Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of modulated at different low frequencies microwave radiation on human EEG med./bio.

By: Hinrikus H, Bachmann M, Lass J, Tuulik V

Published in: Environmentalist 2009; 29 (2): 215-219

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether the effect of low-level microwave irradiation on human brain differs at different modulation frequencies.

Background/further details

The 450 MHz microwave exposure modulated at 40 and 70 Hz (15 subjects) and 217 and 1,000 Hz (19 subjects) frequencies was applied. The data of previous studies at 7, 14 and 21 Hz modulation were included into the analysis (Hinrikus et al. 2008a and Hinrikus et al. 2008b).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: EEG

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 450 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 40 min	power: 1 W power density: 0.16 mW/cm² spatial average
Exposure 2: 450 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 40 min	power: 1 W power density: 0.16 mW/cm² spatial average

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	450 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	40 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Duty cycle	50 %
Additional info	f_mod1 = 40 Hz, f_mod2 = 70 Hz pulse 1 min on - 1 min off - repeated 10 times with f_mod1 and 10 times withf_mod2

Exposure setup

Exposure source	13 cm quarter-wave antenna
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	1 W	-	-	-	-
power density	0.16 mW/cm²	spatial average	estimated	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	450 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	40 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Duty cycle	50 %
Additional info	f_mod1 = 217 Hz, f_mod2 = 1000 Hz pulse 1 min on - 1 min off - repeated 10 times with f_mod1 and 10 times withf_mod2

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	1 W	-	-	-	-
power density	0.16 mW/cm²	spatial average	estimated	-	-

Reference articles

Hinrikus H et al. (2008): Effect of 7, 14 and 21 Hz modulated 450 MHz microwave radiation on human electroencephalographic rhythms
Bachmann M et al. (2005): Effect of 450 MHz Microwave Modulated with 217 Hz on Human EEG in Rest

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head (left side)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: resting EEG

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that microwave exposure increased the EEG energy at EEG frequencies lower or close to the modulation frequency (different modulation frequencies affected different EEG frequency bands). No effect was detected at EEG frequencies higher than the modulation frequency. Statistically significant alterations were caused by exposure in the EEG alpha wave and beta wave frequency bands; no significant effect was found in the theta wave frequency band.
The results suggest that telecommunication devices with complex spectrum of modulation frequencies like mobile phones can affect human EEG frequency bands.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study

Study funded by

Estonian Science Foundation (ETF), Estonia
European Union (EU)/European Commission

Yang L et al. (2017): Long-Term Evolution electromagnetic fields exposure modulates the resting state EEG on alpha and beta bands
Perentos N et al. (2013): The alpha band of the resting electroencephalogram under pulsed and continuous radio frequency exposures
Hinrikus H et al. (2011): Higuchi's fractal dimension for analysis of the effect of external periodic stressor on electrical oscillations in the brain
Croft RJ et al. (2010): Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly
Vecchio F et al. (2010): Mobile phone emission modulates inter-hemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms in elderly compared to young subjects
Suhhova A et al. (2009): Effect of modulated microwave radiation on human EEG asymmetry
Hinrikus H et al. (2008): Effect of low frequency modulated microwave exposure on human EEG: Individual sensitivity
Perentos N et al. (2008): The effect of GSM-like ELF radiation on the alpha band of the human resting EEG
Stefanics G et al. (2008): Effects of twenty-minute 3G mobile phone irradiation on event related potential components and early gamma synchronization in auditory oddball paradigm
Kleinlogel H et al. (2008): Effects of weak mobile phone - electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on well-being and resting EEG
Hinrikus H et al. (2008): Effect of 7, 14 and 21 Hz modulated 450 MHz microwave radiation on human electroencephalographic rhythms
Bardasano JL et al. (2007): EEG bioeffects on cochlear deaf from cellular phones
Perentos N et al. (2007): Comparison of the effects of continuous and pulsed mobile phone like RF exposure on the human EEG
Bachmann M et al. (2007): Individual changes in human EEG caused by 450 MHz microwave modulated at 40 and 70 Hz
Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio frequency radiation affects cognitive performance and the waking electroencephalogram
Vecchio F et al. (2007): Mobile phone emission modulates interhemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms
Hinrichs H et al. (2006): High Frequency GSM-1800 Fields with Various Modulations and Field Strengths: No Short Term Effect on Human Awake EEG
Bachmann M et al. (2006): Integration of differences in EEG Analysis Reveals Changes in Human EEG Caused by Microwave
Bachmann M et al. (2005): Non-linear analysis of the electroencephalogram for detecting effects of low-level electromagnetic fields
Hinrikus H et al. (2005): Non-Thermal Effect of Microwave Radiation on Human Brain
Bachmann M et al. (2005): Effect of 450 MHz Microwave Modulated with 217 Hz on Human EEG in Rest
Hinrikus H et al. (2004): Changes in human EEG caused by low level modulated microwave stimulation

Effect of modulated at different low frequencies microwave radiation on human EEG med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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