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Danker-Hopfe H, Eggert T, Dorn H, Sauter C. Effects of RF-EMF on the Human Resting-State EEG-the Inconsistencies in the Consistency. Part 1: Non-Exposure-Related Limitations of Comparability Between Studies. Bioelectromagnetics 2019; 40:291-318. [PMID: 31215052 PMCID: PMC6619284 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The results of studies on possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF‐EMFs) on human waking electroencephalography (EEG) have been quite heterogeneous. In the majority of studies, changes in the alpha‐frequency range in subjects who were exposed to different signals of mobile phone‐related EMF sources were observed, whereas other studies did not report any effects. In this review, possible reasons for these inconsistencies are presented and recommendations for future waking EEG studies are made. The physiological basis of underlying brain activity, and the technical requirements and framework conditions for conducting and analyzing the human resting‐state EEG are discussed. Peer‐reviewed articles on possible effects of EMF on waking EEG were evaluated with regard to non‐exposure‐related confounding factors. Recommendations derived from international guidelines on the analysis and reporting of findings are proposed to achieve comparability in future studies. In total, 22 peer‐reviewed studies on possible RF‐EMF effects on human resting‐state EEG were analyzed. EEG power in the alpha frequency range was reported to be increased in 10, decreased in four, and not affected in eight studies. All reviewed studies differ in several ways in terms of the methodologies applied, which might contribute to different results and conclusions about the impact of EMF on human resting‐state EEG. A discussion of various study protocols and different outcome parameters prevents a scientifically sound statement on the impact of RF‐EMF on human brain activity in resting‐state EEG. Further studies which apply comparable, standardized study protocols are recommended. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:291–318. © 2019 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Danker-Hopfe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Eggert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans Dorn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelia Sauter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Redmayne M, Smith CL, Benke G, Croft RJ, Dalecki A, Dimitriadis C, Kaufman J, Macleod S, Sim MR, Wolfe R, Abramson MJ. Use of mobile and cordless phones and cognition in Australian primary school children: a prospective cohort study. Environ Health 2016; 15:26. [PMID: 26892106 PMCID: PMC4759913 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-016-0116-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of mobile (MP) and cordless phones (CP) is common among young children, but whether the resulting radiofrequency exposure affects development of cognitive skills is not known. Small changes have been found in older children. This study focused on children's exposures to MP and CP and cognitive development. The hypothesis was that children who used these phones would display differences in cognitive function compared to those who did not. METHODS We recruited 619 fourth-grade students (8-11 years) from 37 schools around Melbourne and Wollongong, Australia. Participants completed a short questionnaire, a computerised cognitive test battery, and the Stroop colour-word test. Parents completed exposure questionnaires on their child's behalf. Analysis used multiple linear regression. The principal exposure-metrics were the total number of reported MP and CP calls weekly categorised into no use ('None'); use less than or equal to the median amount ('Some'); and use more than the median ('More'). The median number of calls/week was 2.5 for MP and 2.0 for CP. RESULTS MP and CP use for calls was low; and only 5 of 78 comparisons of phone use with cognitive measures were statistically significant. The reaction time to the response-inhibition task was slower in those who used an MP 'More' compared to the 'Some' use group and non-users. For CP use, the response time to the Stroop interference task was slower in the 'More' group versus the 'Some' group, and accuracy was worse in visual recognition and episodic memory tasks and the identification task. In an additional exploratory analysis, there was some evidence of a gender effect on mean reaction times. The highest users for both phone types were girls. CONCLUSIONS Overall, there was little evidence cognitive function was associated with CP and MP use in this age group. Although there was some evidence that effects of MP and CP use on cognition may differ by gender, this needs further exploration. CP results may be more reliable as parents estimated children's phone use and the CPs were at home; results for CP use were broadly consistent with our earlier study of older children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Redmayne
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Catherine L Smith
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Geza Benke
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Rodney J Croft
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
| | - Anna Dalecki
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
| | - Christina Dimitriadis
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Jordy Kaufman
- Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
| | - Skye Macleod
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
| | - Malcolm R Sim
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Rory Wolfe
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| | - Michael J Abramson
- Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
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