Short‐term exposure to mobile phone base station signals does not affect cognitive functioning or physiological measures in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields and controls

Eltiti, Stacy; Wallace, Denise; Ridgewell, Anna; Zougkou, Konstantina; Russo, Riccardo; Sepúlveda, Francisco; Fox, Elaine

doi:10.1002/bem.20504

Cited by 35 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…A GSM study by Huber et al [2003] showed a reduction in HR during waking and stage 1 sleep, whereas, Braune et al [2002] and Tahvanainen et al [2004] found no effect of GSM-EMF on the HR in randomized crossover trials. In contrast to our results, Eltiti et al [2007Eltiti et al [ , 2009 did not find an effect on HR using a base station-like UMTS signal, which had a different carrier frequency of 2020 MHz and was continuous. Based on the literature cited, we conclude that the possible influence of RF exposure on the HR is still unclear.…”

Section: Medium-term Changescontrasting

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic field effects on blood circulation in the human auditory region using a near‐infrared system

Spichtig

Scholkmann

Chin

et al. 2011

Bioelectromagnetics

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The aim of the present study was to assess the potential effects of intermittent Universal Mobile Telecommunications System electromagnetic fields (UMTS-EMF) on blood circulation in the human head (auditory region) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on two different timescales: short-term (effects occurring within 80 s) and medium-term (effects occurring within 80 s to 30 min). For the first time, we measured potential immediate effects of UMTS-EMF in real-time without any interference during exposure. Three different exposures (sham, 0.18 W/kg, and 1.8 W/kg) were applied in a controlled, randomized, crossover, and double-blind paradigm on 16 healthy volunteers. In addition to oxy-, deoxy-, and total haemoglobin concentrations ([O(2) Hb], [HHb], and [tHb], respectively), the heart rate (HR), subjective well-being, tiredness, and counting speed were recorded. During exposure to 0.18 W/kg, we found a significant short-term increase in Δ[O(2) Hb] and Δ[tHb], which is small (17%) compared to a functional brain activation. A significant decrease in the medium-term response of Δ[HHb] at 0.18 and 1.8 W/kg exposures was detected, which is in the range of physiological fluctuations. The medium-term ΔHR was significantly higher (+1.84 bpm) at 1.8 W/kg than for sham exposure. The other parameters showed no significant effects. Our results suggest that intermittent exposure to UMTS-EMF has small short-and medium-term effects on cerebral blood circulation and HR. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential effects of intermittent Universal Mobile Telecommunications System electromagnetic fields (UMTS-EMF) on blood circulation in the human head (auditory region) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on two different time-scales: short-term (effects occurring within 80 s) and medium-term (effects occurring within 80 s to 30 min

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Section: Medium-term Changescontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Of three published studies on the effects of GSM exposure on HR, two found no effect [Braune et al, 2002;Tahvanainen et al, 2004], while one showed a small reduction in HR [Huber et al, 2003]. No effects were found in two studies using UMTS exposure [Eltiti et al, 2007[Eltiti et al, , 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Assessment of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic field effects on blood circulation in the human auditory region using a near‐infrared system

Spichtig

Scholkmann

Chin

et al. 2011

Bioelectromagnetics

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“…Likewise, in a larger doubleblind study Eltiti et al [2009] could find no evidence that GSM (900 and 1800 MHz) or UMTS (2100 MHz) exposures affected performance in memory and attention tasks compared to sham for either electrosensitive or control groups.…”

mentioning

confidence: 87%

“…A replication study could find no differences between sham and UMTS signals on any cognitive tasks [Regel et al, 2006]. Likewise, in a larger doubleblind study Eltiti et al [2009] could find no evidence that GSM (900 and 1800 MHz) or UMTS (2100 MHz) exposures affected performance in memory and attention tasks compared to sham for either electrosensitive or control groups.The aim of the current study was to determine, under double-blind conditions, whether acute exposure to a typical TETRA base station signal affects cognitive functioning and/or physiological response in healthy controls and electrosensitive participants. Cognitive performance was measured using the Digit span test, Operation Span (OSPAN) and Letter Cancellation Task (LCT), which are comparable to those used by Eltiti et al [2009].…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

Cognitive and physiological responses in humans exposed to a TETRA base station signal in relation to perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Wallace¹,

Eltiti²,

Ridgewell³

et al. 2011

Bioelectromagnetics

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Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) technology ("Airwave") has led to public concern because of its potential interference with electrical activity in the brain. The present study is the first to examine whether acute exposure to a TETRA base station signal has an impact on cognitive functioning and physiological responses. Participants were exposed to a 420 MHz TETRA signal at a power flux density of 10 mW/m(2) as well as sham (no signal) under double-blind conditions. Fifty-one people who reported a perceived sensitivity to electromagnetic fields as well as 132 controls participated in a double-blind provocation study. Forty-eight sensitive and 132 control participants completed all three sessions. Measures of short-term memory, working memory, and attention were administered while physiological responses (blood volume pulse, heart rate, skin conductance) were monitored. After applying exclusion criteria based on task performance for each aforementioned cognitive measure, data were analyzed for 36, 43, and 48 sensitive participants for these respective tasks and, likewise, 107,125, and 129 controls. We observed no differences in cognitive performance between sham and TETRA exposure in either group; physiological response also did not differ between the exposure conditions. These findings are similar to previous double-blind studies with other mobile phone signals (900-2100 MHz), which could not establish any clear evidence that mobile phone signals affect health or cognitive function.

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“…W pracach późniejszych, w miarę poprawiania się metodyki badań dotyczących tego problemu, coraz częściej nie stwierdzano żad-nych efektów oddziaływania PEM telefonii komórko-wej na procesy poznawcze. Takie wnioski przedstawiono w większości prac z ostatnich lat [27,28,36,49,[72][73][74].…”

Section: Wpływ Pem Na Układ Krążenia I Jego Regulacjęunclassified

Effects of radio- and microwaves emitted by wireless communication devices on the functions of the nervous system selected elements

Politański¹,

Bortkiewicz²,

Zmyślony³

2016

Med Pr

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StreszczenieW organizmie ludzkim do układów najbardziej "elektrycznych" należy układ nerwowy oparty na elektroprzewodzących sieciach neuronalnych. W związku z tym od lat prowadzone są badania mające na celu sprawdzenie wpływu pól elektromagnetycznych (PEM) o różnych częstotliwościach na jego funkcjonowanie. W pracy zaprezentowano wyniki przeglądu literatury naukowej poświęconej oddziaływaniu PEM na funkcjonowanie ludzkiego układu nerwowego, przy czym szczególny nacisk położono na najnowsze prace dotyczące współczesnych bezprzewodowych systemów łączności i transmisji danych. Wyniki opublikowanych prac w większości analizowanych obszarów nie wykazują wpływu PEM na układ nerwowy. Wyjątkami są oddziaływanie sygnału telefonii GSM na zapis EEG -spoczynkowy i podczas snu badanych osób -oraz wpływ częstotliwości radiofalowych na regulację układu krążenia. W pozostałych analizowanych obszarach (wpływ na sen, potencjały wywołane i procesy poznawcze) nie ma spójnych wyników prac świadczących zdecydowanie o oddziaływaniu PEM. Neurofizjologiczne badania wpływu fal radiowych i mikrofal na funkcje mózgu u ludzi nie przyniosły dotychczas jednoznacznych wyników. Przyczynami tego są m.in. różne warunki ekspozycji, duża liczba badanych zmiennych, brak powtarzalności badań i wątpliwości natury statystycznej. Istnieją już jednak wskazówki metodyczne dające szansę na ujednolicenie badań, które zdecydowanie nadal powinny być prowadzone, żeby określić biofizyczne mechanizmy oddziaływania PEM na układ nerwowy. Jednym z aspektów, na które coraz częściej zwraca się uwagę, jest uwzględnianie w badaniach oddziaływania PEM różnic osobniczych. Med. Pr. 2016;67(3):411-421 Słowa kluczowe: EEG, zaburzenia snu, pole elektromagnetyczne, telefonia komórkowa, układ nerwowy, regulacja układu krążenia AbstractNervous system is the most "electric" system in the human body. The research of the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of different frequencies on its functioning have been carried out for years. This paper presents the results of the scientific literature review on the EMF influence on the functioning of the human nervous system with a particular emphasis on the recent studies of the modern wireless communication and data transmission systems. In the majority of the analyzed areas the published research results do not show EMF effects on the nervous system, except for the influence of GSM telephony signal on resting EEG and EEG during patients' sleep and the influence of radiofrequency EMF on the cardiovascular regulation. In other analyzed areas (EMF impact on sleep, the evoked potentials and cognitive processes), there are no consistent results supporting any influence of electromagnetic fields. Neurophysiological studies of the effect of radio-and microwaves on the brain functions in humans are still considered inconclusive. This is among others due to, different exposure conditions, a large number of variables tested, deficiencies in repeatability of research and statistical uncertainties. However, methodological guidelines are already...

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Short‐term exposure to mobile phone base station signals does not affect cognitive functioning or physiological measures in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields and controls

Cited by 35 publications

References 22 publications

Assessment of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic field effects on blood circulation in the human auditory region using a near‐infrared system

Assessment of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic field effects on blood circulation in the human auditory region using a near‐infrared system

Cognitive and physiological responses in humans exposed to a TETRA base station signal in relation to perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Effects of radio- and microwaves emitted by wireless communication devices on the functions of the nervous system selected elements

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