WASHINGTON-An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer official has questioned the fire fighters’ union about a study that suggested six fire fighters in California suffered medical problems due to five years of radiation exposure from a cell site at stations, a claim in a position paper that will be used by the union to solicit $1 million for research.
“With regard to the study that was conducted by Dr. Gunnar Heuser of fire fighters exposed to RF fields, the COMAR membership is unfamiliar with it,” said Ruth Douglas Miller, chair of the IEEE committee on man and radiation, in an April 14 letter to Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Miller added: “If it has been published in a scientific journal, we would appreciate learning the name and date of the publication. COMAR’s membership includes experts across a variety of biological and engineering sciences and seeks to monitor all relevant research relating to the biological effects of exposure to electromagnetic energy. To ensure widespread access to information and encourage discussion and further exploration, study authors seek publication in scientific journals. We suggest that the author submit the paper to a peer-reviewed scientific or medical journal, to begin a dialogue and share the information.”
Last week, the IAFF issued an official position paper on fire fighters and cell towers as it begins to seek funding for research on whether cell towers at fire stations pose health risks to fire fighters.
At its annual conference in Boston last August, the IAFF called for a moratorium on new cell towers on fire stations until possible health effects can be examined.
According to IAFF, Heuser, an M.D. and PhD. of Agoura Hills, Calif., conducted brain scans and computerized psychological testing to investigate neurological symptoms in fire fighters, such as slowed reaction time, lack of focus, lack of impulse control, severe headaches, anesthesia-like sleep, sleep deprivation, depression and tremors. The brain scans, according to IAFF, revealed a pattern of abnormal change that was concentrated over a wider area than would normally be seen in brains of individuals exposed to toxic inhalation, as might be expected from fighting fires. IAFF said Heuser concluded the only plausible explanation at this time would be radio frequency radiation exposure. Other testing, according to the union, found delayed reaction time, lack of impulse control, and difficulty in maintaining mental focus among the six fire fighters.
