Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Investigation of potential effects of cellular phones on human auditory function by means of distortion product otoacoustic emissions med./bio.

By: Janssen T, Böge P, von Mikusch-Buchberg J, Raczek J

Published in: J Acoust Soc Am 2005; 117 (3) Pt 1: 1241-1247

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study potential effects of electromagnetic fields of GSM cellular phones on outer hair cells (cochlea) by means of distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Background/further details

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured within transmission pauses, i.e. between electromagnetic field signal pulses. Thus, an undistorted measurement of DPOAEs was possible during exposure.

Endpoint

cochlea's outer hair cell function

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: intermittent, 3 min on/off=sham, for 24 min	power: 0.465 W mean SAR: 0.1 W/kg mean SA: 2.42 mWs/kg mean

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	intermittent, 3 min on/off=sham, for 24 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.5763 ms
Additional info	Transmission pause between consecutive pulses of the GSM-like signal was increased from 4.034 ms to 24.204 ms.

Exposure setup

Exposure source	monopole mounted on a mobile phone dummy
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	5 cm
Chamber	Sound-proof, electromagnetically shielded room (6.5 x 2.8 x 3.0 m) with walls, floor, and ceiling covered by RF-absorbing materials. Nothing but the mobile phone dummy and the subject lying quietly on a plastic camp bed were in the room.
Additional info	For each subject, each DPOA measurement was repeated 8 times, applying EMF and sham exposure in alternating order (single-blind). In total, each subject underwent 12 tests each test lasting about 24 min. Testing was broken up into multiple sessions. The measuring procedure was the same for sham as for EMF exposure but the EMF was switched off.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	0.465 W	mean	-	-	-
SAR	0.1 W/kg	mean	-	-	-
SA	2.42 mWs/kg	mean	-	-	-

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head (ear)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

outer hair cell function (distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE))

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant change in the DPOAE level in response to the electromagnetic field exposure was revealed. However, when undesired side effects on DPOAEs were compensated, in some subjects an extremely small electromagnetic field-exposure-correlated change in the DPOAE level (< 1 dB) was found. In view of the very large dynamic range of hearing in humans (120 dB), it is suggested that this observation is physiologically irrelevant.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Deutsche Telekom/T-Systems, Germany

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