Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Can mobile phone emissions affect auditory functions of cochlea or brain stem? med./bio.

Published in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005; 132 (3): 451-455

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether mobile phone emissions could affect cochlear or auditory brain stem functions.

Background/further details

In a previous study (see publication 11540), the authors could not prove any impact on the vestibular part of the inner ear .

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 889.6 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed, CW
Exposure duration: intermittent, 3 min on/off, see "add. information"
  • power: 2.2 W peak value
  • power: 0.275 W mean
  • SAR: 1.9 mW/g unspecified (unspecified) (below the skin)
  • SAR: 1.93 mW/g unspecified (unspecified) (18 mm deep)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 889.6 MHz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent, 3 min on/off, see "add. information"
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed, CW
Pulse width 576 µs
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber The volunteer was in a lying position in an easy chair.
Setup Exposure to EMF was provided by a special setup described in detail in the reference article. Two mobile phones, with power supplied by an external generator, were mounted to a special chair and could be activated alternately.
Additional info There were three recording sessions with a duration of about 3 min and a break of 3 min in-between: first without EMF, then two sessions with exposure to pulsed or continuous EMF.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 2.2 W peak value - - -
power 0.275 W mean - - -
SAR 1.9 mW/g unspecified unspecified unspecified below the skin
SAR 1.93 mW/g unspecified unspecified unspecified 18 mm deep

Reference articles

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)

No impact on auditory brain stem reflexes in terms of absolute and interpeak latencies could be revealed.
Together with the data of the previous study (see publication 11540) concerned with the vestibular part of the inner ear, the authors can state that there are no adverse effects of mobile phone emissions on the ear function, at least on a short-term range. Any long-term effects cannot be excluded by the study.

Study character:

Study funded by

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