Dr. Hugo Schooneveld

Born: 1937, male
Highschool: Coevorden: 1951-1956
Scientific traning: Groningen State University, Groningen: 1956 - 1964.
General study: Biology, specialization: Animal physiology and biochemistry.

PhD thesis subject: Insect endocrinology; neuropeptidergic control of development, diapause and reproduction, 1970. University of Groningen, Cum laude. Published in Neth. J. Zoology vol. 20 (1970), 151-237.

Academic position: Wageningen Agricultural university, 1965-1999. Some 70 scientific publications, cf. PubMed list. Last position: Senior scientist. Chairman of the Dept of entomology.

Major research and lecturing topics:
- Neuropeptides in pest insects. Control of development, dormant states and reproduction. Techniques: sensory physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microsurgery, histology, electron microscopy, autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, with emphasis on the Colorado potato beetle.
- Hormonal control of insect pests: isolation and characterization of insect hormones, evaluation of properties for practical control strategies under field conditions. Techniques used: breeding several pest species, determining critical stages in development for hormonal disruption, selection of useful synthetic hormone analogues ('insect growth regulators'), application of selected growth regulators for control of insect pests in orchards.

Sabbatical leave: 1974/75, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
Early retirement in 1999 due to cut in scientific staff, since then full time work on EHS problem.

Milestones

• First indications of electrosensitivity due to purchase of home computer around 1982. Later on, computers were always used for various laboratory tasks, including for writing and instrumentation. It has been a problem ever since. But keeping PCs at a distant, hiring advanced students for the typing jobs, and after occupying an office in an uninhibited part of the building, problems of exposure were under control.
• For several years I’m using a pocket computer (PSION) for most typing jobs myself; editing, internet and email work is on my distant PC.
• Gradually more electronic devices started to get annoying, including the later LCD screens and even TFT screens. Even handheld computers were annoying although EMFs could hardly be measured at centimetres distance. More and more EMFs, both HF and LF, both electric and magnetic alternating fields became annoying.
• By scrupulous sanitization of home and helped by low field intensities from mobile phone transmitters in a forested area, the house is about the only place to feel well and work efficiently. Meetings in other unexplored locations are hated but are necessary depending on urgency. Right now (March 2007) my home is being reconstructed and extended with spaces with rigorously controlled EMFs.
• My complaints have changes in the course of yours. In the early phases, the effect of overexposure to PCs were headache, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, concentration problems and so forth. After sanitation of the house is only headaches, but these get worse all the time, especially after visiting unknown and un-measured locations. A typical PC working schedule is one block of 2-3 hours in the morning hours. Longer exposure gives 6 hours later or so growing intensity of headache accompanied by muscle tetanus over and around the scalp and higher neck musculature. The effect may last 24-36 hours.
• All the time I have been seeking other people in this country, but in vain. The Swedish website www.feb.se was the first source of useful information.
• In 2001 I established the website www.electroallergie.org as a medium to attract fellow-EHS people and to offer a discussion platform.
• As a consequence of the immediate responses I received, I started the working group on EHS (in Dutch WEO for 'Werkgroep elektrische overgevoeligheid'). The idea of this WEO was to assemble ES people, exchange experiences and solutions and to make ourselves heard in the country. That proves to be a highly successful approach (see below).
• In January 2007 we established the EHS Foundation, to present our problems and growing expertise with more power and professionalism. The idea is to raise interest and apply for funds to keep our efforts for information running (see below).
• During spring, a the old website will be worked over and reappear in a modern style under the name www.stichtingehs.nl. It is still under construction now. The website will contain an English section that will be enlarged when help is offered from English speaking persons with editorial qualifications.
• On December 8th, 2006 we organized the first Dutch Symposium with the title 'Understanding EHS'. The contents, abstracts and PowerPoint presentations are presented at the website. Although the representation by health authorities was still somewhat disappointing, the event as such was a success. It gives us the courage and profile to consider and organize a similar event, preferably with more foreign speakers to really illustrate the need for more information on the subject of EHS and to suggest well-based topics for scientific research. It would seem that scientists do no take matters sufficiently serious.
• When some sort of international cooperation between leading patient organizations can be achieved, our voice may be heard better by health officials. We need facts, however, not public opinion, fright and worries. It is facts that count.

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