corp.; James B. Hatfield, Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers; Charles Hicks, Army, Retired; William Hurt, USAF, Armstrong Laboratory; Niels Kuster, ETH Zurich; John Leonowich, USAF, Armstrong Laboratory; James C. Lin, University of Illinois, Chicago; Edwin D. Mantiply, EPA; Stewart Maurer, New York Institute of Technology; Michael R. Moore, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Richard G. Olsen, Naval Medical Research Institute; John M. Osepchuk, Full Spectrum Consulting; R.C. Petersen, Lucent Technologies; and Louis A. Williams, Jr., Louis A. Williams, Jr. & Associates.]

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Meetings and Workshops

The objective of the Workshop is to present overviews of the sources, environmental exposure levels, bioeffects, and reported absence or presence of human health effects, for both extremely low frequency (ELF) alternating electric and magnetic fields, and radio frequency radiation (RFR) in the microwave range. Also to be presented will be an update in the area of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and issues related to standard setting for EMC in medical devices in Europe. The all day conference will combine didactic lectures, presented by experts from the United States and Europe, with panel discussions and questions from attendees.

The Workshop is being held immediately prior to the 18th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, which is being co-sponsored by the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering in cooperation with the European Society for Engineering and Medicine (October 31 - November 3, 1996).

Workshop participants and their contributions are shown below.

I. Introduction

• "Comments on Related Issues in ELF Field and Radiofrequency Radiation Bioeffect and Health Effect Studies." Dr. Martin L. Meltz, Center for Environmental Radiation Toxicology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas.

• "Sources and Measurements in the European Environment." Dr. Santi Tofani, Laboratoria Di Sanita Publica Sezione Fisica, Ivrea, Italy, and Catholic University of Rome.
• "In Vitro Studies." Dr. Jeffrey Saffer, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington.
• "In Vivo Studies." Dr. Larry Anderson, Bioelectromagnetics Section, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington.
• "Epidemiological Investigations Related to ELF Fields." Dr. Patricia Buffler, Dean, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.

• "Radiofrequency Interference of Patient Connected-Medical Devices." Dr. Howard Bassen, Section for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland.
• "Technical Aspects and New Developments in the IEC 601-1-2 Standard for Electromagnetic Compatibility of Medical Devices." Dr. Robert Bakker, Phillips Medical Systems, The Netherlands.

• "Sources and Levels of Exposure in the European Environment." Dr. Kjell Hansson Mild, National Institute for Working Life, Sweden.
• "In Vitro Studies - Cell Proliferation and Genetic Toxicology." Dr. Martin L. Meltz, Center for Environmental Radiation Toxicology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas.
• "In Vitro Studies - Metabolic and Other Effects." Dr. Bernard Veyret, PIOM, Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie et de Physique de Bordeaux, France.
• "In Vivo Studies." Dr. C.K. Chou, Dept. of Radiation Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.

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Contact Information

C. Jordan Evans, Editor

For Newsletter items, contact the Editor of the Newsletter. For other Society business, contact: The Bioelectromagnetics Society, 7519 Ridge Road, Frederick, MD 21702-3519. Tel. (301) 663-4252; Fax (301) 371-8955; E-mail 75230.1222@compuserve.com.

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Last modified August 1997.

Last updated: November 17, 2000

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