Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms med./bio.

By: Lowden A, Akerstedt T, Ingre M, Wiholm C, Hillert L, Kuster N, Nilsson JP, Arnetz B

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2011; 32 (1): 4-14

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of radiofrequency exposure (GSM) on self-evaluated sleepiness and objective EEG measures during sleep in a non-sensitive and a sensitive group (with symptoms in relation to mobile phone use).

Background/further details

48 subjects (mean age 28 years; 27 females, 21 males) were exposed for 3 h (19:30-22:30; active or sham exposure) prior to sleep. The test sessions were separated by at least one week. The mobile phone sensitive group consisted of 23 subjects with GSM mobile phone-related symptoms (15 females) and the non-sensitive group, without such symptoms, consisted of 25 subjects (12 females).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: sleep

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 884 MHz Modulation type: AM, pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 3 hr	SAR: 1.4 W/kg average over time (10 g) SAR: 1.95 W/kg peak value (10 g) (during non-GSM-DTX mode) SAR: 1.8 W/kg peak value (1 g) (gray matter) SAR: 0.2 W/kg spatial average (1 g) (gray matter) SAR: 0.18 W/kg spatial average (1 g) (thalamus)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	884 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 3 hr

Modulation

Modulation type	AM, pulsed
Pulse width	0.577 ms
Additional info	amplitude modulation frequencies: 2, 8, 217 and 1736 Hz 11 s non-GSM-DTX mode, 5 s GSM-DTX mode

Exposure setup

Exposure source	micropatch antenna
Setup	low-weight, stacked, micropatch antenna fixed on a headset, balanced by a counterweight, antenna placed on the left side of the head and a small ceramic plate which was heated to 39° C +/- 0.2° C was fixed to the left ear lobe (to mimic the sensation from a warm phone); test persons placed in a room with RF absorbers on three sides
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.4 W/kg	average over time	-	10 g	-
SAR	1.95 W/kg	peak value	-	10 g	during non-GSM-DTX mode
SAR	1.8 W/kg	peak value	-	1 g	gray matter
SAR	0.2 W/kg	spatial average	-	1 g	gray matter
SAR	0.18 W/kg	spatial average	-	1 g	thalamus

Reference articles

Hillert L et al. (2008): The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on headache and other symptoms: an experimental provocation study
Kuster N et al. (2006): Methodology of detailed dosimetry and treatment of uncertainty and variations for in vivo studies
Kuster N et al. (2004): Guidance for exposure design of human studies addressing health risk evaluations of mobile phones
Huber R et al. (2002): Electromagnetic fields, such as those from mobile phones, alter regional cerebral blood flow and sleep and waking EEG

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head (left side)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: sleep (e.g. total sleep time, duration of sleep stages, latency of sleep stages, sleep efficiency, polysomnography (EOG, EEG, ECG, EMG)) and self-evaluated sleepiness (also before and during exposure; questionnaire)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that following exposure, time in sleep stages 3 and 4 (so-called "slow-wave sleep", deep sleep phase) decreased by 9.5 minutes (12% out of a total of 78.6 minutes), and time in sleep stage 2 increased by 8.3 minutes (4% out of a total of 196.3 minutes) compared to sham exposure. The latency to sleep stage 3 was also prolonged by 4.8 min after exposure.
Power density spectral analysis of the EEG indicated an enhanced activation in the frequency ranges 0.5-1.5 and 5.75-10.5 Hz (representing parts of delta wave, theta wave and alpha wave frequency bands) during the first 30 min of sleep stage 2. During the full first hour of sleep stage 2 the spectral density increased particularly within the frequency range of 7.5-11.75 Hz. During the second hour of the sleep stage 2 activity was elevated within the frequency range 4.75-8.25 Hz. No pronounced power changes were observed in slow-wave sleep (sleep stages 3+4) or for the third hour of sleep stage 2.
No differences were found between non-sensitive controls and sensitive subjects with prior complaints of mobile phone-related symptoms.
The data confirm previous findings (see "realted articles") that radiofrequency exposure increased the spectral density of the alpha wave range in the sleep EEG, and indicated moderate impairment of slow-wave sleep. Furthermore, reported differences in sensitivity to mobile phone use were not reflected in sleep parameters.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium

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
Pelletier A et al. (2013): Effects of chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on energy balance in developing rats
Schmid MR et al. (2012): Sleep EEG alterations: effects of pulsed magnetic fields versus pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields
Mohler E et al. (2012): Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Sleep Quality: A Prospective Cohort Study
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
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
Hillert L et al. (2008): The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on headache and other symptoms: an experimental provocation study
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
Leitgeb N (2007): [Investigation of sleep quality in electrohypersensitive residents near base stations under domestic conditions]
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
Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance
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
Herr C et al. (2005): Relating Use of Mobile Phones to Reported Sleep Quality
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
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
Huber R et al. (2002): Electromagnetic fields, such as those from mobile phones, alter regional cerebral blood flow and sleep and waking EEG
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
Huber R et al. (2000): Exposure to pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field during waking affects human sleep EEG
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