Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Intraoperative observation of changes in cochlear nerve action potentials during exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones med./bio.

Published in: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011; 82 (7): 766-771

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether exposure to mobile phone electromagnetic fields affect acoustically evoked cochlear nerve compound action potentials.

Background/further details

Seven patients suffering from Meniere's disease and undergoing retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy were exposed to the mobile phone placed over the craniotomy area for 5 minutes. Five patients undergoing the same surgical procedure served as control group.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 5 min (active call)
  • SAR: 0.82 W/kg maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 5 min (active call)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 62 mm
Setup mobile phone positioned over the craniotomy area; for sham exposure mobile phone in stand-by mode
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.82 W/kg maximum - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

All patients showed a substantial significant decrease in amplitude and a significant increase in latency of cochlear nerve compound action potentials during the 5 min of exposure to the electromagnetic field. These changes lasted for a period of around 5 min after exposure. The analysis of the acoustic evoked brainstem potentials performed on wave V showed no statistically significant differences related to the electromagnetic field exposure. Postoperative audiological follow-up revealed no significant hearing threshold deterioration in any of the patients.

Study character:

Study funded by

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