To examine electrophysiological, sensory and cognitive processes in adolescents, young adults and older adults, when exposed to a radiofrequency field.
41 adolescents (13-15 years), 42 adults (19-40 years), and 20 elderly (55-70 years) were tested. Each participant received sham exposure, 2nd generation (2G) GSM, and 3rd generation (3G) W-CDMA exposures, separated by at least four days.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
894.6 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
continuous for 55 min
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
1,900 MHz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 55 min
|
During all experiments 50 dB white noise was produced to have a constant noise level.
| Frequency | 894.6 MHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 55 min |
| Additional info | 2G mobile phone |
| Modulation type | pulsed |
|---|---|
| Repetition frequency | 217 Hz |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | electromagnetic and sound shielded room; subjects were seated in a chair with their eyes approximately 60 cm from the centre of a computer screen |
| Setup | 2G handset was placed in a cradle on one side of the head and the 3G handset on the other side, both in "touch" position; speaker was removed from the phone |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Frequency | 1,900 MHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 55 min |
| Additional info | 3G mobile phone |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | electromagnetic and sound shielded room; subjects were seated in a chair with their eyes approximately 60 cm from the centre of a computer screen |
| Setup | 3G handset was placed in a cradle on one side of the head and the 2G handset on the other side, both in "touch" position; speaker was removed from the phone; metalic handset with shape and size of a typical mobile phone handset; monopole antenna inside the handset fed by an external RF source suppling a W-CDMA signal |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Oddball task: Cognition: Neither the accuracy nor the reaction time differed between the sham exposed, 2G or 3G group. No age dependent effects were found. Electrophysiology: An augmented N100 amplitude was observed in the 2G condition compared to the sham condition (independent of age group). No other differences in the amplitudes and latencies in the EEG were observed between 2G, 3G and sham exposure.
N-back task: Cognition: The accuracy in the adolescents was significant worse in the 3G exposed group than in the sham exposed group, but not in the other age groups. No differences between sham exposure and 2G exposure occurred. Electrophysiology: Delayed ERD/ERS responses of the alpha wave power were found in both 3G and 2G conditions compared to the sham condition (independent of age group).
The authors conclude that this study provides support for an effect of radiofrequency exposure on human cognitive function and on electrophysiological processes.
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