Topic

Knowledge-based database of literature describing the effects of electromagnetic fields on the organism and implants

Start

01.10.2001

End

31.12.2004

Project Management

RWTH Aachen University

Objective

The objective of this project was to create a substantiated, objective and impartial source of information on which factual discussions on the possible adverse effects of electromagnetic fields can be based and to give interested citizens the chance to objectively assess actual or alleged risks from electromagnetic fields. The project was to create a basis for an improved information of the relevant societal groups dealing with this issue (politics, media, jurisprudence, sciences, interested public). Thus, a better understanding of scientific risk assessment was to be reached.

The "knowledge-based database of literature describing the effects of electromagnetic fields on the organism and on implants (WBLDB)", which is available on the Internet, serves as the basis of information targeted to specific groups of the general public. This database offers a wide range of information in the German language addressed to the general public (referred to as the "EMF Portal").It is continuously updated by the Research Centre for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu) at the RWTH Aachen University.

Results

The new "EMF-Portal" was compiled and linked to the WBLDB. The following contents have been gathered and prepared for the Internet.

Basic principles

Based on the brochure "Electromagnetic fields in everyday life" developed by femu and published by the State Institute for Environmental Protection Baden Wurttemberg, brief introductory texts on various topical aspects were prepared for the Internet. The following topics are addressed: "basic principles of physics", "electromagnetic fields in man's environment", "biological effects", and "limit values".

Glossary

In total, 1650 terms are described in German and English. 1400 terms originate from the field of medicine / biology, 240 from technology / dosimetry, and 50 from epidemiology. To supplement the terms, altogether 890 synonyms and 180 abbreviations and acronyms are included. Additionally, a list has been compiled containing similar phrasing or spelling of the single terms. Currently this list comprises 2660 terms.

Since it has frequently not been possible to provide an explanation in one single formulation which is both scientifically accurate and comprehensible to laypersons, two different explanations are given. A simple explanation enables laypersons to understand the term, and scientifically accurate explanations provide the expert with the desired information. Altogether 350 terms are described in this way that can be understood by laypersons.

Data base of fields occurring in everyday life

In this database 100 field sources with their characteristic features have been compiled, adding more than 150 synonyms. In a figure, the frequency range of each field source is correlated to the frequencies of known sources.

Search functions

Target-group tailored search strategies have been developed, a search option for experts, a classical search for literature, and a search function for laypersons who need support in their search in order to gain useful results.

• The expert search is an option to specifically search for bibliographic data, exposure data and basic data.
• The detailed search is a classical search for publication data and provides the possibility of full-text search according to key words.
• In simple search the inference machine searches with the help of terms entered by the user for further topic-related and hierarchically subordinate terms and translates all terms into the English language. Thus, even laypersons are in a position to search exactly with the help of the glossary and the data in the field source database.

Literature database

The actual literature database WBLDB of the Research Centre for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu) of the RWTH Aachen University, which is not subject of this project but is used by the EMF-portal, currently comprises more than 7600 scientific publications. Exposure data have been extracted from nearly 2880 studies. German and English basic data are available for more than 900 studies, i. e. the most important medical / biological parameters of the studies: examined object, objective and result of the study. Additionally, there is very detailed information available in English for about approximately 1200 publications.

Public-opinion poll

In order to test the usability of the EMF-portal and to reveal possibly existing problems and deficiencies a public-opinion poll was carried out in various user groups prior to releasing the portal for public use.

All participants referred to the information provided as being helpful and informative, also with respect to an objectification of the topic. Valuable indications for a further improvement of the portal were received, which have already been implemented as far as this has been possible.

The final report is available as PDF-file (717 KB) in German. The portal is available via http://www.emf-portal.de/_index.php.

Conclusions

The EMF-portal fulfils the requirements of a neutral and comprehensive source of information on the topic "Electromagnetic fields and their effects". It is suitable as a source of information for both interested laypersons and for people dealing with the topic for professional reasons. However, a minimum physical and biological-medical basic knowledge is required of the portal user because of the complexity of the topic. The chapters "Basic Principles", the glossary and the field source database are parts of the portal that are particularly valuable for laypersons.

The public-opinion poll has shown that the portal does not have major deficiencies; however, proposals for suggestions and requests for further information do exist. The response of the public-opinion poll participants was mainly positive with respect to extent, comprehensibility and usability of the single portal modules. However, the response in the general public can only be evaluated after the portal has been used openly for some time.