Chapter Review: Power Systems, Telecommunications, and Diabetes by Paul Héroux

In Chapter 1.5, Power Systems, Telecommunications, and Diabetes, of the book The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Natural Environment and Societies during the Contemporary Period,  Paul Héroux, PhD of McGill University, argues that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from electrical power systems and wireless telecommunications may contribute to the development and progression of diabetes by disrupting fundamental metabolic processes involved in glucose regulation. Héroux documents the science indicating that environmental EMR is a modifiable contributor to diabetes and other chronic diseases.

• Electric power systems create extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposures. Sources include electrical grid infrastructure such as high-voltage transmission lines, distribution lines and other electric powerlines,  substations, transformers, household wiring, and electrical appliances and devices and their charging cords. 
• Wireless networks create radiofrequency (RF) exposure. Sources include cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, cell towers, cellular base stations, 4G, 5G, smart meters, Bluetooth devices, wireless utility networks, and other wireless communications infrastructure. 

Héroux’s Chapter begins by reviewing how the modern electromagnetic environment has changed dramatically since the widespread adoption of electrical power systems and wireless communications. Everyday exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has rapidly increased. However, existing regulations for human exposure have focused largely on the short term effects of exposure while overlooking biological effects reported to occur at much lower exposure levels.

“Focusing on short, acute effects of shocks (ELF) or heat (RF) is completely at odds with toxicological tradition. If we consider the body of data developed for protection against chemicals (TLVs and BEIs, 2009), we note that only 15% of chemicals have a short-term exposure limit. This means that assessing toxicity and exposure over such short periods is expected to miss 85% of overall toxicities. The choices made by industry deliberately ignore the health risks of EMR occurring over longer than a few seconds (ELF) or hours (RF).”

Héroux argues that EMR can interfere with delicate cellular metabolic processes and lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). 

“We propose, supported by our experimental results…that artificial EMR acts on metabolism by a process of OXPHOS inhibition, and generates ROS in living systems primarily by reducing proton flow through a critical enzyme, ATP Synthase (ATPS).”

These effects presented as biologically plausible pathways through which EMR exposure could affect insulin function, glucose metabolism and contribute to diabetes risk. 

Héroux reviews a range of experimental and observational studies reporting associations between EMR exposure and blood brain barrier permeability, elevated blood glucose, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, pancreatic dysfunction, and diabetes-related outcomes. 

Héroux has extensively researched the issue. For example, his 2014 experimental  research with researcher Ying Li, published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine found that exposure to very weak extra-low-frequency magnetic fields caused several cancer cell lines to lose chromosomes, a sign of altered cell metabolism. The paper concludes that magnetic fields may alter cellular metabolism by impeding proton flow through ATP synthase channels, with potential implications for cancer biology, diabetes, and aging.

Héroux explains that wireless communication signals are not composed solely of radiofrequency (RF). They are complex signals that also contain extremely low-frequency (ELF) components as they are modulated to carry information. He argues that these ELF components are important to understanding biological impacts. 

“The signals from ELF and those of RF telecommunications have spectral overlap because of the ELF components of RF signals. The superposition principle suggests that RF signals have biological impacts both from their ELF components as well as from their RF components, and that these two impacts are additive or perhaps even synergistic in impeding the motions of free protons and electrons. To think otherwise, one would need to subscribe to the unlikely proposition that the biological effects of the ELF component of GSM signals can actually be counteracted by the presence of the high-frequency carrier. These considerations lead to the conclusion that ELF and RF sources are likely to add their individual impacts to diabetes rates.”

Héroux also argues that exposures from electrical power systems (ELF) and wireless technologies (RF) may be additive or even synergistic. 

“The combined impacts of ELF-RF track well the historical increase in diabetes rates in the US population, under the assumption that ELF and RF contributions are synergic.”

Based on these understandings, he argues that reducing public EMR exposure may represent a largely overlooked critical public health intervention.  

“It is therefore expected that abating the combined EMR exposures could reduce diabetes, and the overall burden on health systems.”

He recommends practical engineering and network infrastructure changes to reduce exposure from both electrical systems and wireless communications.

ELF (Power System) Mitigation

• Transition portions of the electrical grid from AC to DC power systems.
• Reduce reliance on new AC infrastructure and prioritize DC deployment.
• Use coaxial cable or twisted-pair wiring where possible.
• Design electrical systems to minimize unnecessary EMF emissions.
• Incorporate EMF reduction into utility planning and engineering decisions.

RF (Wireless) Mitigation

• Use speakerphone instead of holding cell phones against the head.
• Program phones to disable RF transmission when in direct contact with the body.
• Limit unnecessary background transmissions from mobile apps and devices.
• Employ an automated “airplane mode” function when devices are close to the body.
• Increase setbacks between cell towers and populated areas.
• Site new cellular infrastructure away from homes, schools, and other occupied areas and apply cell tower setback distances of 500 meters based on the Largest Observed Adverse Effect Distance (LOAED) from published research. 
• Favor wired internet connections instead of Wi-Fi when possible.
• Use wired connections for phones and computers in homes.
• Hard-wire schools and libraries rather than relying on Wi-Fi.
• Design wireless equipment to minimize emissions, especially when not actively transmitting.

Additional Research Linking EMF Exposure to Diabetes

Héroux’s chapter is not the only publication to explore the relationship between non-ionizing electromagnetic field exposure and diabetes. 

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health by Meo et al. (2015) “Association of Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Radiation (RF-EMFR) Generated by Mobile Phone Base Stations with Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” found that students exposed to higher levels of radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone base stations, AKA cell towers, had significantly higher HbA1c levels and a significantly greater risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with students exposed to lower levels of radiation.

A growing body of  published research has examined whether exposure to radiofrequency radiation, extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, and “dirty electricity” may influence glucose metabolism, insulin function, oxidative stress, and diabetes risk. Here are some other examples. 

A paper published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine by Havas (2008) Dirty electricity elevates blood sugar among electrically sensitive diabetics and may explain brittle diabetes found that exposure to “dirty electricity” was associated with rapid increases in blood glucose levels among electrically sensitive individuals with diabetes and that blood sugar levels often declined when exposure was reduced.

“Exposure to electromagnetic pollution in its various forms may account for higher plasma glucose levels and may contribute to the misdiagnosis of diabetes. Reducing exposure to electromagnetic pollution by avoidance or with specially designed GS filters may enable some diabetics to better regulate their blood sugar with less medication and borderline or pre-diabetics to remain non diabetic longer.”

A study published in the International Journal of Radiation Biology by Masoumi et al. (2018) ”Radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) causes impaired insulin secretion and increased oxidative stress in rat pancreatic islets” found that exposure of rat pancreatic islets to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation significantly reduced insulin secretion and increased oxidative stress markers, suggesting that RFR may impair normal pancreatic function.

“These data showed that EMR of Wi-Fi leads to hyperglycemia, increased oxidative stress, and impaired insulin secretion in the rat pancreatic islets.”

A paper published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine by Milham (2014) entitled “Evidence that dirty electricity is causing the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes,” reviewed epidemiological evidence and concluded that exposure to electrically polluted environments (“dirty electricity”) may be contributing to the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes through effects on metabolism and glucose regulation.

“I conclude that the epidemics of diabetes and obesity are caused by exposure to dirty electricity.”

A study published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine by Sert et al. (2022) entitled, Investigation of Fetuin-A pathway in diabetes mellitus formation in rats exposed to elf magnetic fields” found that rats exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields showed significant alterations in Fetuin-A and related metabolic pathways associated with insulin resistance and diabetes development, suggesting a link between ELF magnetic field exposure and impaired glucose metabolism. 

“We believe that an increase in these values may cause Type 3 diabetes.”

A study published in the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy by Bektas et al. (2022) “Effects of 3.5 GHz (5G) Radiofrequency Radiation on Ghrelin, Nesfatin-1, and Irisin Levels in Diabetic and Healthy Brains” found that exposure to 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation (5G) altered levels of the metabolic hormones ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin in the brains of both diabetic and healthy rats, suggesting that 5G-frequency radiation may influence neuroendocrine pathways involved in energy balance and glucose metabolism.

“RFR caused increases in ghrelin and irisin and a decrease in nesfatin-1 in the brain. It was also observed that RFR increased the number of degenerated neurons in the hippocampus. Our results indicate that 3.5 GHz RFR causes changes in the energy metabolism and appetite of both healthy and diabetic rats. Thus, 5 G may not be innocent in terms of its biological effects, especially in the presence of diabetes.”

A study published in Biotechnology & Biotechnical Equipment by Bektas et al. (2023) 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation may affect biomechanics of bone and muscle of diabetics, found that exposure to 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation affected the biomechanical properties of bone and muscle tissue in diabetic animals, with diabetic subjects appearing more vulnerable to the effects. 

“The results showed that RFR exposure had adverse effects on bone biomechanics, including decreased elasticity coefficient and Young’s modulus, increased maximum displacement and decreased maximum force. However, oxidative stress parameters in diabetics were also altered by 3.5 GHz RFR to a greater extent than in healthy rats. In conclusion, 3.5 GHz RFR may have potential to alter bone quality and structural integrity including muscle oxidative stress parameters in rats. It should be emphasized that the observed changes were more obvious in diabetic rats. In addition, the changes observed in healthy and diabetic rats exposed to RFR showed a statistically significant difference according to the sham groups.”

A study published in Bioelectromagnetics by Bektas et al. (2024) “Effects of 3.5-GHz radiofrequency radiation on energy-regulatory hormone levels in the blood and adipose tissue”  found that exposure to 3.5 GHz RF radiation altered levels of hormones involved in energy regulation in both blood and adipose tissue, suggesting that RF exposure may influence metabolic processes associated with energy balance, obesity, and diabetes.

“Particularly in conjunction with diabetes, 3.5 GHz RFR may result in adverse effects on energy metabolism.”