Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS cell phones on the macrostructure of sleep in a laboratory environment.
Background/further details:
An adaptation night, which served as screening night for sleep disorders and as an adjustment night to the laboratory environment, was followed by 9 study nights (separated by a two week interval) in which subjects were exposed to three exposure conditions (each condition for three nights: sham exposure, GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS; randomized order). 30 healthy male subjects within the age range 18-30 years participated.

Endpoint

• sleep: different sleep parameters (macrostructure of sleep)

Exposure
General category: mobile communication system, digital mobile phone, GSM, UMTS, W-CDMA

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 900 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: 3 nights of 8 h each GSM	SAR: 2 W/kg max value (10 g)
field 2: 1966 MHz exposure duration: 3 nights of 8 h each WCDMA/UMTS	SAR: 2 W/kg max value (10 g)

Exposed system:
human
partial body exposure: head

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• sleep: macrostructure of sleep: e.g. sleep period time, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, stage 1 latency, REM sleep latency, sleep efficiency, slow wave sleep (polysomnography (EEG, EOG, EMG))

Main outcome of study (according to author)
13 of 177 variables characterizing the onset and maintenance of sleep in the GSM 900 and three in the WCDMA exposure condition differed from the sham exposure. The few significant results are not indicative of a negative impact on sleep architecture. From the data there is no evidence for a sleep-disturbing effect of GSM 900 and WCDMA exposure.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, double-blind study, cross-over study)

Study funded by

• Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS; Federal Office for Radiation Protection), Salzgitter, Germany
• Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

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