Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep med./bio.

By: Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H, Bahr A, Anderer P, Sauter C

Published in: J Sleep Res 2011; 20 (1) Pt 1: 73-81

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS cell phones on the macrostructure of sleep in a laboratory environment.

Background/further details

An adaptation night, which served as screening night for sleep disorders and as an adjustment night to the laboratory environment, was followed by 9 study nights (separated by a two week interval) in which subjects were exposed to three exposure conditions (each condition for three nights: sham exposure, GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS; randomized order). 30 healthy male subjects within the age range 18-30 years participated.

Endpoint

sleep: different sleep parameters (macrostructure of sleep)

Exposure

- W-CDMA
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM
- UMTS

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 3 nights of 8 h each GSM	SAR: 2 W/kg maximum (10 g)
Exposure 2: 1,966 MHz Exposure duration: 3 nights of 8 h each WCDMA/UMTS	SAR: 2 W/kg maximum (10 g)

General information

for further information on the setup see also: Manteuffel,D, Bahr, A , Waldow, P, and 'Wolff I, "Numerical analysis of absorption mechanisms for mobile phones with integrated multiband antennas", Proceedings of the AP-S-International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Boston MA, USA, 2001:3, 82-85

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	3 nights of 8 h each
Additional info	GSM

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	553 µs
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cushioned light-weight head-worn antenna connected to a microwave coaxial cable
Chamber	shielded room
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	2 W/kg	maximum	measured and calculated	10 g	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,966 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	3 nights of 8 h each
Additional info	WCDMA/UMTS
Additional info	1 min sequence consisting of 45 s of toggling between 50 % and 100 % of the maximum output power every 0.67 ms and 15 s simulation of power fading with a dynamic range of 30 dB

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	2 W/kg	maximum	measured and calculated	10 g	-

Reference articles

Bahr A et al. (2007): Exposure setups for laboratory animals and volunteer studies using body-mounted antennas
Bahr A et al. (2006): Dosimetric assessment of an exposure system for simulating GSM and WCDMA mobile phone usage
Ndoumbe Mbonjo Mbonjo H et al. (2004): Generic UMTS test signal for RF bioelectromagnetic studies

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

sleep: macrostructure of sleep: e.g. sleep period time, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, stage 1 latency, REM sleep latency, sleep efficiency, slow wave sleep (polysomnography (EEG, EOG, EMG))

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

13 of 177 variables characterizing the onset and maintenance of sleep in the GSM 900 and three in the WCDMA exposure condition differed from the sham exposure. The few significant results are not indicative of a negative impact on sleep architecture. From the data there is no evidence for a sleep-disturbing effect of GSM 900 and WCDMA exposure.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study, cross-over study

Study funded by

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS; Federal Office for Radiation Protection), Salzgitter, Germany
Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

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
Nakatani-Enomoto S et al. (2013): Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted from W-CDMA-like mobile phones on sleep in humans
Lustenberger C et al. (2013): Stimulation of the brain with radiofrequency electromagnetic field pulses affects sleep-dependent performance improvement
Schmid MR et al. (2012): Sleep EEG alterations: effects of pulsed magnetic fields versus pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields
Loughran SP et al. (2012): Individual differences in the effects of mobile phone exposure on human sleep: Rethinking the problem
Schmid MR et al. (2012): Sleep EEG alterations: effects of different pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields
Lowden A et al. (2011): Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms
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
Leitgeb N et al. (2008): [EMF-protection sleep study near mobile phone base stations]
Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance
Arnetz B et al. (2007): The Effects of 884 MHz GSM Wireless Communication Signals on Self-reported Symptom and Sleep (EEG)- An Experimental Provocation Study
Arnetz BB et al. (2007): The Effects of 884 MHz GSM Wireless Communication Signals on Self-reported Symptom and Sleep (EEG)- An Experimental Provocation Study
Hung CS et al. (2007): Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset
Fritzer G et al. (2007): Effects of short- and long-term pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on night sleep and cognitive functions in healthy subjects
Hutter HP et al. (2006): Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects living near mobile phone base stations
Herr C et al. (2005): Relating Use of Mobile Phones to Reported Sleep Quality
Danker-Hopfe H et al. (2005): Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields at Mobile Phone Frequencies on Sleep: Current State of Knowledge from Laboratory Studies
Hinrichs H et al. (2005): Human Sleep Under the Influence of a GSM 1800 Electromagnetic Far Field
Loughran SP et al. (2005): The effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on human sleep
Leitgeb N et al. (2004): [Investigation of sleep disorders in the vicinity of high frequency transmitters]
Huber R et al. (2003): Radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure in humans: Estimation of SAR distribution in the brain, effects on sleep and heart rate
Lebedeva NN et al. (2001): Investigation of brain potentials in sleeping humans exposed to the electromagnetic field of mobile phones
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
Borbely AA et al. (1999): Pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field affects human sleep and sleep electroencephalogram
Wagner P et al. (1998): Human sleep under the influence of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: a polysomnographic study using standardized conditions
Mann K et al. (1996): [REM suppression induced by digital mobile radio telephones]
Mann K et al. (1996): Effects of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields on human sleep

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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