• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

GSM base stations: short-term effects on well-being. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To evaluate whether different intensities of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure from an operating mobile phone GSM-signal base station with only short-term exposure can cause detectable differences in subjective well-being. Secondary it was investigated whether symptoms could be shown to be associated with a "nocebo" effect caused by anxiety, concerns and stress.
Background/further details:
57 participants (35 women) were randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios with three exposure levels (low, medium, high). Hypersensitive individuals were neither actively recruited, nor excluded from the tests.

Endpoint

• hypersensitivity/subjective complaints: psychological symptoms and health concerns

Exposure
General category: digital mobile phone, cell phone base station, GSM

Field characteristics	Parameters
900 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: intermittent, 5 x 50 min, with 5-min breaks	power flux density: 5.2 µW/m² mean value (Low) power flux density: 153.6 µW/m² mean value (Medium) power flux density: 2126.8 µW/m² mean value (High)

Exposed system:
human
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• cognitive/behavioural endpoints: symptom-checklist, physical complaints, State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory, well-being (good mood, alertness, calmness) assessed through different questionnaires (e.g. SCL-90-R, MDBF, STAI, B-L)
• hypersensitivity/subjective complaints: electromagnetic field health concerns, personal risk assessment, electromagnetic hypersensitivity (questionnaires)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Participants that received high or medium exposure were significantly calmer during the sessions than participants in the low exposure condition. No significant differences between the different intensities on the parameters "good mood" or "alertness" were found. Self-rated electromagnetic hypersensitivity was low in prevalence and did not correlate with any of the factors describing psychological stress.
The authors conclude that short-term exposure to GSM base station signals may have an impact on well-being by reducing psychological arousal.

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

Study funded by

• Land Salzburg Federal Government, Austria
• Mr. Daniell Porsche, Chairman of the Paracelsus-School at St. Jakob am Thurn, Salzburg, Austria

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• Abdel-Rassoul G et al. (2007): Neurobehavioral effects among inhabitants around mobile phone base stations.
• Eltiti S et al. (2007): Does short-term exposure to mobile phone base station signals increase symptoms...
• Hutter HP et al. (2006): Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects...
• Regel SJ et al. (2006): UMTS base station-like exposure, well-being, and cognitive performance.
• Zwamborn APM et al. (2003): Effects of Global Communication system radio-frequency fields on Well Being and...