Clinical Practice Guidelines in the Diagnosis and Management of Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity (EHS)
Posted by Dr. Riina Ines Bray BASc, MSc, MD, FCFP, MHSc on 16th Dec 2024
Clinical Practice Guidelines in the Diagnosis and Management of Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity (EHS)
Introduction
Environmental health is the study of effects upon human beings of external physical/ electromagnetic, chemical and biological factors in air, water, soil, food and other environmental media which impact on the general population as well as genetic aberrations and psychosocial stressors.1 Environmental health is an evidence- and public- health-based discipline. The physical environment is a determinant of health and is interrelated with socioeconomic, social-justice and equity issues. The impact of the environment is an especially important part of our public health domain.2
In 2014, a systematic review of 63 studies3 revealed that despite heterogeneity, the criteria predominantly used to identify idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) individuals were:
- Self-report of being (hyper)sensitive to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
- Attribution of non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) to at least one EMF source
- Absence of medical or psychiatric/psychological disorder capable of accounting for these symptoms
- Symptoms should occur soon (up to 24 hours) after the individual perceives an exposure source or exposed area
Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity (EHS) is a spectrum disorder in which there is an awareness and/or adverse response to electromagnetic fields.4 Environmental Sensitivities are recognized as a disability under the Canadian Human Rights Commission (Federal).5
Dr. Riina Ines Bray BASc, MSc, MD, FCFP, MHSc
Medical Director, Environmental Health Clinic, Women’s College Hospital
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
riina.bray@wchospital.ca
www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/environmental-health-clinic/
October, 2020