ID Number		1067
Study Type		Human / Provocation
Model		900 MHz (GSM) exposure to human volunteers and analysis of cognitive function and tympanic temperature
Details		Human volunteers (n=20) that were regular mobile phone users were enrolled in a project to examine the effect of GSM exposure on cognitive function and memory using 4 different task designs (acoustic simple-reaction time task (press button at beep), acoustic choice-reaction time task (press button and count specific tones), visual search task (identify shapes and recall them), and a simple subtraction task). Phone use history and health was estimated using a questionnaire and interview. Exposure was either before or during a 90 minute performance test sessions using a 900 MHz mobile phone held in position using a headset apparatus and transmitting in test mode at an estimated average SAR of 0.5 W/kg at maximum power (no actual measurements were performed). No significant effect was reported on the performance of either the visual search task or the subtraction task, but significant increases in performance were found in the simple-reaction and choice reaction times. Further, the group exposed before the test demonstrated a faster response than the group exposed during the test. No differences were observed in error rates. Exposure also increased tympanic temperature (+0.15 degrees C) with a peak temperature reached after 25-30 minutes of phone use. However, no correlations were found between reaction times and the increase in tympanic temperature. The authors suggest a possible influence of non-thermal levels of RF exposure on cognitive performance and alertness. In a 2008 publication, however, the authors evaluated another set of volunteers (n = 24) exposed as above for 3 x 15 minutes to a 900 Mhz (GSM) (using a mobile phone handset set to transmit constantly at peak power - 2 watts). SAR was estimated to be ~.05 W/kg +/- 20%. In this study (using the 3 x 15 minute exposures), the authors were unable to repeat their prior results (using a single 90 minute exposure) and observed no statistically significant effect on reaction time or accuracy. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Valentini et al. 2011 (IEEE #5663): OBJECTIVES Over the past 10 years there has been increasing concern about the possible behavioural effects of mobile phone use. This systematic review and meta-analysis focuses on studies published since 1999 on the human cognitive and performance effects of mobile phone-related electromagnetic fields (EMF). METHODS PubMed, Biomed, Medline, Biological Sciences, PsychInfo, PsycARTICLES, Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management, Neurosciences Abstracts and Web of Science professional databases were searched and 24 studies selected for meta-analysis. Each study had to have at least one psychomotor measurement result as a main outcome. Data were analysed using standardised mean difference (SMD) as the effect size measure. RESULTS Only three tasks (2-back, 3-back and simple reaction time (SRT)) displayed significant heterogeneity, but after studies with extreme SMD were excluded using sensitivity analysis, the statistical significance disappeared (Ç(2)(7)=1.63, p=0.20; Ç(2)(6)=1.00, p=0.32; Ç(2)(10)=14.04, p=0.17, respectively). Following sensitivity analysis, the effect of sponsorship and publication bias were assessed. Meta-regression indicated a significant effect (b1/40.12, p<0.05) only for the 2-back task with mixed funding (industry and public/charity). Funnel plot inspection revealed a significant publication bias only for two cognitive tasks: SRT (Begg's rank correlation r=0.443; Egger's test b=-0.652) and the subtraction task (Egger's test b=-0.687). CONCLUSIONS Mobile phone-like EMF do not seem to induce cognitive and psychomotor effects. Nonetheless, the existence of sponsorship and publication biases should encourage WHO intervention to develop official research standards and guidelines. In addition, future research should address critical and neglected issues such as investigation of repeated, intensive and chronic exposures, especially in highly sensitive populations such as children. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Valentini et al. 2010 (IEEE #6721): OBJECTIVES: Over the past 10years there has been increasing concern about the possible behavioural effects of mobile phone use. This systematic review and meta-analysis focuses on studies published since 1999 on the human cognitive and performance effects of mobile phone-related electromagnetic fields (EMF). METHODS: PubMed, Biomed, Medline, Biological Sciences, PsychInfo, PsycARTICLES, Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management, Neurosciences Abstracts and Web of Science professional databases were searched and 24 studies selected for meta-analysis. Each study had to have at least one psychomotor measurement result as a main outcome. Data were analysed using standardised mean difference (SMD) as the effect size measure. Results Only three tasks (2-back, 3-back and simple reaction time (SRT)) displayed significant heterogeneity, but after studies with extreme SMD were excluded using sensitivity analysis, the statistical significance disappeared (Ç(2)(7)=1.63, p=0.20; Ç(2)(6)=1.00, p=0.32; Ç(2)(10)=14.04, p=0.17, respectively). Following sensitivity analysis, the effect of sponsorship and publication bias were assessed. Meta-regression indicated a significant effect (b1/40.12, p<0.05) only for the 2-back task with mixed funding (industry and public/charity). Funnel plot inspection revealed a significant publication bias only for two cognitive tasks: SRT (Begg's rank correlation r=0.443; Egger's test b=-0.652) and the subtraction task (Egger's test b=-0.687). CONCLUSIONS: Mobile phone-like EMF do not seem to induce cognitive and psychomotor effects. Nonetheless, the existence of sponsorship and publication biases should encourage WHO intervention to develop official research standards and guidelines. In addition, future research should address critical and neglected issues such as investigation of repeated, intensive and chronic exposures, especially in highly sensitive populations such as children. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Curcio 2018 (IEEE #6999): In the past 20 years of research regarding effects of mobile phone-derived electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human cognition, attention has been one of the first and most extensively investigated functions. Different domains investigated covered selective, sustained, and divided attention. Here, the most relevant studies on this topic have been reviewed and discussed. A total of 43 studies are reported and summarized: of these, 31 indicated a total absence of statistically significant difference between real and sham signal, 9 showed a partial improvement of attentional performance (mainly increase in speed of performance and/or improvement of accuracy) as a function of real exposure, while the remaining 3 showed inconsistent results (i.e., increased speed in some tasks and slowing in others) or even a worsening in performance (reduced speed and/or deteriorated accuracy). These results are independent of the specific attentional domain investigated. This scenario allows to conclude that there is a substantial lack of evidence about a negative influence of non-ionizing radiations on attention functioning. Nonetheless, published literature is very heterogeneous under the point of view of methodology (type of signal, exposure time, blinding), dosimetry (accurate evaluation of specific absorption rate-SAR or emitted power), and statistical analyses, making arduous a conclusive generalization to everyday life. Some remarks and suggestions regarding future research are proposed.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		"La Sapienza," University of Rome, Italy
Funding Agency		EU
Country		ITALY
References		Curcio, G et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2008) 29:237-241 Curcio , G et al. Neuroreport, (2004) 15:161-164 Valentini, E et al. Postgrad Med J., (2011) 87:643-651 Valentini, E et al. Occup Environ Med. (Republished in Republished review: systematic review and meta-analysis of psychomotor effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields. [Postgrad Med J. 87:643-651, 2011]) (See IEEE #5663). , (2010) 67:708-716 Curcio, G Front Public Health., (2018) 6:42-
Comments		Studies addressed / verify previous reports of Preece et al and Koivisto et al. Phone on (exposure) and off (sham) would deliver different heating due to battery etc that the volunteers may have felt - thus biasing the results.