Epidemiological Study (survey)

Specific symptoms and radiation from mobile basis stations in Selbitz, Bavaria, Germany: evidence for a dose-effect relationship (original article in German). epidemiol.

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
A survey was conducted in Selbitz, Germany, to evaluate health symptoms in relation to residential proximity to mobile phone base stations.
Background/further details:
The residents of Selbitz were asked to fill in questionnaires on their health symptoms. The exposure groups were categorized according to the distance of the address to the base station and the measured data.

Endpoints/type of risk estimation

• symptoms of discomfort: depression, headache, cerebral symptoms, joint illnesses, infections, skin changes, dizziness, cardiovascular symptoms, disorders of the optical and acoustic sensory systems, nosebleed, hormonal disorders, gain and loss of weight, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
• sleep disturbances

Exposure

• cell phone base station, DECT
• type of exposure: residential
• assessment by questionnaire (use of DECT phone)
• assessment by measurement (no details given)
• assessment by calculation (distance from home address to base station)

Population
Study group: men and women, aged over 18 years
Observation period: January 2009
Study location: Germany (Selbitz/Bavaria)
Source of data: municipality of Selbitz

Further parameters acquired by questionnaire (health symptoms)

Study size
number eligible	1,080
number participating	255
rate of participating	23%

Statistical analysis using t-test

Results/conclusion (according to author)
A significant correlation was found dependent on dose-effects for sleep disturbances, depressions, cerebral symptoms, joint illnesses, infections, skin changes, cardiovascular disorders, and disorders of the optical and acoustic sensory systems and the gastro-intestinal tract with the residential proximity to the base station. The authors explain this relationship with the influence of microwaves on the human nervous system.

(Study character: epidemiological study, survey)

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