Mobile telephone use effects on peripheral audiovestibular function: A case–control study

Abstract

Low level radio-frequency (RF) signals may produce disorientation, headache and nausea. This double blind study tested nine case-subjects, who complained of various symptoms after prolonged mobile telephone use and 21 control subjects. Each subject underwent a series of trials, in which a dummy mobile telephone exposure system was held to each ear for 30 min in (a) pulsed, (b) continuous RF emission or, (c) no emission test modes. In the active pulsed and continuous modes the same mean power as the output of a typical handset was delivered at a carrier frequency of 882 MHz and at a maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 1.3 W kg(-1) (+/- 30%). In Experiment I (auditory), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), which assess the outer hair cells in the inner ear, were conducted. In Experiment II (vestibular) the vestibulo-ocular reflex was recorded by video-oculography (VOG), at baseline and immediately post exposure. There were no significant TEOAE changes from baseline to post-exposure recording for any of the exposures and no significant differences in the TEOAEs' change from baseline to post exposure between cases and controls. The VOG did not identify any effect of the exposure on the vestibular end organ in either cases or controls. In conclusion, 30 min exposure to mobile phone RF did not show any immediate effects on vestibulocochlear function as measured by TEOAE and the VOR.

Do people with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields display physiological effects when exposed to electromagnetic fields? A systematic review of provocation studies

“…In three studies, one using 60 Hz exposure [Lyskov et al, 2001] and two using mobile phonelike exposure [Wilén et al, 2006;Bamiou et al, 2008], no effects of EMF exposure were detected on brain physiology, and the visual, auditory and balance systems (Table 6). With the exception of critical flicker fusion frequency, which was recorded in two studies, each of the other endpoints was tested in only one study.…”

Review of possible modulation‐dependent biological effects of radiofrequency fields

“…The authors concluded that EMF effects on the EEG are either non-existent or so prone to many other factors that they are difficult to demonstrate systematically. Bamiou et al [2008] studied the effects on auditory and vestibular functions of exposure from a modified handset capable of producing 882 MHz GSM and CW signals. No effects were observed from either sham, CW or GSM signals on the endpoints studied.…”

Effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields: Critical evaluation of behavioral and neurophysiological studies

“…As for the vestibular part of the inner ear, short-term exposure to GSM signals did not induce nystagmus, which was measured with videooculography (VOG) Bamiou et al, 2008].…”