Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

No increased sensitivity in brain activity of adolescents exposed to mobile phone-like emissions med./bio.

Published in: Clin Neurophysiol 2013; 124 (7): 1303-1308

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the brain physiology of adolescents.

Background/further details

Different studies have shown an influence of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the wake and sleep EEG in adults. In 2006, the WHO highlighted that further radiofrequency electromagnetic field provocation studies on children of different ages are required to estimate the risks, especially of mobile phone usage. Therefore, in the present study, adolescents were examined.
During exposure (low SAR (0.35 W/kg), high SAR (1.4 W/kg) or sham exposure at weekly intervals), 22 adolescents performed cognitive tasks. EEG was recorded during baseline (before exposure), immediately after, and 30 and 60 min after exposure.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min
  • SAR: 1.4 W/kg peak value
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min
  • SAR: 0.35 W/kg peak value

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min
Modulation
Modulation type cf. additional info, pulsed
Additional info

GSM handset-like modulation

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup participants seated between two planar antennas (left active only); attached electrode leads (for EEG recording) oriented horizontally to the emitted field
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.4 W/kg peak value - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min
Modulation
Modulation type cf. additional info, pulsed
Additional info

GSM handset-like modulation

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.35 W/kg peak value - - -

Reference articles

  • Schmid MR et al. (2012): Sleep EEG alterations: effects of different pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields
  • Murbach M et al. (2012): Exposure system to study hypotheses of ELF and RF electromagnetic field interactions of mobile phones with the central nervous system
  • Boutry CM et al. (2008): Dosimetric evaluation and comparison of different RF exposure apparatuses used in human volunteer studies
  • Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio frequency radiation affects cognitive performance and the waking electroencephalogram
  • Huber R et al. (2005): Exposure to pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields affects regional cerebral blood flow
  • Huber R et al. (2002): Electromagnetic fields, such as those from mobile phones, alter regional cerebral blood flow and sleep and waking EEG

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 clear significant exposure-related effects on the waking EEG or cognitive functions were found in adolescents.
The data did not provide evidence for a higher sensitivity of adolescents to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields than adults.

Study character:

Study funded by

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