Neoroscience and wireless communication

September 14, 2003 10:54 AM

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)
posted by mojohand (15 comments total)

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.
posted by carfilhiot at 11:43 AM on September 14, 2003

Th e straight dope
posted by BigCalm at 11:58 AM on September 14, 2003

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.
posted by adrianhon at 12:00 PM on September 14, 2003

Albumin, eh? I suppose we could, then, see the resurrection of the "This is your brain on..." fried-egg commercials.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:30 PM on September 14, 2003

fortunately, I only use my cell phone as a vibrating marital aid!
posted by mcsweetie at 1:10 PM on September 14, 2003

There has to be such a thing as too much information, even on metafilter.
posted by namespan at 1:17 PM on September 14, 2003

I think we did away with all boundaries with the poop-filter FPP a day or two ago. Ugh.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:32 PM on September 14, 2003

most frequent mobile phone users do seem to suffer from brain damage though.

Hard to tell which causes which, though.
posted by dg at 5:46 PM on September 14, 2003

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

so. tell us mcsweetie. is it aiding your marital activity?
posted by quonsar at 6:20 PM on September 14, 2003

He and his wife live in separate cities due to work. They have a lot of phone sex...
posted by five fresh fish at 6:28 PM on September 14, 2003

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.
posted by y2karl at 7:32 PM on September 14, 2003

"The Black Shakes"
posted by cx at 5:03 AM on September 15, 2003

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)
posted by biffa at 10:37 AM on September 15, 2003

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'
posted by Owen Boswarva at 12:54 PM on September 15, 2003

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.
posted by Duug at 1:30 PM on September 16, 2003