Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Hypersensitivity symptoms associated with exposure to cellular telephones: no causal link med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2002; 23 (4): 264-270

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To test if there exist sensitive individuals who perceive subjective symptoms when exposed to radiofrequency fields from cellular phones.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
  • power: 2 W peak value
  • power: 0.25 W average over time
Exposure 3: 1.8 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
  • power: 1 W peak value
  • power: 0.125 W average over time

General information

Double-blind provocation experiments

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Additional info

NMT

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber The test locations were far away from other dwellings, power lines, and base stations. Test sites were two old wooden houses where no electricity for lighting or heating was used during the tests.
Setup The test subject was sitting in a chair when exposed or sham exposed to a cellular phone positioned on the right side of the head at a distance of 1-5 cm from the ear. In addition to the transmitting phone, an identical ''dummy'' phone was positioned on the other side of the subject's head. The phones were hidden inside fabric bags which were strapped on wooden stands. Microphones were removed from the phones, so that no sound was heard when a phone was emitting RF fields. A portable laptop computer was used to operate the phones.
Additional info Three or four test sessions were performed in random order for each subject during one day, with a break between the tests of at least 60 min. One of the tests was a sham exposure (dummy load), which was always performed as the first or the second session. In the actual exposure situation, the phone was activated after a few minutes and each test lasted for a maximum of 30 min.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 1 W - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 577 µs
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Additional info

GSM

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 2 W peak value - - -
power 0.25 W average over time - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.8 GHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated exposure for less than 30 min, see add. information
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 577 µs
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Additional info

GSM

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 1 W peak value - - -
power 0.125 W average over time - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The study did not reveal an association between exposure to mobile phones and elctromagnetic hypersensitivity symptoms.

Study character:

Study funded by

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