Smart Meter Harm

Increasing incidence of burnout due to magnetic and electromagnetic fields
Ulrich Warnke and Peter Hensinger, 2013

Translation: By Katharina Gustavs and authorized by the author and publisher.
Original publication:
WARNKE U; HENSINGER P (2013): Steigende „Burn-out“-Inzidenz durch technisch erzeugte magne_scheund elektromagne_sche Felder des Mobil- und Kommunika_onsfunks; umwelt-medizin-gesellscha6, 26(1): 31-38.

Excerpt:

The crucial role of oxidative stress is generally known and scientifically acknowledged:

“Cell processes require redox homeostasis, which must be maintained by a multitude of antioxidant enzymes… When the organism’s homeostasis balance is tipped in favor of oxidative processes, we speak of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated, among others, with the aging of cells. Furthermore, a severe accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a simultaneous decrease in the level of the body’s own antioxidant glutathione is considered a known cause of acute and chronic degenerative diseases such as stroke, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease” (HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM 2008). The Robert Koch Institute confirmed these relationships (RKI 2008).

In persons with burnout syndrome, changes can be observed in the following cell functions, among others (BAUR 2012, BIEGER 2012, MÜLLER 2012, VON BAEHR 2012):

• Oxidative cell stress (ROS), chronic inflammation, and nitric oxide formation result in an increased formation of peroxynitrite;

• Lower levels of the body’s own antioxidants, especially superoxide dismutase (SOD2);

• Decrease in ATP production and diminished energy supply through mitochondria;

• Disruption of the neuroendocrine stress axis, slowing down of the catabolism of catecholamines, and modulating effects on the neuroendocrine immune system.

Beside mental stress, environmental stressors, including EMF (electromagnetic fields, see Fig. 2), are discussed as triggers. Both mental stress as well as environmental stressors lead to cell stress (= oxidative stress); the interactions provide a model to explain the increasing incidence of burnout.

Parallels between biological stress symptoms and adverse biological effects of RF radiation

Why do we need to worry that these phenomena of general loss of performance also may have a causal relationship, among others, with the ubiquitous cell phone and wireless networks? The “digitalization of our world” means that, since ca. 1998, our cells have been exposed to a continually increasing level of nonionizing radiation to which they have not adapted. There is a relationship between triggers of stress due to living conditions and RF radiation. Research results regarding the effects of nonionizing radiation on cells show similar effect mechanisms as the burnout research in environmental medicine (see Fig. 3). Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) interfere with cell processes:

• RF-EMFs produce excessive cell-damaging free radicals and strongly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which in turn can damage the DNA (see below).
• The body’s own defense in the form of endogenous radical scavengers (antioxidants) is weakened by RFEMFs (see below).
• The repair of DNA damage is impaired (BELYAEV et al. 2005).
• RF-EMFs interfere with the center of our metabolism, the mitochondria, and thus interfere with our energy production: ATP production is inhibited (SANDERS et al. 1980, 1984, 1985).
• The decrease in ATP production debilitates the entire system.
• The exposure to RF radiation triggers a downward spiral of disease. RF-EMFs accelerate toxic cascades.

 “The clinical picture of AEDS or acquired energy dyssymbiosis syndrome … describes a deficiency in cell energy with a simultaneous deterioration of the cell milieu. This leads to mitochondriopathy. Energy production is blocked; the power plants of the cell are transformed into efficient sources of free radicals.” (WARNKE 2007)

The full paper is here:
http://www.mobilfunk-studien.org/assets/warnke_hensinger_umg_1_2013_engl_df.pdf

For Birds, Bees and Mankind: Destroying Nature by Electrosmog, by Ulrich Warnke

German:
http://www.kompetenzinitiative.net/broschuerenreihe/bienen-voegel-und-menschen/index.html

English:
http://www.kompetenzinitiative.net/assets/ki_beesbirdsandmankind_print.pdf

Spanish:
http://www.kompetenzinitiative.net/broschuerenreihe/brochure-series/spanisch/index.html

French:
http://www.kompetenzinitiative.net/broschuerenreihe/brochure-series/french/index.html

Two years ago, the professional organization Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recognized the issue of Smart Meter fires. They wrote in their blog:

Smart Meter Fires

 We are seeing a spate of report from around the United States—and indeed around the world—of fires believed to have been caused by smart meters that were faulty, incorrectly installed, or connected to circuits where there were unfortunate and unforeseen effects. This appears to be not just a matter of freak incidents that may or may not have taken place here or there. In a compilation made by the EMF Safety Network, which specializes in EMF and RF precaution, there are at least a couple of dozen smart meter fire reports from Australia to Canada and virtually all regions of the United States, and some of those reports concern a couple of dozen fire incidents. In some cases fires appear to have originated in the meters themselves, in other cases in appliances like microwave ovens or refrigerators (as in the photo above), because of power surges.

To be sure, those reports are not necessarily going undisputed by local utilities and energy companies. In one instance, for example, California’s PG&E and fire officials have taken issue with an initial report of meter induced fires in Santa Rosa; a short circuit in the distribution system blew out a number of meters, both conventional and two-way, the local fire chief said [editor’s note – the official incident report states that it was caused by Smart Meters]. On the other hand, just last week Commonwealth Edison of Illinois confirmed three smart meter fires in its operating area, and earlier last month its sibling company Peco Energy suspended smart meter installations in the Mid-Atlantic states after 15 reports of smart meter fires, one in Philadelphia.

…Obviously all companies with smart meter programs, and all their suppliers and sub-contractors, are going to have to take a close look at the issue of fire hazards. This is just the beginning of a difficult story. Companies installing smart meters already have run into a lot of consumer push-back because of concerns about privacy, security, and–sometimes–higher rather lower electricity costs. The last thing the smart grid needs is meters causing fires.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/the-smarter-grid/smart-meter-fire-reports

Well, Smart Meters are continuing to cause fires and damage, but nothing is being done.

Why aren’t fire marshals in all our countries raising a real fire alarm about these meters?

Why aren’t consumer protection agencies and organizations taking action?

How many people will have their homes or businesses damaged or destroyed before something happens?

How many people will die from these fires?

And when will the complicity and cover-up end?

Smart Meters are failing miserably. For years, utilities and elected officials have been repeatedly warned by experts and the public, but these warnings are ignored by utilities and most of our officials.

This is a shocking violation of the public trust and an irrational course of action by all of them.

The public must take action to stop this program.

ADA MEDICAL INFORMATION: ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE ON IMPLANTS compiled by Eve Woodward-Shawl » Families For Safe Meters. http://familiesforsafemeters.org/ada-medical-information-electromagnetic-interference-on-implants-compiled-by-eve-woodward-shawl/

People who have medical implants, particularly metal implants, are more sensitive to spurious RF exposures for two reasons; Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) with critical care medical equipment and medical implants is a potentially serious threat. Patients with deep-brain stimulators (Parkinson’s disease patients) have reported adverse health effects due to RF from various environmental sources like security gates and RFID scanners.          Patients with deep brain stimulators have reported the devices to be reprogramming or electrodes shut-down as a result of encounters with wireless RFID scanners. One manufacturer, Medtronics, has issued a warning for DBS implant patients to limit RF exposure to less than 0.1 W/Kg SAR (or sixteen times lower than for the general public) for MRI exposures.

The IEEE SC4 committee (2001) considered changes to existing ANSI/IEEE standards adopted in 1992 (C95.1-1992). They discussed vulnerable organs (eyes, testes) and metallic implants that can intensify localized RF exposures within the body and its tissues. “Question 20: Are there specific tissues or points within the body that have particularly high susceptibilities to local heating due to thermal properties in the immediate vicinity of the tissue?”

“Metallic implants are an interesting example of this question. There can be very localized high field concentrations around the tips of long metal structures, in the gaps of wire loops. Of course, these metal devices don’t create energy, but can only redistribute it, so the effect is limited to some extent. Also the high thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity make them good thermal sinks for any localized heat sources generated around them.”

Since deep brain stimulators in Parkinson’s patients involve metal implants that are essentially long metal structures with tips that interface with brain tissue and nerves within the brain and body, exposing such patients with implants to high levels of pulsed RF that can produce localized, high RF within the body is certainly inadvisable. It is clear the IEEE SC4 committee recognized the potential risk by to calling such implanted metallic devices good ‘thermal sinks’ for localized heating dissipation.

The utility industry generally describes resistance to Smart Meters as a few loud individuals.

The letter below from a community advocate in British Columbia and the resolution adopted by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities(1) show a very different reality. B.C. Hydro is the utility for British Columbia residents.

From Citizens for Safe Technology – www.citizensforsafetechnology.org

50,000 Hydro customers resisting Smart Meters (Letter)

Letter to the Editor of BC Local News

In response to Tom Fletcher’s article posted May 10 and titled “Smart meter refusal fees trimmed”:

Part of this article seems to paint a picture that only “a “few” people in British Columbia continue to resist the installation of a Smart Meter on their homes and have false or exaggerated claims in order to sell solutions to the purported hazards…”

Actually sir, there are well over 50,000 BC Hydro customers currently resisting the installation of these “gadgets” on their homes and with good reason.

Did you know that right here in British Columbia, the civil, privacy, human, constitutional and Canadian Charter Of Rights of many of Hydro’s customers has and continues to be ignored and violated in an effort to force them to accept the installation of a Smart Meter on their homes and businesses?

There are and have been attempts (many have been successful) made by Hydro to trespass on the private properties of their customers. Many have been and continue to be exposed to Hydro’s bullying tactics, threats and attempts to coerce and/or blackmail them in an effort to install these “contraptions” on their homes.

-As we sit here debating this issue, there are more than 50,000 tax paying citizens in British Columbia who have come together and are in the process of suing BC Hydro and make no mistake, we are the proud members of: “The BC Coalition against Smart Meters”, “Stop Smart Meters BC”, “Take Back Your Power” and the “Citizens for safe technology” organizations.

…Tom Fletcher and those who remain convinced that Smart Meters are safe and that over 50,000 folks in B.C. are mistaken, let me ask you this…

If you still think there’s only a “few” BC Hydro  customers trying to make a big fuss over the changing of a little meter, allow me to extend to you all an invitation to explore the information on just one of our websites: www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca

To read the complete letter, go to http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org/50000-Hydro-customers-resisting-Smart-Meters-Letter,2,3882

(1) Resolution adopted as proposed, 9-30-11

After Smart Meters were deployed in Oregon, one resident observed:

The trees started exhibiting grey/white patches on their bark, some patches as thick as paint. The bark was splitting on most trees, and appearing scabbed over and covered in fungi, lichen, and moss. Now these trees, from Portland, throughout Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Forest Grove are dying and falling to the ground at an alarming rate. ALL trees, that I have seen, are showing signs of disease or infestation, even the huge ancient ones.

These pictures are of damage to oak and pine trees in Monterey, California, where there are wireless Smart Meters and their mesh network. Smart Meter deployment began in 2011. This damage is accelerating. Now there is also Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi.

[Note: the pink-purple color showing up on some photos is not part of the original photos and occurred when transferred to the web]

There is severe harm to the oaks and pines. The pines have deep cracks, fissures, with red showing. Some pine bark looks like it’s loose, merely sitting on the surface of the tree, ready to slough off. Some of the fissures are bleeding pitch. The oak fissures are getting deeper and broader.

How soon before these trees are fatally split to the core?

When tree damage in Netherlands started occurring paralleling wireless deployment, the Wageningen University did a 5-year study on aspens, exposing them to this radiation. They reported their findings in 2010. Their findings: that Wi-Fi radiation can alter growth patterns and cause bleeding and fissures in growing tree bark, and discoloration of leaves.

By the end of the study, at least 70% of urban trees in Netherlands were exhibiting these symptoms, whereas five years earlier, at the beginning of the study, 10% of trees were showing injury.

Wireless radiation causes cellular and nitrosative stress, impacts the immune system, causes calcium ions to leave cell membranes, making them leak, interferes with cell membrane function, damages genes and DNA, causes cancers and tumors.

British biologist Andrew Goldsworthy says:

Our present exposure to man-made microwaves is about a million billion billion (one followed by eighteen zeros) times greater than our natural exposure to these frequencies.
The Biological Effects of Weak Electromagnetic Fields, p. 4. March 2012
http://www.cellphonetaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Biol-Effects-EMFs-2012-NZ2.pdf

Trees are now dying mysteriously from a variety of diseases in urban areas all over Europe and are also showing abnormal photoperiodic responses. In addition, many have cancer-like growths under the bark (phloem nodules) and the bark may also split so that the underlying tissues become infected. All of these can be explained as being a result of weak radio-frequency radiation from mobile phones, their base stations, WiFi and similar sources of weak non-ionising radiation. But first let us look at how living organisms use electric currents that they generate themselves and which perform vital functions in their normal day-to-day metabolism and growth. We will then go on to see how weak electromagnetic fields can disrupt these and bring about many unwanted biological effects.
Why Our Urban Trees are Dying, 2011. http://www.mastsanity.org/health/research/299-why-our-urban-trees-are-dying-by-andrew-goldsworthy-2011.html

The German report “Birds, Bees and Mankind: Destroying Nature by Electrosmog” detailed the research showing extensive impacts from artificial EMF and RF on birds, bees, and humans.

“Today, unprecedented exposure levels and intensities of magnetic, electric, and electromagnetic fields from numerous wireless technologies interfere with the natural information system and functioning of humans, animals, and plants. The consequences of this development, which have already been predicted by critics for many decades, cannot be ignored anymore. Bees and other insects vanish; birds avoid certain places and become disorientated at others. Humans suffer from functional impairments and diseases. And insofar as the latter are hereditary, they will be passed on to next generations as pre-existing defects”
Bees, Birds and Mankind, Ulrich Warnke, p. 47. 2007
http://www.kompetenzinitiative.net/assets/ki_beesbirdsandmankind_print.pdf

A 2012 study in India on impacts to plants found

“morphological changes like decrease in growth rate in terms of height, number of branches and leaves is seen in such plants. Their leaf size gets decreased, leaves become more brittle and they fell off early.
“The biochemical tests indicated that after exposure there is a decrease in assimilatory pigments like chlorophylls and anthocyanins which shows decrease in photosynthetic rate in plants. At the same time, the carotenoid pigment content increased which resulted in the aging effect,” director of Junagadh-based Noble Group of Institutions Ved Vyas Dwivedi said.
…”At the same time, carbohydrates like starch and cellulose which are the main constituents of leaf cell wall decrease upon long term exposure. Sugar and water content also got decreased,” said Dwivedi.
Shockingly, in tulsi, which is a medicinal plant, its anti-microbial activity reduced after the plant was exposed to electromagnetic waves.
…”Protein content of those plants which were exposed to radiation had fallen drastically compared to those plant which were grown naturally,” added Dwivedi.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Cellphones-ring-in-death-knell-for-plants-Study/articleshow/16715290.cms

Wolfgang Volkrodt, now deceased, was a physicist and an electrical engineer at Siemens AG. He conducted research into the harm to trees. He wrote numerous papers (1), some only available in German.

Wolfgang Volkrodt and fellow researcher Ulrich Hertel wrote:

“. . .There is also this important fact: any tree may act as a receiving dielectric rod or monopole antenna with the ability to both absorb energy from the wave passing by and to scatter the wave in many directions. If the polarization of the transmitting tower antenna matches the particular tree or trees (i.e. vertical orientation of the antenna which is usually the case for collinear dipole arrays on towers), maximum coupling or absorption of the wave energy by the tree will occur. Polarization and conduction currents will generally flow to the root system.
Chapter 11:“Brief Overview of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Environment” by Raymond S. Kasevich, BSEE, MSE, PE, Registered Professional Electrical ;Cell Towers: Wireless Convenience or Environmental Hazard? Proceedings of the ‘Cell Towers Forum’ State of the Science/State of the Law edited by B. Blake Levitt (2001)

Volkrodt provided evidence in his papers that forests are also being impacted, not by acid rain, but by the acidification of the soil due to “electrosmog.”

“Microwaves are ‘received’ by our trees and finally converted into electrical currents which flow into the soil….A type of electric rectification takes place within the cell membranes. In turn, the direct current that spreads from the roots into the soil causes a type of electrolysis. And this, in turn – and not ‘acid rain’ – leads to the soil ‘acidification’ which is being repeatedly observed in the ground under trees exhibiting the new type of forest damage.”
Are Microwaves faced with a fiasco similar to that experienced by nuclear energy? 1991
http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/Microwaves-Fiasco-Volkrodt1991.htm

Trees are fellow creatures – alive, intelligent and sentient — and elders.

Completely ignoring that fact , they and phytoplankton also provide most of the world’s oxygen.

Fukushima radiation is rapidly destroying the Pacific Ocean and its sea life. With wireless radiation killing trees, how long before oxygen becomes a scarce commodity? How long before we have to ration oxygen?

The wireless mesh network and star system of Smart Meters are a powerful part of the problem. Then, Comcast is deploying its Xfinity and creating Wi-Fi hotspots everywhere. Wi-Max is being deployed, blanketing whole cities or areas. The U.S. and states like California are pushing broadband (generally wireless) throughout the country. Google wants to broadcast from the sky.

That’s in addition to cell towers, radio and TV broadcasting antennas, and satellites.

How long before human technology kills all life, directly or indirectly?

How many research studies have to be done before people listen?

—————————————————————————–

(1) Wolfgang Volkrodt, Ph.D., former Siemens scientist in Germany, wrote and published several articles on environmental contamination by microwaves. “Our environment is contaminated by microwaves. At present, the consequences are largely unexplored; however, observations of trees offer dire foreboding.” The following pdf files offer an introduction and selection of Dr. Volkrodt’s research and supporting documents:

• Background Documents: A Collection http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_background.pdf
• Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_elect_pollution_environ.pdf
• Are Microwaves Faced with a Fiasco Similar to That Experienced by Nuclear Energy? http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_fiasco.pdf
• Microwave Smog and Forest Damage – Movement in Bonn after All? http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_microwave_smog.pdf
• The Forest Dies as Politicians Look On – Dr. Ulrich Hertel http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_path_dying_forest.pdf
• Letter to Professor Wm. Smith, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/volkrodt_letter_yale.pdf

From EMR Policy Institute http://www.emrpolicy.org/science/forum/

From Canada, posted at Refugium

Media Refuse to Publish Mayor’s Critique of Smart Meters

BC Hydro is the utility company for British Columbia

April 23, 2014

The following guest editorial about smart meters was written by John Ranns, the longtime Mayor of the District of Metchosin on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Mayor Ranns wrote this guest editorial in November 2013 and submitted it for publication to the Victoria Times-Colonist and subsequently to other major newspapers in British Columbia. When his secretary followed up with the Victoria Times-Colonist about the status of his submission, the newspaper said it would not be publishing the piece because the piece was not topical. Mayor Ranns received no other replies from major media, and ultimately no major media outlets published his piece.

Read for yourself the opinion that British Columbia’s news outlets saw unfit to print.

Guest Editorial on Smart Meters

by John Ranns, November 2013

What I find most disturbing about BC Hydro’s forced imposition of smart meters is how readily politicians of all parties have abandoned fundamental principles of a free society in order to accommodate bureaucratic expediency. Individual freedom demands that government has boundaries. As far back as the 1600s the concept that individuals need sanctuary from government was established in British Common Law (still applicable in British Columbia), clearly stating that your home is your castle and the sovereign will not cross your threshold without following due process. Except now they have. In one stroke, the Province is saying that lawful citizens no longer have a choice in what enters or leaves their homes.

Although debate has been carefully steered to encompass technical arguments and ignore principle, there are two facts about smart meters that cannot be denied: They emit radiation into your house. And, when Hydro chooses, they will gather and disseminate personal information, which previously would have required a court order.

Whether the radiation is harmful or ultimately proves to be safe is not the point. What is critical to the issue is that many people believe it to be harmful, and now their sanctuary, along with their peace of mind, is denied them. Nor does it matter how little you may care what government, corporations, and hackers know about what you do in your home. What matters is that the safeguards protecting others who do care must remain in place.

And forget the argument that people are free to go somewhere else. In our current economy most people in this province who have a job and a mortgage have no choice but to stay where they are and do what BC Hydro dictates. For populated areas, supplied electricity has become more essential to life than supplied water. Urban regulations will not permit alternative sources. And those who could legally go off-the grid can rarely afford the expense. BC Hydro is a government-established monopoly, so there are no competitors to turn to for service provision. Under these circumstances the only protection an individual has are our elected representatives. Except in this case, regardless of party, they have determined that what is good for business is more important than long established individual rights.

Recently, politicians of all description prominently displayed poppies and paid homage to the sacrifices made by previous generations who understood that to maintain a free system over time it is necessary for certain principles to be inviolate. Government must conform to the principle rather than change the principle to accommodate the wishes of whoever happens to be in power. It is why we have Constitutions. Unfortunately many politicians these days don’t seem to think that way. They do not recognize that our jobs are not only to represent our electorate, majority and minority, but also to serve as guardians of the free system. Sadly we seem all too willing to thoughtlessly forfeit our freedom for the latest of fleeting conveniences that our runaway technology may provide.

John Ranns
Mayor, District of Metchosin