Medical/biological study (experimental study)

[Is there an ability to perceive or to be sensitive on?] med./bio.

Was verursacht "elektromagnetische Hypersensibilität"? Individuelle Wahrnehmung oder reaktiv ausgelöste Empfindlichkeit auf elektromagnetische Felder

By: Kaul G

Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, 2009; ISBN 978-3-88261-087-1

Full-text

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study if there are people who are very sensitive to electromagnetic fields, especially to the magnetic field with a frequency of 50 Hz or to GSM irradiation of mobile phones, because of their special biology or who are very susceptible to electromagnetic fields, because they have a high level of psychological or physiological stress.

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 3 times 10 min	magnetic flux density: 10 µT
Exposure 2: 916.2 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 3 times 10 min	power: 2 W maximum SAR: 0.75 µW/g average over mass (brain) electric field strength: 18.4 V/m power density: 0.9 W/m² maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	3 times 10 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	coil with 5 turns placed in an office room where the test person was sitting
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	10 µT	-	-	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	916.2 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	3 times 10 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	577 µs
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	test person sitting in a Faraday cage, mobile phone fixed 30 cm beside the subject's head
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	maximum	measured	-	-
SAR	0.75 µW/g	average over mass	measured	brain	-
electric field strength	18.4 V/m	-	measured	-	-
power density	0.9 W/m²	maximum	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

human
whole body
partial body: 30 cm from the head (in the case of GSM)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: standardized psychometric tests concerning self-evaluation and apperception
hypersensitivity/subjective complaints: field perception (yes/no questionnaire)
electrodermal activity (skin conductance)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

sense organs

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was no relationship between the level of skin conductance response and the real electromagnetic field exposure. Skin conductance response was rather associated with the assumption that the electromagnetic field was active. Although individuals who reported sensitive reactions on electromagnetic fields rated most times that the electromagnetic field exposure would be active rather than inactive, their success rate was not better than by chance.
The authors conclude that there is no evidence of an association between the exposure and a special biology or a special kind of susceptibility. The hypothesis, that there are individuals who are hypersensitive to these field characteristics has to be abandoned. It would be more possible that an electromagnetic hypersensitivity reflect a psychological phenomenon which is subconscious for each subjects.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
provocation study, double-blind study

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[Is there an ability to perceive or to be sensitive on?] med./bio.

Was verursacht "elektromagnetische Hypersensibilität"? Individuelle Wahrnehmung oder reaktiv ausgelöste Empfindlichkeit auf elektromagnetische Felder

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

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