Effects of UMTS Cellular Phones on Human Hearing: Results of the European Project “EMFnEAR”

Abstract

The European project EMFnEAR was undertaken to assess potential changes in human auditory function after a short-term exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation produced by UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) mobile phones. Participants were healthy young adults with no hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to radiofrequency radiation, and only the exposed ear was tested. Tests for the assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (CAS effect on TEOAE), and auditory evoked potentials (AEP). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham RF-radiation exposure produced by a commercial phone controlled by a personal computer. Results from 134 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system after a 20-min UMTS exposure at the maximum output of the phone with 69 mW/kg SAR in the cochlea region in a double blind comparison of genuine and sham exposure. An isolated effect on the hearing threshold at high frequencies was identified, but this was statistically nonsignificant after correction for multiple comparisons. It is concluded that UMTS short-term exposure at the maximum output of consumer mobile phones does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.

Intraoperative observation of changes in cochlear nerve action potentials during exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones

“…Despite the fact that short-term exposure appears not to affect the human auditory system,43 audiological abnormality trends have recently been described 24 30…”

Cell Phone Exposures and Hearing Loss in Children in the Danish National Birth Cohort

“…While several causes of hearing loss have been identified, including genetics, otitis media, certain prenatal and early‐life infections, injuries and prolonged exposure to loud noises, a recent review suggests that, for approximately 56% of hearing impaired children in the US, the cause is unknown . To date, experimental and non‐experimental studies have not provided solid evidence of effects of cell phones on auditory function . The only prospective study completed on this subject was of adults and found that cell phone users had a significant increase in average auditory threshold (evidence of hearing damage) at the end of 3 years of follow‐up compared with non‐users .…”

Long-Term Effect of 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure on Cochlear Functions

“…A large sample size would be required to reach definitive conclusions. In contrast to the results of Panda et al (23), Parazzini et al (25) concluded that UMtS (Universal Mobile telecommunication System) short-term exposure at the maximum output of consumer mobile phones does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system (25).…”