Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile Phone Base Stations Health Effects epidem.

By: Alazawi SA

Published in: Diyala Journal of Medicine 2011; 1 (1): 44-52

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Iraq to examine health complaints among subjects living near mobile phone base stations.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

symptoms of discomfort: headaches, fatigue, depressive tendencies, irritability, feeling of discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, visual disturbances, hearing disturbances, dizziness, cardiovascular problems, lowering of libido, nervousness
sleep disturbances

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- residential

Assessment

questionnaire: distance from base station to residence, location in relation to the base station (facing, beside, behind, beneath in the case of antennas placed on rooftop), duration of living close to base station; living close to electrical transformers (< 10 m), power lines (< 100 m), radio and television transmitters (< 4 km); computer use (> 2 hours per day) and mobile telephone use (> 20 minutes per day)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	distance between residence and base station: > 300 m
Group 2	distance between residence and base station: ≤ 300 m
Group 3	distance between residence and base station: < 10 m
Group 4	distance between residence and base station: 10 - 50 m
Group 5	distance between residence and base station: 50 - 100 m
Group 6	distance between residence and base station: 100 - 200 m
Group 7	distance between residence and base station: 200 - 300 m

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 18–66 years
Characteristics: residents have been living for more than one year near a base station
Observation period: May - June 2010
Study location: Iraq (Baquba)

Study size

Type	Value
Total	375

Statistical analysis method:

Chi-square test

Results (acc. to author)

Most of the health complaints such as headache, irritability, nausea, appetite loss, discomfort, sleep disturbance, depressive tendencies, memory loss, difficulty in concentration, dizziness and lowering of libido were statistically significantly more often reported by residents living in a distance of less than 300 m to a base station compared to those living in a distance of more than 300 m to a base station. Significant differences were observed up to 100 m to a base station for symptoms such as: headaches sleep disturbances, irritability, depressive tendencies, feeling of discomfort, difficulties in concentration, memory loss and lowering of libido.
The authors suggested that mobile phone base stations should not be sited closer than 300 m to residences to minimize exposure of the residents.

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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