Electromagnetic Fields from Dental Devices and their Effects on Human Health

There has been considerable recent interest in the effects of electromagnetic fields (such as those near electricity transmission lines) on human health, and particularly in their potential to effect the development of leukemia and central nervous system tumors. An elevated risk of leukemia following exposure to electromagnetic fields has been demonstrated [1,2], and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have each established guidelines and criteria to outline the roles and risks of magnetic fields (MFs) in carcinogenesis [3-5]. However, other reports in the literature have found no significant correlation between exposure to electromagnetic fields and leukemia [6,7]. The results from studies of the correlation between electromagnetic field exposure and the risks of central nervous system tumors are also inconclusive [2,7]. These findings with regard to the risks of electromagnetic fields inducing leukemia or central nervous system tumors should be considered in terms of dependence on the electromagnetic field exposure conditions, such as field intensity and exposure time [8,9].