Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Cardiac Autonomic Activity during Sleep under the Influence of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields med./bio.

By: Mann K, Connemann B, Röschke J

Published in: Somnologie (Somnology) 2005; 9 (4): 180-184

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the influence of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by digital mobile telephones on heart rate variability during sleep in healthy young men.

Background/further details

Field intensity was weak so that thermal effects could be excluded.
The relation between low frequency and high frequency components of heart rate variability represents the balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system. The high frequency component reflecting sinus arrhythmia, has been attributed to the modulation of the parasympathetic output. The low frequency component has been referred to both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

Endpoint

effects on the cardiovascular system: heart rate variability

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h	power: 8 W peak value power density: 0.05 mW/cm² mean (at 40 cm)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 8 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	577 µs
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	40 cm
Chamber	Soundproof and electrically shielded sleep laboratory
Setup	The mobile phone was positioned at the head of the bed at a distance of 40 cm to the vertex of the subject with the antenna axis perpendicular to the axis of the subject's body.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	Following an adaptation night, two polysomnographies were carried out for each subject over 8 h from 23:00 h to 7:00 h with or without exposure to the EMF in randomized and single-blind order. Field intensity was weak so that thermal effects could be excluded.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	8 W	peak value	-	-	-
power density	0.05 mW/cm²	mean	-	-	at 40 cm

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head (vertex)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the cardiovascular system: heart rate variability (ECG; QRS complex; power spectrum; RR interval)
polysomnography (EOG; EMG; EEG; ECG)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Under these experimental conditions, no influence of weak radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cardiac autonomic activity could be proven.
For most parameters of heart rate variability, significant differences between sleep stages were revealed. Particularly, on the basis of spectral analysis of the RR intervals, slow wave sleep was characterized by a low LF/HF ratio of the low frequency and high frequency components of heart rate variability, indicating a predominance of the parasympathetic over the sympathetic activity in autonomic cardiac control. During REM sleep, the balance was shifted in favour of the sympathetic tone. For all heart rate parameters, no significant differences were revealed between electromagnetic field exposure and sham exposure.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Deutsche Telekom/T-Systems, Germany

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