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Eicher C, Marty B, Achermann P, Huber R, Landolt HP. Reduced subjective sleep quality in people rating themselves as electro-hypersensitive: An observational study. Sleep Med 2024; 113:165-171. [PMID: 38029625 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disturbed sleep is among the most frequent health complaints of people exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) used in mobile telecommunication, particularly in individuals who consider themselves as EMF hypersensitive (EHS). We aimed at investigating whether the EHS status per se is associated with sleep complaints. Because allelic variants of the gene encoding the L-type, voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.2 (CACNA1C) were previously associated with sleep complaints reminiscent of those reported by EHS individuals, we also explored whether self-rated EHS status and sleep quality associate with these gene variants. METHODS A total of 2'040 participants (1'381 females) aged 18-30 years completed online, validated questionnaires on EMF sensitivity, subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, mentation during sleep, and diurnal preference. They also provided a saliva sample for genotyping three functional variants of CACNA1C (rs7304986, rs16929277 and rs2302729). Eligible participants endorsing the question "Are you electro-hypersensitive?" were considered as "EHS" (n = 105), those denying this question yet believing to develop detrimental health symptoms due to prevailing electromagnetic pollution as "attributers" (n = 254), and the remaining participants as "non-EHS" (n = 1'406). We combined the EHS and attributers into one group for binary analyses. In exploratory analyses, we then tested possible associations between EMF sensitivity, subjective sleep variables and CACNA1C variants using linear and logistic regression. We used age, sex, level of education, presence of sleep disorders and habitual mobile phone use as covariates and corrected with Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate for multiple comparisons. RESULTS The EHS/attributers consistently reported prolonged sleep latency, reduced sleep quality, higher sleepiness and more nocturnal mentation when compared to non-EHS. Habitual mobile phone use was not associated with self-rated sleep latency and sleep quality scores. While the T-allele of variant rs2302729 of CACNA1C was associated with both, self-reported EMF sensitivity and reduced subjective sleep quality, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that EHS mediates impaired sleep quality via this allelic variant. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of reported RF-EMF exposure, self-rated EHS/attributers rated subjective sleep quality worse than non-EHS individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (SNCTP000002285) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03074617).
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Eicher
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Marty
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Achermann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto Huber
- Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Landolt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Irani M, Aradmehr M, Ghorbani M, Baghani R. Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Abortion in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Malays J Med Sci 2023; 30:70-80. [PMID: 37928787 PMCID: PMC10624444 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.5.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) on pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. We performed a systematic search for relevant studies published to August 2021 in the medical databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library. The following key terms were used: 'electromagnetic field,' 'mobile phones,' 'mobile phone base stations,' 'watching TV,' 'using Internet,' 'miscarriage,' 'abortions,' 'spontaneous abortion,' 'early abortion' and 'late abortion'. All case-control and cohort studies that investigated the effect of EMF exposure on the risk of miscarriage were included without any restriction of language or time. Statistical analyses were done using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 2.0). A random-effects model was performed to calculate the overall effect size. A primary search revealed a total of 982 relevant studies; six articles (N = 3,187 participants) met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The results of the random-effects meta-analysis indicated that EMF exposure had a significant effect on miscarriage: rate ratio (RR) = 1.699; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.121, 2.363 (P < 0.001); and heterogeneity (I2) = 84.55% (P < 0.001). The findings showed that pregnant woman who were exposed to high levels of EMF had an increased risk of miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morvarid Irani
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
- Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Maryam Aradmehr
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
- Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghorbani
- Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Roya Baghani
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
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Ghazanfarpour M, Kashani ZA, Pakzad R, Abdi F, Rahnemaei FA, Akbari PA, Roozbeh N. Effect of electromagnetic field on abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Med (Wars) 2021; 16:1628-1641. [PMID: 34761114 PMCID: PMC8569282 DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The increasing use of new technologies by pregnant women inevitably exposes them to the risks of the electromagnetic fields (EMFs). According to the World Health Organization, EMFs are the major sources of pollutants which harm human health. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of EMF exposure on abortion. Methods Web of Science, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until 2021. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was explored using Cochran’s Q test and I2 index. A meta-regression method was employed to investigate the factors affecting heterogeneity between the studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the credibility of the studies. Results Eligible studies (N = 17) were analyzed with a total of 57,693 participants. The mean maternal age (95% CI) was 31.06 years (27.32–34.80). Based on meta-analysis results, the pooled estimate for OR of EMF with its effects was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.10–1.46). According to the results of meta-regression, sample size had a significant effect on heterogeneity between studies (p: 0.030), but mother’s age and publication year had no significant effect on heterogeneity (p-value of bothwere >0.05). No publication bias was observed. Conclusion Exposure to EMFs above 50 Hz or 16 mG is associated with 1.27× increased risk of abortion. It may be prudent to advise women against this potentially important environmental hazard. Indeed, pregnant women should receive tailored counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Reza Pakzad
- Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Abdi
- Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bander Abbas, Iran
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei
- Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pouran Akhavan Akbari
- Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Nasibeh Roozbeh
- Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bander Abbas, Iran
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Materia FT, Faasse K, Smyth JM. Understanding and Preventing Health Concerns About Emerging Mobile Health Technologies. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e14375. [PMID: 32449688 PMCID: PMC7281144 DOI: 10.2196/14375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
New technologies and innovations have often improved population well-being and societal function; however, these are also often initially accompanied by worry and fear. In some cases, such worries can impede, or even prevent entirely, the adoption of the technology. Mobile health (mHealth), a discipline broadly focused on employing ambulatory technologies to improve the affordability, reach, and effectiveness of health promotion and clinical intervention approaches, offers new innovations and opportunities. Despite emerging evidence supporting mHealth efficacy (eg, for improving health outcomes), some individuals have concerns about mHealth technology that may impede scalability, efficacy, and, ultimately, the public health benefits of mHealth. We present a review and conceptual framework to examine these issues, focusing on three overarching themes: biophysiological, psychological, and societal concerns. There are features of mHealth that lead to worries about the potential negative effects on an individual’s health (eg, due to exposure to electromagnetic or radio waves), despite evidence supporting the safety of these technologies. When present, such beliefs can lead to worry that gives rise to the experience of unpleasant and concerning physical symptoms—the nocebo effect. This may represent an important implementational barrier because of apprehension toward beneficial mHealth products (or features thereof, such as wireless charging, wearable or implantable sensors, etc) and may also have broader ramifications (eg, leading to economic, governmental, and legislative actions). In addition to reviewing evidence on these points, we provide a broad three-step model of implementation research in mHealth that focuses on understanding and preventing health concerns to facilitate the safe and effective scalability of mHealth (and that may be generalizable and applied to similar technologies): (1) evaluating and better discerning public perceptions and misperceptions (and how these may differ between populations), (2) developing theory-based public health communication strategies regarding the safety of mHealth, and (3) disseminating this messaging using evidence-based methods. Collectively, these steps converge on reviewing evidence regarding the potential role of worry and nocebo in mHealth and providing a model for understanding and changing attitudes and preventing unfounded negative perceptions related to mHealth technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank T Materia
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Kate Faasse
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joshua M Smyth
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Bolte JFB, Clahsen S, Vercruijsse W, Houtveen JH, Schipper CMA, van Kamp I, Bogers R. Ecological momentary assessment study of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms with self-declared electrosensitives. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104948. [PMID: 31288182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of the study is to determine if non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) in people with self-declared sensitivity to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) can be explained (across subjects) by exposure to RF EMF. Furthermore, we pioneered whether analysis at the individual level or at the group level may lead to different conclusions. By our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study exploring the data at the individual level. A group of 57 participants was equipped with a measurement set for five consecutive days. The measurement set consisted of a body worn exposimeter measuring the radiofrequency electromagnetic field in twelve frequency bands used for communication, a GPS logger, and an electronic diary giving cues at random intervals within a two to three hour interval. At every cue, a questionnaire on the most important health complaint and nine NSPS had to be filled out. We analysed the (time-lagged) associations between RF-EMF exposure in the included frequency bands and the total number of NSPS and self-rated severity of the most important health complaint. The manifestation of NSPS was studied during two different time lags - 0-1 h, and 1-4 h - after exposure and for different exposure metrics of RF EMF. The exposure was characterised by exposure metrics describing the central tendency and the intermittency of the signal, i.e. the time-weighted average exposure, the time above an exposure level or the rate of change metric. At group level, there was no statistically significant and relevant (fixed effect) association between the measured personal exposure to RF EMF and NSPS. At individual level, after correction for multiple testing and confounding, we found significant within-person associations between WiFi (the self-declared most important source) exposure metrics and the total NSPS score and severity of the most important complaint in one participant. However, it cannot be ruled out that this association is explained by residual confounding due to imperfect control for location or activities. Therefore, the outcomes have to be regarded very prudently. The significant associations were found for the short and the long time lag, but not always concurrently, so both provide complementary information. We also conclude that analyses at the individual level can lead to different findings when compared to an analysis at group level.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F B Bolte
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Smart Sensor Systems Research Group, Faculty of Technology, Innovation and Society, The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), Rotterdamseweg 137, 2628 AL Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Sander Clahsen
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wendy Vercruijsse
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H Houtveen
- Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - C Maarten A Schipper
- Department of Statistics, Informatics and Mathematical Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Irene van Kamp
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rik Bogers
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Gallastegi M, Jiménez-Zabala A, Molinuevo A, Aurrekoetxea JJ, Santa-Marina L, Vozmediano L, Ibarluzea J. Exposure and health risks perception of extremely low frequency and radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and the effect of providing information. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 169:501-509. [PMID: 30530090 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Given that regardless of actual exposure levels, high-risk perceptions of electromagnetic fields of non-ionizing radiation (EMF-NIR) may cause health effects, it is important to understand the mechanisms behind perceptions in the general population. The aims of this study were to assess perceptions of both exposure and health-risk among mothers of the INMA (Environment and childhood)-Gipuzkoa child cohort; to explore possible determinants that explain such perceptions; and to evaluate whether providing information on exposure levels has any effect on perceptions. Overall, 387 mothers completed a questionnaire composed of four questions on perceived exposure and perceived health-risk of exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) fields answered on a Likert-type scale from 0 to 10. Later, measurements of ELF and RF fields were conducted in the houses of a subsample of 104 participants. All measured levels were far below the levels established by the European Council recommendation. This was explained in the individual reports sent to the families. After reading the results, mothers completed the aforementioned questionnaire a second time, plus two additional questions regarding the role of public health bodies in risk communication. The association between perceived and measured levels as categorical variables was assessed with a chi-square test. Multiple linear regressions were conducted for each of the questions related to perceived exposure and health-risk perceptions. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to assess the effect of receiving information. Both exposure and health risk were perceived to be very high for both ELF and RF fields, with mean and medians of 7 on a 10-point scale. Reporting higher perception levels was not associated with higher levels of exposure measured at home. Variables that were repeatedly associated with higher perceptions included: manual social class, not having the feeling of living in a good neighborhood, difficulty getting by financially, not having a television antenna within 600 m, being younger and having fewer devices at home. Providing information on EMF-NIR exposure levels at home did not alter health-risk perceptions, but mean perceived RF exposure decreased significantly (by 0.7 points). Most of the participants claimed to have received no or insufficient information regarding exposure and health-risks of EMF-NIR from public bodies and considered it very important that they should.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Gallastegi
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain.
| | - Ana Jiménez-Zabala
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, 4 Av. de Navarra, San Sebastian 20013, Spain
| | - Amaia Molinuevo
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Aurrekoetxea
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, 4 Av. de Navarra, San Sebastian 20013, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Preventative Medicine and Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Leioa 48940, Spain
| | - Loreto Santa-Marina
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, 4 Av. de Navarra, San Sebastian 20013, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Vozmediano
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development. Faculty of Psychology, Tolosa Hiribidea 70, San Sebastian 20018, Spain
| | - Jesús Ibarluzea
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian 20014, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, 4 Av. de Navarra, San Sebastian 20013, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Eeftens M, Struchen B, Birks LE, Cardis E, Estarlich M, Fernandez MF, Gajšek P, Gallastegi M, Huss A, Kheifets L, Meder IK, Olsen J, Torrent M, Trček T, Valič B, Vermeulen R, Vrijheid M, van Wel L, Guxens M, Röösli M. Personal exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields in Europe: Is there a generation gap? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:216-226. [PMID: 30216774 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile communication technologies is changing rapidly. To characterize sources and associated variability, we studied the differences and correlations in exposure patterns between children aged 8 to 18 and their parents, over the course of the day, by age, by activity pattern, and for different metrics of exposure. METHODS Using portable RF-EMF measurement devices, we collected simultaneous real-time personal measurements of RF-EMF over 24 to 72 h in 294 parent-child pairs from Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Spain. The devices measured the power flux density (mW/m2) in 16 different frequency bands every 4 s, and activity diary Apps kept by the participants were used to collect time-activity information in real-time. We analyzed their exposures by activity, for the different source constituents of exposure: downlink (radiation emitted from mobile phone base stations), uplink (transmission from phone to base station), broadcast, DECT (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications) and Wi-Fi. We looked at the correlations between parents and children overall, during day (06:00-22.00) and night (22:00-06:00) and while spending time at home. RESULTS The mean of time-weighted average personal exposures was 0.16 mW/m2 for children and 0.15 mW/m2 for parents, on average predominantly originating from downlink sources (47% for children and 45% for parents), followed by uplink (18% and 27% respectively) and broadcast (25% and 19%). On average, exposure for downlink and uplink were highest during the day, and for Wi-Fi and DECT during the evening. Exposure during activities where most of the time is spent (home, school and work) was relatively low whereas exposure during travel and outside activities was higher. Exposure to uplink increased with age among young people, while DECT decreased slightly. Exposure to downlink, broadcast, and Wi-Fi showed no obvious trend with age. We found that exposure to total RF-EMF is correlated among children and their parents (Rspearman = 0.45), especially while at home (0.62) and during the night (0.60). Correlations were higher for environmental sources such as downlink (0.57) and broadcast (0.62) than for usage-related exposures such as uplink (0.29). CONCLUSION The generation gap between children and their parents is mostly evident in uplink exposure, due to more and longer uplink and cordless phone calls among parents, and their tendency to spend slightly more time in activities with higher environmental RF-EMF exposure, such as travel. Despite these differences in personal behavior, exposure to RF-EMF is moderately correlated between children and their parents, especially exposures resulting from environmental RF-EMF sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin Struchen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Ellen Birks
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marisa Estarlich
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), & Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Spain
| | - Peter Gajšek
- Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation (INIS), Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Mara Gallastegi
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian, Spain; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Preventative Medicine and Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Leioa, Spain
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Leeka Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Jørn Olsen
- Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Tomaž Trček
- Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation (INIS), Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Blaž Valič
- Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation (INIS), Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Birks LE, Struchen B, Eeftens M, van Wel L, Huss A, Gajšek P, Kheifets L, Gallastegi M, Dalmau-Bueno A, Estarlich M, Fernandez MF, Meder IK, Ferrero A, Jiménez-Zabala A, Torrent M, Vrijkotte TGM, Cardis E, Olsen J, Valič B, Vermeulen R, Vrijheid M, Röösli M, Guxens M. Spatial and temporal variability of personal environmental exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields in children in Europe. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 117:204-214. [PMID: 29754001 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) has rapidly increased and little is known about exposure levels in children. This study describes personal RF-EMF environmental exposure levels from handheld devices and fixed site transmitters in European children, the determinants of this, and the day-to-day and year-to-year repeatability of these exposure levels. METHODS Personal environmental RF-EMF exposure (μW/m2, power flux density) was measured in 529 children (ages 8-18 years) in Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Spain using personal portable exposure meters for a period of up to three days between 2014 and 2016, and repeated in a subsample of 28 children one year later. The meters captured 16 frequency bands every 4 s and incorporated a GPS. Activity diaries and questionnaires were used to collect children's location, use of handheld devices, and presence of indoor RF-EMF sources. Six general frequency bands were defined: total, digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT), television and radio antennas (broadcast), mobile phones (uplink), mobile phone base stations (downlink), and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). We used adjusted mixed effects models with region random effects to estimate associations of handheld device use habits and indoor RF-EMF sources with personal RF-EMF exposure. Day-to-day and year-to-year repeatability of personal RF-EMF exposure were calculated through intraclass correlations (ICC). RESULTS Median total personal RF-EMF exposure was 75.5 μW/m2. Downlink was the largest contributor to total exposure (median: 27.2 μW/m2) followed by broadcast (9.9 μW/m2). Exposure from uplink (4.7 μW/m2) was lower. WiFi and DECT contributed very little to exposure levels. Exposure was higher during day (94.2 μW/m2) than night (23.0 μW/m2), and slightly higher during weekends than weekdays, although varying across regions. Median exposures were highest while children were outside (157.0 μW/m2) or traveling (171.3 μW/m2), and much lower at home (33.0 μW/m2) or in school (35.1 μW/m2). Children living in urban environments had higher exposure than children in rural environments. Older children and users of mobile phones had higher uplink exposure but not total exposure, compared to younger children and those that did not use mobile phones. Day-to-day repeatability was moderate to high for most of the general frequency bands (ICCs between 0.43 and 0.85), as well as for total, broadcast, and downlink for the year-to-year repeatability (ICCs between 0.49 and 0.80) in a small subsample. CONCLUSION The largest contributors to total personal environmental RF-EMF exposure were downlink and broadcast, and these exposures showed high repeatability. Urbanicity was the most important determinant of total exposure and mobile phone use was the most important determinant of uplink exposure. It is important to continue evaluating RF-EMF exposure in children as device use habits, exposure levels, and main contributing sources may change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ellen Birks
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Benjamin Struchen
- Departement of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4051, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marloes Eeftens
- Departement of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4051, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Gajšek
- Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation (INIS), Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Leeka Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Mara Gallastegi
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian, Spain; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Preventative Medicine and Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Leioa, Spain
| | - Albert Dalmau-Bueno
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marisa Estarlich
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; University of Granada, Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Amparo Ferrero
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - Ana Jiménez-Zabala
- BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Dr. Begiristain Pasealekua, San Sebastian, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maties Torrent
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; ib-salut, Area de Salut de Menorca, Menorca, Spain
| | - Tanja G M Vrijkotte
- Department of Public Health - Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Blaž Valič
- Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation (INIS), Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin Röösli
- Departement of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4051, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Toledano MB, Auvinen A, Tettamanti G, Cao Y, Feychting M, Ahlbom A, Fremling K, Heinävaara S, Kojo K, Knowles G, Smith RB, Schüz J, Johansen C, Poulsen AH, Deltour I, Vermeulen R, Kromhout H, Elliott P, Hillert L. An international prospective cohort study of mobile phone users and health (COSMOS): Factors affecting validity of self-reported mobile phone use. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018; 221:1-8. [PMID: 29056311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates validity of self-reported mobile phone use in a subset of 75 993 adults from the COSMOS cohort study. Agreement between self-reported and operator-derived mobile call frequency and duration for a 3-month period was assessed using Cohen's weighted Kappa (κ). Sensitivity and specificity of both self-reported high (≥10 calls/day or ≥4h/week) and low (≤6 calls/week or <30min/week) mobile phone use were calculated, as compared to operator data. For users of one mobile phone, agreement was fair for call frequency (κ=0.35, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.36) and moderate for call duration (κ=0.50, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.50). Self-reported low call frequency and duration demonstrated high sensitivity (87% and 76% respectively), but for high call frequency and duration sensitivity was lower (38% and 56% respectively), reflecting a tendency for greater underestimation than overestimation. Validity of self-reported mobile phone use was lower in women, younger age groups and those reporting symptoms during/shortly after using a mobile phone. This study highlights the ongoing value of using self-report data to measure mobile phone use. Furthermore, compared to continuous scale estimates used by previous studies, categorical response options used in COSMOS appear to improve validity considerably, most likely by preventing unrealistically high estimates from being reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille B Toledano
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Anssi Auvinen
- School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014, Tampere, Finland; Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), 00811 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giorgio Tettamanti
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yang Cao
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Maria Feychting
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Ahlbom
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Fremling
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sirpa Heinävaara
- Finnish Cancer Registry, Mass Screening Registry, Unioninkatu 22, FI-00130 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katja Kojo
- Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), 00811 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gemma Knowles
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Rachel B Smith
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, 69372 Lyon, France
| | - Christoffer Johansen
- Oncology clinic, Finsen Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Isabelle Deltour
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, 69372 Lyon, France
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Elliott
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Lena Hillert
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, 104 22 Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Descriptive self-reporting survey of people with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF): similarities and comparisons with previous studies. J Public Health (Oxf) 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-017-0886-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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11
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Abad M, Malekafzali H, Simbar M, Seyed Mosaavi H, Merghati Khoei E. Association between electromagnetic field exposure and abortion in pregnant women living in Tehran. Int J Reprod Biomed 2016. [DOI: 10.29252/ijrm.14.5.347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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12
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Klaps A, Ponocny I, Winker R, Kundi M, Auersperg F, Barth A. Mobile phone base stations and well-being--A meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 544:24-30. [PMID: 26657246 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
It is unclear whether electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations affect well-being in adults. The existing studies on this topic are highly inconsistent. In the current paper we attempt to clarify this question by carrying out a meta-analysis which is based on the results of 17 studies. Double-blind studies found no effects on human well-being. By contrast, field or unblinded studies clearly showed that there were indeed effects. This provides evidence that at least some effects are based on a nocebo effect. Whether there is an influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations thus depends on a person's knowledge about the presence of the presumed cause. Taken together, the results of the meta-analysis show that the effects of mobile phone base stations seem to be rather unlikely. However, nocebo effects occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Klaps
- Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivo Ponocny
- Department of Applied Statistics and Economics, MODUL University Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Winker
- Health and Prevention Center of the Insurance Institution for Vienna Employees, Austria
| | - Michael Kundi
- Department of Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alfred Barth
- Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Linz, Austria.
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13
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Cho YM, Lim HJ, Jang H, Kim K, Choi JW, Shin C, Lee SK, Kwon JH, Kim N. A follow-up study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 32:e2017001. [PMID: 28111420 PMCID: PMC5365277 DOI: 10.5620/eht.e2017001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The duration and frequency of mobile phone calls, and their relationship with various health effects, have been investigated in our previous cross-sectional study. This 2-year period follow-up study aimed to assess the changes in these variables of same subjects. The study population comprised 532 non-patient adult subjects sampled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. The subjects underwent a medical examination at a hospital in 2012/2013 and revisited the same hospital in 2014/2015 to have the same examination for the characteristics of mobile phone use performed. In addition, to evaluate the effects on health, the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey were analyzed. For all these tests, the higher the score, the greater the effect on health. Variances between scores in all the indices in the baseline and follow-up surveys were calculated, and correlations of each index were analyzed. The average duration per call and HIT-6 score of the subjects decreased significantly compared with those recorded two years ago. The results showed a slight but significant correlation between call duration changes and HIT-6 score changes for female subjects, but not for males. HIT-6 scores in the follow-up survey significantly decreased compared to those in the baseline survey, but long-time call users (subjects whose call duration was ≥5 minutes in both the baseline and follow-up surveys) had no statistically significant reduction in HIT-6 scores. This study suggests that increased call duration is a greater risk factor for increases in headache than any other type of adverse health effect, and that this effect can be chronic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Min Cho
- Institute for Life and Environment Technology, Smartive Corporation, Seoul, Korea
- Correspondence: Jae Wook Choi, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea E-mail:
| | - Hee Jin Lim
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hoon Jang
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyunghee Kim
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Wook Choi
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chol Shin
- Institute of Human Genome Study, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
| | - Seung Ku Lee
- Institute of Human Genome Study, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
| | - Jong Hwa Kwon
- EM Environment Research Team, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Nam Kim
- Division of Information and Communication Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Chungju, Korea
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14
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Cho YM, Lim HJ, Jang H, Kim K, Choi JW, Shin C, Lee SK, Kwon JH, Kim N. A cross-sectional study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 31:e2016022. [PMID: 27788568 PMCID: PMC5144583 DOI: 10.5620/eht.e2016022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study analyzed the associations between mobile phone call frequency and duration with non-specific symptoms. METHODS This study was conducted with a population group including 532 non-patient adults established by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The pattern of phone call using a mobile phone was investigated through face-to-face interview. Structured methods applied to quantitatively assess health effects are Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey where a higher score represents a higher greater health effect. RESULTS The average daily phone call frequency showed a significant correlation with the PSS score in female subjects. Increases in the average duration of one phone call were significantly correlated with increases in the severity of headaches in both sexes. The mean (standard deviation) HIT-6 score in the subgroup of subjects whose average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer was 45.98 (8.15), as compared with 42.48 (7.20) in those whose average duration of one phone call was <5 minutes. The severity of headaches was divided into three levels according to the HIT-6 score (little or no impact/moderate impact/substantial or severe impact), and a logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between an increased phone call duration and the headache severity. When the average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer, the odds ratio (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the moderate impact group were 2.22 and 1.18 to 4.19, respectively. The OR and 95% CI for the substantial or severe impact group were 4.44 and 2.11 to 8.90, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Mobile phone call duration was not significantly associated with stress, sleep, cognitive function, or depression, but was associated with the severity of headaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Min Cho
- Institute for Life and Environment Technology, Smartive Corporation, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jin Lim
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hoon Jang
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyunghee Kim
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Wook Choi
- Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- Correspondence: Jae Wook Choi, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea Tel: +82-2-2286-1470 Fax: +82-2-927-7220 E-mail:
| | - Chol Shin
- Institute of Human Genome Study, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
| | - Seung Ku Lee
- Institute of Human Genome Study, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
| | - Jong Hwa Kwon
- EM Environment Research Team, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Nam Kim
- Division of Information and Communication Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Chungju, Korea
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15
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Sauter C, Eggert T, Dorn H, Schmid G, Bolz T, Marasanov A, Hansen ML, Peter A, Danker-Hopfe H. Do signals of a hand-held TETRA transmitter affect cognitive performance, well-being, mood or somatic complaints in healthy young men? Results of a randomized double-blind cross-over provocation study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 140:85-94. [PMID: 25839715 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio) is a digital radio communication standard, which has been implemented in several European countries and is used by public executives, transportation services, and by private companies. Studies on possible impacts on the users' health considering different exposure conditions are missing. OBJECTIVES To investigate possible acute effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) of two different levels of TETRA hand-held transmitter signals on cognitive function and well-being in healthy young males. METHODS In the present double-blind cross-over study possible effects of short-term (2.5h) EMF exposure of handset-like signals of TETRA (385 MHz) were studied in 30 healthy male participants (mean±SD: 25.4±2.6 years). Individuals were tested on nine study days, on which they were exposed to three different exposure conditions (Sham, TETRA 1.5 W/kg and TETRA 6.0 W/kg) in a randomly assigned and balanced order. Participants were tested in the afternoon at a fixed timeframe. RESULTS Attention remained unchanged in two out of three tasks. In the working memory significant changes were observed in two out of four subtasks. Significant results were found in 5 out of 35 tested parameters, four of them led to an improvement in performance. Mood, well-being and subjective somatic complaints were not affected by TETRA exposure. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study do not indicate a negative impact of a short-term EMF-effect of TETRA on cognitive function and well-being in healthy young men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Sauter
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Torsten Eggert
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hans Dorn
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Gernot Schmid
- Seibersdorf Laboratories, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria.
| | - Thomas Bolz
- Institute of Mobile and Satellite communication Technology, Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Str. 2-4, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany; RF-Frontend GmbH, Suedstr. 8, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany.
| | - Alexander Marasanov
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marie-Luise Hansen
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anita Peter
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany
| | - Heidi Danker-Hopfe
- Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
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Szemerszky R, Gubányi M, Árvai D, Dömötör Z, Köteles F. Is There a Connection Between Electrosensitivity and Electrosensibility? A Replication Study. Int J Behav Med 2015; 22:755-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s12529-015-9477-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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De Luca C, Chung Sheun Thai J, Raskovic D, Cesareo E, Caccamo D, Trukhanov A, Korkina L. Metabolic and genetic screening of electromagnetic hypersensitive subjects as a feasible tool for diagnostics and intervention. Mediators Inflamm 2014; 2014:924184. [PMID: 24812443 PMCID: PMC4000647 DOI: 10.1155/2014/924184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing numbers of "electromagnetic hypersensitive" (EHS) people worldwide self-report severely disabling, multiorgan, non-specific symptoms when exposed to low-dose electromagnetic radiations, often associated with symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and/or other environmental "sensitivity-related illnesses" (SRI). This cluster of chronic inflammatory disorders still lacks validated pathogenetic mechanism, diagnostic biomarkers, and management guidelines. We hypothesized that SRI, not being merely psychogenic, may share organic determinants of impaired detoxification of common physic-chemical stressors. Based on our previous MCS studies, we tested a panel of 12 metabolic blood redox-related parameters and of selected drug-metabolizing-enzyme gene polymorphisms, on 153 EHS, 147 MCS, and 132 control Italians, confirming MCS altered (P < 0.05-0.0001) glutathione-(GSH), GSH-peroxidase/S-transferase, and catalase erythrocyte activities. We first described comparable-though milder-metabolic pro-oxidant/proinflammatory alterations in EHS with distinctively increased plasma coenzyme-Q10 oxidation ratio. Severe depletion of erythrocyte membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids with increased ω 6/ ω 3 ratio was confirmed in MCS, but not in EHS. We also identified significantly (P = 0.003) altered distribution-versus-control of the CYP2C19∗1/∗2 SNP variants in EHS, and a 9.7-fold increased risk (OR: 95% C.I. = 1.3-74.5) of developing EHS for the haplotype (null)GSTT1 + (null)GSTM1 variants. Altogether, results on MCS and EHS strengthen our proposal to adopt this blood metabolic/genetic biomarkers' panel as suitable diagnostic tool for SRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara De Luca
- Centre of Innovative Biotechnological Investigations (Cibi-Nanolab), Novoslobodskaya Street 36/1, Moscow 127055, Russia
- Active Longevity Clinic “Institut Krasoty na Arbate”, 8 Maly Nikolopeskovsky lane, Moscow 119002, Russia
| | - Jeffrey Chung Sheun Thai
- Natural Health Farm, 39 Jln Pengacara U1/48, Seksyen U1, Temasya Industrial Park, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Desanka Raskovic
- 2nd Dermatology Division, Dermatology Institute (IDI IRCCS), Via Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cesareo
- 2nd Dermatology Division, Dermatology Institute (IDI IRCCS), Via Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Caccamo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morpho-Functional Imaging, Polyclinic University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Arseny Trukhanov
- Active Longevity Clinic “Institut Krasoty na Arbate”, 8 Maly Nikolopeskovsky lane, Moscow 119002, Russia
| | - Liudmila Korkina
- Centre of Innovative Biotechnological Investigations (Cibi-Nanolab), Novoslobodskaya Street 36/1, Moscow 127055, Russia
- Active Longevity Clinic “Institut Krasoty na Arbate”, 8 Maly Nikolopeskovsky lane, Moscow 119002, Russia
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18
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Sefidbakht Y, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Hosseinkhani S, Khodagholi F, Torkzadeh-Mahani M, Foolad F, Faraji-Dana R. Effects of 940 MHz EMF on bioluminescence and oxidative response of stable luciferase producing HEK cells. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2014; 13:1082-92. [DOI: 10.1039/c3pp50451d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress and response are among EMF mechanisms of action; the absorbed dose and ability of cells to respond might be summarized by the intracellular luciferase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Sefidbakht
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB)
- University of Tehran
- Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB)
- University of Tehran
- Tehran, Iran
- Center of Excellence in Biothermodynamics (CEBiotherm)
- University of Tehran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry
- Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Tarbiat Modares University
- Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neuroscience Research Center
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
- Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani
- Department of Biotechnology
- Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Science
- Graduate University of Advanced Technology
- Kerman, Iran
| | - Forough Foolad
- Neuroscience Research Center
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
- Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Faraji-Dana
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- University of Tehran
- Tehran, Iran
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19
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Bogers RP, Bolte JFB, Houtveen JH, Lebret E, van Strien RT, Schipper CMA, Alkadhimi M, Baliatsas C, van Kamp I. Design of an ecological momentary assessment study of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms. BMJ Open 2013; 3:e002933. [PMID: 23988360 PMCID: PMC3758982 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI) attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) refers to self-reported sensitivity mainly characterised by the attribution of non-specific physical symptoms to low-level EMF exposure emitted from sources such as mobile phones. Scientific studies have not provided evidence for the existence of IEI-EMF, but these studies did not resemble the real-life situation or suffered from poor exposure characterisation and biased recall of health symptoms. To improve existing methods for the study of IEI-EMF, an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study is designed. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study is an EMA study in which respondents carry personal exposure metres (exposimeters) that measure radiofrequency (RF) EMF, with frequent assessment of health symptoms and perceived EMF exposure through electronic diary registration during five consecutive days. Participants will be a selection from an epidemiological study who report to be sensitive to RF EMF. The exposimeters measure electric field strength in 12 frequency bands. Diary questions include the occurrence and severity of 10 non-specific physical symptoms, mood states and perceived exposure to (sources of) EMF. The relationship of actual and perceived EMF exposure and mood with non-specific physical symptoms will be analysed using multilevel regression analysis with time-shift models. DISCUSSION The study has several advantages over previous studies, including assessment of personal EMF exposure and non-specific physical symptoms by an ecological method with a minimised chance of recall bias. The within-person design reduces confounding by time-stable factors (eg, personal characteristics). In the conduct of the study and the analysis and interpretation of its outcomes, some methodological issues including a high participant burden, reactivity, compliance to the study protocol and the potential of chance findings due to multiple statistical testing will be accounted for and limited as much as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rik P Bogers
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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20
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Lambrozo J, Souques M, Bourg F, Guillaume X, Perrin A. Les médecins généralistes français face aux champs électromagnétiques. Presse Med 2013; 42:e133-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2012.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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21
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Baliatsas C, Van Kamp I, Bolte J, Schipper M, Yzermans J, Lebret E. Non-specific physical symptoms and electromagnetic field exposure in the general population: can we get more specific? A systematic review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2012; 41:15-28. [PMID: 22245541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2011] [Revised: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 12/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A systematic review of observational studies was performed to address the strength of evidence for an association between actual and perceived exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS) in the general population. To gain more insight into the magnitude of a possible association, meta-analyses were conducted. METHODS Literature databases Medline, Embase, SciSearch, PsychInfo, Psyndex and Biosis and additional bibliographic sources such as reference sections of key publications were searched for the detection of studies published between January 2000 and April 2011. RESULTS Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. Qualitative assessment of the epidemiological evidence showed either no association between symptoms and higher EMF exposure or contradictory results. To strengthen our conclusions, random effects meta-analyses were performed, which produced the following results for the association with actual EMF; for symptom severity: Headache odds ratio (OR)=1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.88-3.08, concentration problems OR=1.28; 95% CI=0.56-2.94, fatigue-related problems OR=1.15; 95% CI=0.59-2.27, dizziness-related problems OR=1.38; 95% CI=0.92-2.07. For symptom frequency: headache OR=1.01; 95% CI=0.66-1.53, fatigue OR=1.12; 95% CI=0.60-2.07 and sleep problems OR=1.18; 95% CI=0.80-1.74. Associations between perceived exposure and NSPS were more consistently observed but a meta-analysis was not performed due to considerable heterogeneity between the studies. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis finds no evidence for a direct association between frequency and severity of NSPS and higher levels of EMF exposure. An association with perceived exposure seems to exist, but evidence is still limited because of differences in conceptualization and assessment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Baliatsas
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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