Electrohypersensitivity
Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) or electrical sensitivity is a condition reported by some people where they are extremely sensitive to electric or magnetic fields at a range of frequencies, not just from overhead lines, reacting to even quite low levels in various ways. There are a range of non-disease specific symptoms such as headaches and stress, ranging up to nausea and skin rashes.
What do we know about EHS?
The symptoms experienced by the individual are often real and can in some instances cause significant impact to health and wellbeing. However, the causal relationship between EMF exposure and symptoms has not been proven, despite a number of studies. Due to the absence of scientific evidence, the term EHS is sometimes replaced with ‘Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance’ which is a specialist term that essentially means that EMF has no causation in the symptoms experienced.
What conclusions do major health authorities make about EHS?
Factsheet from WHO
In 2005, WHO issued a factsheet on electrical hypersensitivity (EHS). The conclusions are as follows:
“EHS is characterized by a variety of non-specific symptoms that differ from individual to individual. The symptoms are certainly real and can vary widely in their severity. Whatever its cause, EHS can be a disabling problem for the affected individual. EHS has no clear diagnostic criteria and there is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to EMF exposure. Further, EHS is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it clear that it represents a single medical problem.”
Review of issue in the UK
In November 2005, the then UK Health Protection Agency (now UK Health Security Agency) published a report on electrical sensitivity or EHS.
The report focuses on power-frequency fields, but does briefly cover radio frequencies. Its main aim was to understand and describe the symptoms of EHS, not it’s causes, but it did conclude:
“a recent review [ie NRPB 2004] .. found no compelling causal evidence for health effects…”
“the use of the term ES [electrical sensitivity] in this review does not imply the acceptance of a causal relationship between symptoms and attributed exposure, however.”
“While sufferers and their support groups are firmly convinced of a causal relationship with EMFs, the majority of mainstream scientific opinion does not consider there to be robust evidence of such a relationship. This position is supported by a recent systematic review of 31 blind or double-blind provocation studies…”
The report thoroughly reviews the existing literature of electrical sensitivity. Much of the literature comes from Nordic countries and Sweden in particular.
On treatment, the report is cautious about methods advocated by sufferers and their support groups, but suggests “some success” for psychologically based management strategies, and suggests the reported success of other strategies may be “more to do with offering a caring environment as opposed to a specific treatment.”