Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Biologische Wirkung gepulster und kontinuierlicher Höchstfrequenz-(Mikrowellen-)Strahlung auf das Innenohr (original article in German). med./biol.

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the biological effects of high frequency irradiation produced by the GSM mobile phone on the inner ear with its sensors of the vestibular and auditory systems.

Endpoint

• biological effects on the inner ear (vestibular and auditory system)

Exposure
General category: mobile communication system, GSM

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 889.6 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for about 1, 2, or 3 min per ear depending on the examination	power: 255 mW mean value SAR: 1.25 W/kg average over mass (1 g) SAR: 0.77 W/kg average over mass (10 g)
field 2: 889.6 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for about 1, 2, or 3 min per ear depending on the examination	power: 2.2 W peak value power: 255 mW mean value SAR: 1.25 W/kg average over mass (1 g) SAR: 0.77 W/kg average over mass (10 g)
field 3: 889.6 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 14, 16, 18, 22, or 23 min depending on the material	power: 255 mW mean value SAR: 1.25 W/kg average over mass (1 g) SAR: 0.77 W/kg average over mass (10 g)
field 4: 889.6 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 15, 16, 18, or 31 min depending on the material	power: 2.2 W peak value power: 255 mW mean value SAR: 1.25 W/kg average over mass (1 g) SAR: 0.77 W/kg average over mass (10 g)

Exposed system:
human
partial body exposure: head (ear)
various model materials and human temporal bone

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• thermoregulation: thermographic investigations on various model materials and on the human temporal bone
• others: effects on the inner ear: occurence of nystagms (video recordings), distortion product otoacoustic emissions, brainstem electric response audiometry tests (early acoustic evoked brainstem potentials; absolute latency (waves I, III, V); interpeak latency)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The thermographic investigations made on various model materials and on the human temporal bone indicate that the mobile phone does not induce any increases of temperature which would lead to a relevant stimulus for the auditory and vestibular system.
Video-nystagmographic recordings under electromagnetic field exposure did not result in vestibular reactions generated by electromagnetic field exposure, neither for the pulsed nor for the continuous high frequency field.
Compared with the recording without electromagnetic field, the brainstem electric response audiometry tests under electromagnetic field exposure of 24 ears (12 subjects) did not reveal any changes of the parameters investigated, i.e. absolute latency of the peaks I, III, V and the interpeak latency between the peaks I and V.
The distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) recorded on 20 ears (10 subjects) do not indicate, comparing the three measuring situations, i.e. "before electromagnetic field exposure", "pulsed electromagnetic field exposure" and "continuous electromagnetic field exposure", any possible impacts of the high-frequency electromagnetic field on the spectrum or levels of otoacoustic emissions for none of the subjects.
The data show that the electromagnetic fields generated in using the mobile phone do not have an effect on the inner ear and auditory system to the colliculus inferior in the brainstem and on the vestibular receptors in the inner ear and the vestibular system.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) (The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), Berlin, Germany

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