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B J Klauenberg

Publications and source records attributed to B J Klauenberg.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Electromagnetic field standards in Central and Eastern European countries: current state and stipulations for international harmonization.

Electromagnetic field standards in the West are based on well-established acute biological effects that could be considered as signaling a potentially adverse health effect. The specific absorption rate, which is proportional to the tissue heating (thermal effects), represents the basic restriction of exposure to Radio-Frequency (RF) fields. On the other hand, Eastern European standards are designed to protect from potential non-thermal effects that might be caused by chronic exposure to very low intensities, where a so-called "power load" (a product of field intensity and duration of exposure) represents the basic limitation. Thus, electromagnetic field standards in Eastern European countries differ considerably from those which are proposed by the International Commission of Non-ionizing Radiation Protection and the Standards Coordinating Committee 28 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. In the present paper, the strategies for development of exposure limit values in electromagnetic fields standards currently in force in Eastern and Central European countries are discussed. Some differences as well as similarities of the national health and safety standards and the main obstacles to harmonization of these standards with those being established by Western national and international organizations and agencies are presented.

Electromagnetic Fields↗

Radio frequency radiation exposure standards: considerations for harmonization.

Radio frequency radiation exposure standards vary in origin, development process, legal status, and in the actual exposure limits. To identify the sources of differences in limits, we evaluated technical aspects of eight standards that included supporting information on the scientific data and rationale. Comparisons were made among the standards by examining the scope of the underlying database, the rationales for safety factors and other issues underlying exposure limits in the energy-deposition range (0.1 MHz to 10.0 GHz) and in the surface-heating range (about 10 or 15 GHz to 300 GHz). The framework for this assessment was based on the methods recommended by the scientific and regulatory organizations for developing health-based exposure limits. General guidelines for performing risk assessments for threshold acting agents have been developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada's Environmental Health Directorate, and the International Program on Chemical Safety of the World Health Organization. This general methodology was applied to radiofrequency radiation for this assessment. Because these methods strive to identify scientific issues and separate them from risk management or policy, they provide a basis for evaluation of standards in this paper. This distinction can provide a foundation for the longer-term goal of global harmonization of radio frequency radiation standards. Each of the standards evaluated in the energy-deposition range was found to use the same basic restriction, based on biological data and a 10-fold safety factor, yet explanations reflect different interpretations of the underlying biological data. Rationales differ for the magnitude of the safety factor, for the circumstances of exposure, for the nature of sensitive populations, and for the presumed health status of the individuals for whom the basic restriction is applicable. In the surface-heating range, broad variability in exposure limits are seen in the limit itself, as well as in the approach to time averaging and frequency dependence. Averaging times differ among standards, as do tissue geometries for defining partial-body exposures. The differences in approaches to develop the standards do not completely explain differences among the exposure limits, and methods for computing exposure limits from basic restrictions are not always defined. This analysis suggests harmonization of standards will require more detailed review and coordination of biological and engineering data and of policy options.

Canada↗

Influence of microwave exposure on chlordiazepoxide effects in the mouse staircase test.

To ascertain whether behavioral effects of benzodiazepines are altered by exposure to microwave radiation, we compared the performance of male, Swiss CD1 mice in the staircase test 30 min after pretreatment with chlordiazepoxide (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg, IP) and immediately following a 5-min exposure to microwave radiation (4, 12, and 36 W/kg, continuous wave, 1.8 or 4.7 GHz). In this paradigm, chlordiazepoxide reduction in the number of rears (NR) and number of steps ascended (NSA) is postulated to reflect anxiolytic and sedative drug effects, respectively. In sham-exposed mice, increasing doses of chlordiazepoxide increased NSA without affecting NR, increased NSA and decreased NR, then decreased both NSA and NR. Microwave exposure generally did not alter NSA or NR in mice pretreated with lower doses of chlordiazepoxide. However, in mice pretreated with 32 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide, exposure to 36 W/kg microwave radiation significantly reversed the reductions in NSA and NR at 4.7 GHz but not at 1.8 GHz. These findings indicate that exposure to microwave radiation can selectively alter effects of chlordiazepoxide in this psychopharmacological paradigm.

Animals↗

Role for risk communication in closing military waste sites.

Lessons learned from environmental and occupational hazard risk management practices over the past 30 years have led the Department of Defense to explore alternative risk management approaches. Policies for cleanup of environmentally hazardous waste sites are undergoing examination and are being reframed. A Demonstration Risk Communication Program is described which incorporates principles that integrate risk-based scientific information as well as community values, perceptions, and needs in a democratic process that includes the public as an active participant from the earliest stages. A strong scientific foundation for assessment and characterization of risk is viewed as necessary but not sufficient; the public's values must be actively integrated into the negotiated criteria. The Demonstration Program uses a model to prepare the participants and to guide them through the process. A five-step process is presented: (1) create risk communications process action team including at least one member of the specific site audience; (2) professionally train participants on team dynamics including interpersonal communication skills; (3) train risk communicators to deliver a cogent presentation of the message to secure a decision acceptable to both the government and the public; (4) identify existing biases, perceptions, and values held by all participants; and (5) develop risk message incorporating science and values. The process action team approach assumes the participants enter into the effort with the goal of improved environment and safeguarded public health. The team approach avoids confrontational or adversarial interactions and focuses on a dialogue from which a negotiated team response develops. Central to the program is the recognition that communication is only effective when the dialogue is two-way.

Communication↗

Behaviorally equivalent stressors differentially modify the monoamine altering property of d-amphetamine.

We previously demonstrated that behaviorally equivalent heat and cold stressors interacted with d-amphetamine (AMPH) treatment to produce different effects in rats responding for food on a fixed ratio 15 (FR15) schedule of reinforcement [25]. The present study was carried out to determine if these stressors differentially affect the disposition of AMPH to brain and/or if the stressors alone or in combination with AMPH affect CNS monoamines in a dissimilar manner. Exposure to either heat or cold stressor produced equivalent elevations of [3H]-AMPH in brain following 3 mg AMPH/kg but not 1 mg AMPH/kg. Neither stressor alone significantly altered any of the neurochemical parameters measured in any of the brain regions studied. In forebrain, heat and cold stressors interacted with AMPH treatment in different manners. Thus, although [3H]-AMPH was equally elevated in stressed groups following the high dose, cold-induced stress was not associated with an increase in dopamine (DA) levels, which was observed in Nonstressed and Heat-Stressed subjects. Although serotonin (5-HT) levels were not changed by any manipulation, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were lowered in Nonstressed and Cold-Stressed subjects following both doses of AMPH. This effect was not associated with heat-induced stress. The apparent attenuation of AMPH behavioral toxicity observed in Cold-Stressed and/or exacerbation in Heat-Stressed rats observed in the earlier study may involve a pharmacodynamic interaction of AMPH and stress with transmitter substances, including DA and/or 5-HT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

A kindling-like effect induced by repeated exposure to heated water in rats.

Hyperthermia was induced in mature rats by immersing them in 20 cm of 45 degrees C water for 4 min. Rats were made hyperthermic once every 4 days for six exposures. A significant number had at least one convulsion by the third exposure. During the seventh exposure, 2 weeks after the sixth exposure, twice as many rats experienced convulsions. Two weeks later, four rats that had convulsed following exposure to heated water at an earlier time convulsed on exposure to a strobe light flashing at 25 Hz. The percentage of rats having experienced at least one convulsion increased dramatically when tested 2 and then an additional 3 months later. Spontaneous (handling-induced) convulsions also occurred in a few rats that had been exposed to heated water previously. The data indicate that repeated exposure to this type of hyperthermia can result in an increase in convulsive susceptibility in mature rats and may be a useful, noninvasive model for studying kindling, febrile convulsions, and epilepsy in rodents.

Animals↗

Pentobarbital sodium and attack behavior in male Siamese fighting fish.

An experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of pentobarbital sodium on intraspecific attack behavior in male Siamese fighting fish in an attempt to extend earlier findings with chlordiazepoxide and secobarbital sodium. Pairs of fish fought while immersed in 20 microgram/ml or 40 microgram/ml pentobarbital sodium or plain water. The 40 microgram/ml group showed significantly less attack (e.g., biting, jaw locking) than either control or low dose groups without producing a change in general arousal. Quasisexual behavior, seen in an earlier chlordiazepoxide study, did not occur in the present study.

Aggression↗

Puromycin: two distinct behavioral effects with different temporal parameters in the pigeon.

Pigeons were injected intracerebrally with either puromycin (PM) or control saline solution following training for one 12-min session on a visual discrimination. Injections were made either immediately following training, 1 hr later or 24 hr later. Retention testing 3 days after training showed that PM produced marked amnesia in the first two groups, but had no effect in the 24 hr condition. However, all PM groups were retarded subsequently in the number of days required to reach a 90% discimination criterion. This differentiation of two separate behavioral effects with different temporal gradients suggests that PM may be working through two distinct physiological mechanisms.

Animals↗

A method for equating thermal stress parameters for neurobehavioral toxicity studies.

Rats were immersed in 20 cm of cold (15 or 20 degrees C) water for 1, 2.5 or 5 min and were tested 15 min later on fixed ratio 15 (FR15) operant behavior for 30 min. Linear regression analyses predicted that 4 min exposure to 20 degrees C would suppress FR15 behavior 50%. Subsequent exposure to 20 degrees C water for this time period resulted in 53% suppression of FR15 responding. Rats were then immersed in heated water for 4 min and tested 15 min later, exactly as in the cold stress experiment. Exposure to 44, 45 or 46 degrees C water suppressed FR15 responding 21, 46 and 94%, respectively. Significant alterations in colonic temperature indicated that the manipulations disrupted thermoregulatory mechanisms and were probably stressful. The procedure is an alternative to other methods used to index the intensity of stress. By manipulating selected variables (e.g., water temperature or exposure duration), qualitatively different stressors can be matched behaviorally prior to studying interactions between stress and various other manipulations such as drugs or toxic compounds.

Animals↗

Behavioral toxicity of amphetamine is differentially affected by hot and cold water immersion stress.

The interaction of two qualitatively different but behaviorally equivalent stressors with the behavioral toxicity induced by d-amphetamine (AMPH) was examined in rats. Stress, administered by immersing the rats in either hot or cold water, suppressed fixed ratio 15 (FR15) operant responding 50% and disrupted thermoregulation. AMPH (1, 2 and 3 mg/kg) administered immediately prior to stress, once every 7 days, in ascending order, did not modify stress-induced changes in colonic temperature (Tc) immediately after water immersion but induced a decrease in Tc in all groups 45 min later. The behavioral suppressant effect of AMPH observed in the Non-Stressed group was attenuated at all doses in rats exposed to cold water. Although both stressed groups had equivalent baseline rates, only the Cold-Stressed group's response rate was relatively unaffected by AMPH, compared to non-drug response rates, as would be predicted by the rate-dependency hypothesis. The hot stress appears to have activated processes antagonistic to those involved in the rate-dependent effect. The results indicate that AMPH interacts with hot and cold stressors differently when the intensity of the stressors are otherwise equivalent in their ability to alter the behavior which is used as the dependent variable to assess toxicity.

Amphetamine↗