Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Exposure to pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field during waking affects human sleep EEG med./bio.

Published in: NeuroReport 2000; 11 (15): 3321-3325

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate whether electromagnetic field emitted by digital cellular phones affects brain physiology.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 87.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Additional info

modulation as in the reference article simulating the main frames of the GSM system (2, 8, 217, 1736 Hz)

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 11 cm
Setup Subjects were sitting on a chair with their heads between to plates to ensure a well-defined position with respect to two matched planar antennas mounted on both sides of the head at a distance of 11 cm from the ear with their centres 4.2 cm vertically above the ear canal.
Additional info The experiment consisted of three sessions one week apart involving right or left hemisphere and sham exposure scheduled according to a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 2.2 W average over time - - antenna input
SAR 1 W/kg maximum measured and calculated 10 g spatial peak
SAR 0.28 W/kg average over mass measured and calculated brain ±70%, exposed hemisphere

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Compared with the sham exposure, spectral power of the EEG in non-rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) was increased. The maximum rise occured in the 9.75-13.25 Hz band during the initial part of sleep. Unilateral radiation induced no hemispheric asymmetry of EEG power. The data show that exposure during waking modifies the EEG during subsequent sleep. Thus the changes of brain function induced by pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields outlast the radiation period.

Study character:

Study funded by

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