60 sensitive and 60 non-sensitive participants were exposed to three 50 minutes conditions: a signal with a 16 Hz component, a continuous wave condition and a sham exposure. Questionnaires were completed before exposure and after 5, 15, 30 and 50 minutes during the exposure. After a resting period of 30 minutes, the participant was asked whether he thought the radio had emitted a signal and how confident he was about this.
handset attached to the test person's head via a headband so that the antenna was positioned above and slightly behind the left ear within a few millimeters of the head
Exposure to the continuous wavesignal increased ratings of headache in all participants, fatigue in non-sensitive participants and difficulty concentrating in sensitive participants. Paradoxically, exposure reduced sensations of itching in sensitive participants. These effects were not observed in the condition with 16 Hzpulsing (TETRA-like), except for those relating to concentration. Statistical analysis (multiple comparisons) removed most significant effects, but not those relating to itch. Neither sensitive nor non-sensitive participants could discriminate between the exposures during the experiment, nor could they tell which session was most likely to have been sham exposure or which was most likely to have been TETRA. In conclusion, these data suggest that exposure to TETRA signals is not responsible for symptoms reported by some users, although exposure to a continuous wavesignal may affect symptoms.
Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK
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