Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Changes in tympanic temperature during the exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone med./bio.

By: Bortkiewicz A, Gadzicka E, Szymczak W, Zmyslony M

Published in: Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2012; 25 (2): 145-150

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study if exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones influenced the tympanic temperature.

Background/further details

10 healthy young men were examined before, during and after the following three conditions: 1.) 2 x 60 min of sham exposure, 2.) continuous, 60 min exposure and 60 min sham exposure, 3.) intermittent exposure.

Endpoint

thermoregulation: tympanic temperature

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min	SAR: 1.23 W/kg
Exposure 2: 900 MHz Exposure duration: intermittent for 120 min. (4 x 15 min "on", 4 x 15 min "out")	SAR: 1.23 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Exposure duration	continuous for 60 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	mobile phone mounted on a stand; subject had to keep the head close to the phone
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.23 W/kg	-	-	1 g	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Exposure duration	intermittent for 120 min. (4 x 15 min "on", 4 x 15 min "out")

Exposure setup

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

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.23 W/kg	-	-	1 g	-

Exposed system:

human
partial body: ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the cardiovascular system: heart rate, blood pressure
thermoregulation: tympanic temperature (every 10 sec by thermistor probe; contralateral, non-exposed ear)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The mean tympanic temperature in the whole group during continuous exposure was significantly higher (0.02°C) than during sham exposure. During intermittent exposure the temperature was lower than during sham exposure (difference was up to 0.11°C). Within an hour after continuous exposure, tympanic temperature was higher by 0.03°C and after intermittent exposure it was lower by 0.18°C in comparison with sham exposure. Two hours after exposure, the tympanic temperature was lower than after sham exposure (0.06°C and 0.26°C, respectively).
In conclusion, the data indicate that the physiological response to electromagnetic field exposure from the mobile phone was related to type of exposure (continuous or intermittent).

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study, randomized design

Study funded by

National Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), Poland

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Bernardi P et al. (2000): Specific absorption rate and temperature increases in the head of a cellular-phone user
Taurisano MD et al. (2000): Experimental thermographic analysis of thermal effects induced on a human head model exposed to 900 MHz fields of mobile phones
Adair ER et al. (1999): Human exposure at two radio frequencies (450 and 2450 MHz): similarities and differences in physiological response
Adair ER et al. (1998): Thermophysiological responses of human volunteers during controlled whole-body radio frequency exposure at 450 MHz

Changes in tympanic temperature during the exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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