• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Epidemiological Study (cross-sectional study)

Personal exposure to mobile phone frequencies and well-being in adults: a cross-sectional study based on dosimetry. epidemiol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Germany to investigate the level of exposure to mobile phone frequencies and the well-being in adults based on dosimetry.
Background/further details:
The study was nested in an ongoing stuy on noise exposure and well-being. Exposure was assessed by measurement of three different frequency ranges using a personal dosimeter. It was worn by the participant during daytime and placed next to the bed during nighttime. The field strenghts percentages of the ICNIRP reference level (publication 3602) were calculated and categorized in four quartiles for three times of day (day time, morning, and afternoon). The participants completed a questionnaire on chronic symptoms during the last six months before wearing a dosimeter and answered questions to acute symptoms at noon and in the evening during the 24-h measurements

Endpoints/type of risk estimation

• symptoms of discomfort: headache, neurological symptoms (e.g., tinnitus), cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., tachycardia), concentration problems, fatigue
• sleep disturbances

Exposure

• digital mobile phone, cell phone base station, GSM, UMTS, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi
• type of exposure: personal
• assessment by dosimeter (24-hours measurement: personal dosimeter was worn at the upper arm usually used to hold a phone, at night next to the bed)
• assessment by calculation (based on field strength for 3 frequency ranges (GSM 900; GSM 1800, UMTS and DECT; WLAN) during waking hours)

Population
Study group: men and women, aged from 18 to 65 years
Observation period: January 2005 - August 2006
Study location: Germany (4 Bavarian cities: Munich, Freising, Ebersberg, and Grafing)
Source of data: registration offices

Further parameters acquired by questionnaire (chronic and acute symptoms)

Study size
number total	329

Statistical analysis using logistic regression (adjusted for age, sex)

Results/conclusion (according to author)
Exposure levels were far below the ICNIRP reference level in a range from 0.13 % to 0.56 % of the ICNIRP reference level during waking hours. The mostly reported chronic symptoms were sleeping disorders (58 %) and fatigue (21 %), the mostly reported acute symptom was fatigue in the evening (43 %). No statistically significant association between personal exposure to mobile phone frequencies and chronic or acute symptoms was found.

Limitations (according to author): The sample size was relatively small. The bedtime exposure levels has to be excluded from analyses because the valid measurements of the dosimeter can only be obtained if the dosimeter is moved.

(Study character: epidemiological study, cross-sectional study)

Study funded by

• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz (StMUGV; Bavarian Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection), Germany

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