Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of GSM signals during exposure to event related potentials (ERPs) med./bio.

By: Bak M, Dudarewicz A, Zmyslony M, Sliwinska-Kowalska M

Published in: Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2010; 23 (2): 191-199

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of electromagnetic fields from the GSM mobile phone system on human brain function.

Background/further details

15 subjects (7 men, 8 women) participated and each subject was investigated during exposure and sham exposure condition.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: event related potentials

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 935 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 20 min.	power density: 0.01 W/m² minimum power density: 100 W/m² maximum power density: 0.052 W/m² mean SAR: 0.81 W/kg (manufacturer's specification)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	935 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 20 min.

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Chamber	darkened soundproof chamber
Setup	mobile phone fixed with a plastic holder in a position typical for receiving phone calls and was connected to an external microprocessor; the call was simulated by directly wiring the phone to a tape-recorder which played a pre-recorded voice message
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.01 W/m²	minimum	measured	-	-
power density	100 W/m²	maximum	measured	-	-
power density	0.052 W/m²	mean	measured	-	-
SAR	0.81 W/kg	-	-	-	manufacturer's specification

Exposed system:

human

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: event related potentials: auditory evoked potentials (P300 event-related potential (latency, amplitude) and latency of N100, N200, P200)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data did not reveal statistically significant changes in the latencies of N100, N200, P200 waves (that precede the P300 wave) nor in the latency of the P300 wave itself during and after the exposure to 935 MHz electromagnetic fields in relation to respective pre-exposure values. Also in the sham exposure measurement series, mean values of those waves did not differ from the original values.
On the other hand, the statistical analysis showed a statistically significant effect on P300 amplitude. Under real exposure conditions P300 amplitude was lower during the exposure (in comparison with sham exposure). Afterwards, the amplitude returned to the pre-exposure value.
The authors conclude that exposure to GSM electromagnetic fields exerts some effects on central nervous system, including its auditory evoked potentials

Study character:

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

Study funded by

European Union (EU)/European Commission

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