Epidemiological study (observational study)

Subjective symptoms related to GSM radiation from mobile phone base stations: a cross-sectional study epidem.

By: Gomez-Perretta C, Navarro EA, Segura J, Portoles M

Published in: BMJ Open 2013; 3 (12): e003836

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A re-analysis of the data of the publication by Navarro et al. (2003), in which health symptoms related to microwave exposure from mobile phone base stations were explored, was performed by applying a new statistical approach and including data obtained in a retrospective inquiry about fear of exposure from a base station.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

symptoms of discomfort: fatigue, irritability, headache, nausea, lack of appetite, depression, lack of concentration, memory loss, skin alterations, visual disturbances, vertigo, vascular alterations, hearing problems, walking difficulty
sleep disturbances

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- GSM
- residential

Assessment

questionnaire: distance to base station, exposure time in days/week, hours/day, and time from beginning of exposure, proximity to power lines, use of personal computer and mobile phone
measurement: electric field measurement (5 min) in the bedroom of each participant

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 15–81 years
Observation period: January 2001
Study location: Spain (La Nora)

Study size

Type	Value
Participants	101
Evaluable	88

Other:

exclusion due to alcohol abuse (n=1), pregnancy (n=1) and measurement during rain (n=11)

Statistical analysis method:

logistic regression

Results (acc. to author)

A total of 13.6% participants regularly used computers and 23.9% used mobile phones in 2001.
The symptoms most related to exposure to mobile phone base stations were lack of appetite (OR 1.58, CI 1.23-2.03), lack of concentration (OR 1.54, CI 1.25-1.89), irritability (OR 1.51, CI 1.23-1.85); and trouble sleeping (OR 1.49, CI 1.20-1.84). Concerns about the base stations were strongly related with trouble sleeping (OR 3.12, CI 1.10-8.86).
The authors conclude that this study confirms their preliminary results published by Navarro et al (2003).

Study funded by

Ministerio Espanol de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Ministry of Science and Technology), Spain

Comments on this article

Mortazavi SM (2014): Subjective Symptoms Related to GSM Radiation from Mobile Phone Base Stations: a cross-sectional study
Gomez-Perretta C et al. (2014): Comment to the Letter to the Editor: Subjective Symptoms Related to GSM Radiation from Mobile Phone Base Stations: A Cross-sectional Study in Reply to the Comments by Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi

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