Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset med./bio.

By: Hung CS, Anderson C, Horne JA, McEvoy P

Published in: Neurosci Lett 2007; 421 (1): 82-86

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This in vivo study was performed to study the effects of GSM exposure in different modes (talk, listen, standby mode, and sham exposure) on human sleep onset.

Background/further details

10 healthy, unmedicated, normal sleeping behaviour, right-handed men (age: 18-28 years) participated in this study.

Endpoint

sleep: sleep onset

Exposure

- microwaves
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	SAR: 0.133 mW/g average over mass (10 g) (DASY4)
Exposure 2: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	SAR: 0.015 mW/g average over mass (10 g) (DASY4)
Exposure 3: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	SAR: 0.001 mW/g average over mass (10 g) (DASY4)

General information

At precisely weekly intervals, participants were exposed to one of the talk, listen, standby, and sham (nil signal) modes, with the exposure orders single-blind, random, and counterbalanced between participants.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM talk mode with 8 and 217 Hz ELF components

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone controlled by a base-station simulator
Chamber	The participants lay on a comfortable bed, in an individual sound-proof and lit bedroom, remained silent, and fixed their eyes on a wall marker.
Setup	A thermally and acoustically insulated silent phone (speaker disabled) was positioned beside the right ear.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.133 mW/g	average over mass	measured	10 g	DASY4

Additional parameter details

The mobile phone transmitted at about 12.5% (23 dBm) of maximum power.

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM listen mode with 2, 8, and 217 Hz ELF components

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.015 mW/g	average over mass	measured	10 g	DASY4

Additional parameter details

The mobile phone transmitted at about 12.5% (23 dBm) of maximum power.

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM standby mode with 1-32 Hz ELF components

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.001 mW/g	average over mass	measured	10 g	DASY4

Exposed system:

human
partial body: right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

sleep: sleep onset (visually scored latency to sleep onset and EEG), subjective sleepiness (questionnaire)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The sleep onset latency after the mobile phone exposure in talk mode was significantly delayed compared to the exposure group in listen mode and the sham exposure.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Danker-Hopfe H et al. (2016): Effects of mobile phone exposure (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on polysomnography based sleep quality: An intra- and inter-individual perspective
Lustenberger C et al. (2015): Inter-individual and intra-individual variation of the effects of pulsed RF EMF exposure on the human sleep EEG
Lowden A et al. (2011): Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms
Danker-Hopfe H et al. (2011): Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep
Danker-Hopfe H et al. (2010): Do mobile phone base stations affect sleep of residents? Results from an experimental double-blind sham-controlled field study
Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance
Petrova EV et al. (2005): Actions of pulsed ultra-broadband electromagnetic irradiation on the EEG and sleep in laboratory animals
Hinrichs H et al. (2005): Human Sleep Under the Influence of a GSM 1800 Electromagnetic Far Field
Herr C et al. (2005): Relating Use of Mobile Phones to Reported Sleep Quality
Lebedeva NN et al. (2001): Investigation of brain potentials in sleeping humans exposed to the electromagnetic field of mobile phones
Huber R et al. (2000): Exposure to pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field during waking affects human sleep EEG
Wagner P et al. (2000): Human sleep EEG under the influence of pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic fields. Results from polysomnographies using submaximal high power flux densities
Wagner P et al. (1998): Human sleep under the influence of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: a polysomnographic study using standardized conditions

Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Additional parameter details

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Additional parameter details

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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