Epidemiological study (observational study)

Survey study of people living in the vicinity of cellular phone base stations epidem.

By: Santini R, Santini P, Le Ruz P, Danze JM, Seigne M

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2003; 22 (1): 41-49

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

Health symptoms of people living in the vicinity of cellular phone base stations were investigated.

Further details

Subjects living in a distance of more than 300 m to base stations were defined as unexposed.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

symptoms of discomfort
sleep disturbances
fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, depressive tendency, concentration difficulties, memory loss, skin problems, visual + hearing disturbances, dizziness, movement diff, cardiovasc. problems, libido lowering

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(percentage)

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- residential

Assessment

questionnaire: estimated distance from base station, location in relation to the antennas, length of time living in neighborhood of base stations

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	estimated distance from base station: > 300 m
Group 2	estimated distance from base station: < 10 m
Group 3	estimated distance from base station: 10 - 50 m
Group 4	estimated distance from base station: 50 - 100 m
Group 5	estimated distance from base station: 100 - 200 m
Group 6	estimated distance from base station: 200 - 300 m
Group 7	length of time living close to base station: < 1 year
Group 8	length of time living close to base station: 1 - 2 years
Group 9	length of time living close to base station: 2 - 5 years
Group 10	length of time living close to base station: > 5 year
Group 11	location in relation to antennas: facing
Group 12	location in relation to antennas: beside
Group 13	location in relation to antennas: behind
Group 14	location in relation to antennas: beneath

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Characteristics: subjects wishing to participate in the study which was announced by press, radio and web sites
Observation period: not given
Study location: France

Study size

Type	Value
Total	570
Participants	530

Statistical analysis method:

Chi-square test

Results (acc. to author)

20.7 % of the subjects lived more than 300 m away from base station.
The complaints nausea, loss of appetite, and visual disturbances were experienced only in the immediate vicinity of cellular phone base stations (up to 10 m). Irritability, depressive tendencies and lowering of libido were experienced up to 100 m whereas headaches, sleep disturbances and feeling of discomfort were noticed in the distance up to 200 m to base stations. Only the complaint of fatigue was experienced in vicinity of 200 to 300 m to base stations. The occurence of complaints was for seven of the reported symptoms and for the distance up to 300 m significantly higher for women compared to men. No difference in the frequency of complaints was observed according to length of time living in the vicinity of base stations.

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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