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Head Infections


catbirdseat

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When I was a kid a study was published which said that many of the CRTs in television sets emitted beta rays which could be harmful if you sat too close. Our parents began telling us to sit back at least six feet from the TV set. We kids coined the term "Head Infections" for what would happen if you sat too close. "Move back, you're going to get Head Infections!".

 

Now we have a new head infections scare. Scientists at U Dub found that rats exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields such as those gererated by blow dryers sustained measurable DNA damage in their brain cells. Article

 

One might ask how such a weak force could break covalent bonds in DNA. Apparently, it is not a direct effect, but one caused by the mobilization of free iron (ferrous) atoms which lead to free radicals, which in turn do the dirty work of breaking bonds.

 

The interesting thing is that they actually tested this hypothesis by using antioxidants and iron scavengers and showed that these substances block the effect of the magnetic fields.

 

I think that where the scientist go out on a limb is where they say that short exposures in humans may lead to "cumulative damage". If the damage is indeed a result of oxidation, it may be that prolonged exposure, such as the 24 or 48 hours used in the study, causes the natural antioxidant systems to be overwhelmed, whereas, for a short exposure, protection may be complete.

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