Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile phone base stations and adverse health effects: phase 2 of a cross-sectional study with measured radio frequency electromagnetic fields epidem.

By: Berg-Beckhoff G, Blettner M, Kowall B, Breckenkamp J, Schlehofer B, Schmiedel S, Bornkessel C, Reis U, Potthoff P, Schüz J

Published in: Occup Environ Med 2009; 66 (2): 124-130

Download citation in RIS format

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Aim of the second phase of a cross-sectional study conducted in Germany was to investigate the association between adverse health effects and the exposure to measured electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations. The first phase of the study is published in publication 16554.

Further details

Health status was assessed by following questionnaires: 18-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, 6-item Headache Impact Test, 24-item list of psychosomatic complaints (von Zerssen list), 36-item SF-36 Health Survey, 12-item Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress. A person was defined as exposed when the mean total field was above 0.1 V/m (0.029mW/m²), the 90th percentile.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

symptoms of discomfort: headaches, health complaints, mental, and physical health
sleep disturbances
risk perception (not concerned, concerned, attributed own adverse health effects to base stations)

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- TV broadcast (VHF/UHF)
- FM broadcast (UKW)
- DVB-T
- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- GSM
- UMTS
- TETRA/TETRAPOL
- Bluetooth
- DECT
- W-LAN/WiFi
- residential

Assessment

interview
measurement: 75 measurements at 4 different positions on the bed of the participant during daytime
dosimeter
calculation: mean total field value based on the root mean square of 280 measurements for each participant; calculation without uplink frequencies

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	non-exposed: mean total field ≤ 0.1 V/m (0.029mW/m²)
Group 2	exposed: mean total field > 0.1 V/m (0.029mW/m²)

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 15–71 years
Characteristics: selected respondents from 8 urban regions of the first phase
Observation period: March - August 2006
Study location: Germany (Berlin, western part of the Ruhr district, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Munich, Dresden, Hanover, Stuttgart)
Data source: representative sample of a panel study byTNS Infratest/Test Panel Institute

Study size

Type	Value
Total	4,150
Participants	1,808
Evaluable	1,326

Statistical analysis method:

multiple linear regression analysis

(adjustment:

age
sex
residential area
education
mobile phone use, risk perception and stress

)

Results (acc. to author)

Overall, the measurements of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations were far below the guidelines for limiting exposure of the public to time-varying electromagnetic fields. For all five health scores, no differences in their medians were observed for exposed versus non-exposed participants. However, differences across the three groups of risk perception were seen: participants attributing adverse health effects to base stations reported significantly more sleep disturbances and health complaints than non-concerned individuals. The authors concluded that measured radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations were not associated with adverse health effects.

Study funded by

Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

Martens AL et al. (2017): Modeled and Perceived Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields From Mobile-Phone Base Stations and the Development of Symptoms Over Time in a General Population Cohort
Schoeni A et al. (2016): Symptoms in Swiss adolescents in relation to exposure from fixed site transmitters: a prospective cohort study
Baliatsas C et al. (2016): Clinically defined non-specific symptoms in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations: A retrospective before-after study
Baliatsas C et al. (2015): Actual and perceived exposure to electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms: an epidemiological study based on self-reported data and electronic medical records
Baliatsas C et al. (2014): Comparing non-specific physical symptoms in environmentally sensitive patients: prevalence, duration, functional status and illness behavior
Liu H et al. (2014): Occupational electromagnetic field exposures associated with sleep quality: a cross-sectional study
Hagström M et al. (2013): Electromagnetic hypersensitive Finns: Symptoms, perceived sources and treatments, a questionnaire study
Gomez-Perretta C et al. (2013): Subjective symptoms related to GSM radiation from mobile phone base stations: a cross-sectional study
Mohler E et al. (2012): Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Sleep Quality: A Prospective Cohort Study
Kato Y et al. (2012): Reported functional impairments of electrohypersensitive Japanese: A questionnaire survey
Bortkiewicz A et al. (2012): Subjective complaints of people living near mobile phone base stations in Poland
Frei P et al. (2012): Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus
Wallace D et al. (2012): Cognitive and physiological responses in humans exposed to a TETRA base station signal in relation to perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Baliatsas C et al. (2011): Non-specific physical symptoms in relation to actual and perceived proximity to mobile phone base stations and powerlines
Chu MK et al. (2011): Clinical features of headache associated with mobile phone use: a cross-sectional study in university students
Heinrich S et al. (2011): The impact of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields on chronic well-being in young people - A cross-sectional study based on personal dosimetry
Röösli M et al. (2010): Sense and sensibility in the context of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure
Heinrich S et al. (2010): Association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields assessed by dosimetry and acute symptoms in children and adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study
Eger H et al. (2010): [Specific symptoms and radiation from mobile basis stations in Selbitz, Bavaria, Germany: evidence for a dose-effect relationship]
Augner C et al. (2010): Effects of Exposure to GSM Mobile Phone Base Station Signals on Salivary Cortisol, Alpha-Amylase, and Immunoglobulin A
Breckenkamp J et al. (2010): [Results of a cross-sectional study on the association of electromagnetic fields emitted from mobile phone base stations and health complaints]
Mohler E et al. (2010): Effects of everyday radiofrequency electromagnetic-field exposure on sleep quality: a cross-sectional study
Riddervold IS et al. (2010): No effect of TETRA hand portable transmission signals on human cognitive function and symptoms
Wallace D et al. (2010): Do TETRA (Airwave) Base Station Signals Have a Short-Term Impact on Health and Well-Being? A Randomized Double-Blind Provocation Study
Blettner M et al. (2009): Mobile phone base stations and adverse health effects: phase 1 of a population-based, cross-sectional study in Germany
Thomas S et al. (2008): Personal exposure to mobile phone frequencies and well-being in adults: a cross-sectional study based on dosimetry
Abdel-Rassoul G et al. (2007): Neurobehavioral effects among inhabitants around mobile phone base stations
Radon K et al. (2006): Personal dosimetry of exposure to mobile telephone base stations? An epidemiologic feasibility study comparing the Maschek dosimeter prototype and the Antennessa SP-090 system
Regel SJ et al. (2006): UMTS base station-like exposure, well-being, and cognitive performance
Hutter HP et al. (2006): Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects living near mobile phone base stations
Schüz J et al. (2006): The "Mainzer EMF-Wachhund": results from a watchdog project on self-reported health complaints attributed to exposure to electromagnetic fields
Navarro EA et al. (2003): The Microwave Syndrome: A Preliminary Study in Spain
Santini R et al. (2003): Survey study of people living in the vicinity of cellular phone base stations