Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of GSM signals on auditory evoked responses med./bio.

By: Maby E, Le Bouquin Jeannes R, Faucon G, Liegeois-Chauvel C, de Seze R

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2005; 26 (5): 341-350

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the influence of radiofrequency fields emitted by GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phones on the human cerebral activity. The auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) of healthy humans and epileptic patients were analyzed.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: cerebral activity (auditory evoked potentials)

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed	SAR: 1.4 W/kg average over mass (10 g) (maximum emission phase) power: 0.25 W mean (maximum emission phase) power: 0.25 mW mean (minimum emission phase)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone bi-band, with helicoid antenna on the right side
Chamber	Subjects were seated in a soundproof Faraday screened room, wearing a 32-electrode helmet. The phone was placed on the electrode helmet close to the right ear using a plastic structure without metal parts.
Setup	Two 24-ms sine wave sound stimuli of 500 Hz and 1 kHz in random order (250 times each) were heard through the phone once every second. The experimental sessions consisted of four phases: no RF emission, minimal RF emission (-30 dB), maximal RF emission, and again minimal RF emission. Control of the RF emission power was achieved using a communication simulator.
Additional info	Every subject participated in experimental and control sessions at an interval of several days. The type of session was not known to the subject. In this study, only AEPs recorded in phase 1 and phase 3 were considered.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.4 W/kg	average over mass	unspecified	10 g	maximum emission phase
power	0.25 W	mean	-	-	maximum emission phase
power	0.25 mW	mean	-	-	minimum emission phase

Exposed system:

human
partial body: right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: auditory evoked potentials (EEG; differences in time and frequency domains between AEPs recorded with or without RF)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Differences in the time and frequency domains of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) with and without exposure to radiofrequency were observed for healthy persons and epileptic patients.
However, it was difficult to evaluate the modifications brought on by the radiofrequency and to deduce the effect of radiofrequency to human health. The alterations did not allow the authors to put forward some electrophysiological hypothesis.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Ministère délégué à l'Enseignement supérieur et à la Recherche (Ministry of National Education and Research), France

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