Epidemiological study (observational study)

Are people living next to mobile phone base stations more strained? Relationship of health concerns, self-estimated distance to base station, and psychological parameters epidem.

By: Augner C, Hacker GW

Published in: Indian J Occup Environ Med 2009; 13 (3): 141-145

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A survey was conducted in Austria to investigate the relationship of health concerns, self-estimated distance to a base station, and psychological parameters.

Further details

The participants were investigated in the run-up of the experimental study Augner et al. 2009.
Following questionnaires were used: the symptom checklist SCL-90-R, a questionnaire to assess physical troubles (BL) , a state anxiety questionnaire (STAI), a well-being questionnaire (MDBF), and a questionnaire on EMF health concerns.
Saliva samples to examine for example markers of stress reaction were taken 10, 25, and 45 min after completing the survey.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

electromagnetic hypersensitivity
EMF-health concerns; biological parameters alpha-amylase, cortisol, immunoglobulin A, and substance P

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- residential

Assessment

questionnaire: self-estimated distance to base station, mobile phone use

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	no base station close to home
Group 2	distance of base station to home: ≤ 10 m
Group 3	distance of base station to home: 10 - 100 m
Group 4	distance of base station to home: 100 - 300 m
Group 5	no mobile phone use
Group 6	mobile phone use: not daily
Group 7	mobile phone use: < 25 min/day
Group 8	mobile phone use: ≥ 25 min/day

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 18–67 years
Characteristics: participants
Observation period: not stated
Study location: Austria

Study size

Type	Value
Total	57

Statistical analysis method:

correlation analysis, Mann-Whitney test

Results (acc. to author)

8 participants (14 %) stated no base station close to their homes, 14 participants (24,6 %) rated the distance of a known base station between 100 and 300 m, 11 participants (19,3 %) between 10 and 100 m, 3 participants (5,3 %) 10 m or less, and 21 participants (36,7 %) did not know.
Participants rating the distance between a base station and their residence less than 100 m had statistically significant higher concentrations of alpha-amylase in the saliva, higher rates in the symptom checklist subscales somatization, obsessive compulsive, anxiety, phobic anxiety and global strain index as well as state anxiety. No significant differences were found in EMF health concerns. No association between mobile phone use and investigated parameters was observed.
The authors concluded that self-declared neighbors of base stations were more strained than others. These findings can't be explained by EMF-health concerns.

Study funded by

Land Salzburg Federal Government, Austria
Mr. Daniell Porsche, Chairman of the Paracelsus-School at St. Jakob am Thurn, Salzburg, Austria

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