ID Number		1201
Study Type		Human / Provocation
Model		2 GHz (WCDMA / 3G) mobile phone and base station RF to hypersensitive volunteers and analysis of cognitive and physiologic endpoints
Details		Females with electro-magnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) were initially identified through a questionnaire asking them to assess mobile phone related symptoms including malaise, stiff neck, headache, dizziness, insomnia, skin problems including itching and tingling, muscle pain, and nausea according to a 5 point scale (5 = always present, 0 = never). From the questionnaire respondents, several were identified for more detailed evaluation. Those with a history of myocardial infarction, epilepsy, brain injury, pacemakers or hearing aids, and those who were pregnant or under medical treatment for psychiatric or other disorders were excluded. From the remaining respondents, a small group of women with self reported sensitivity to mobile phone exposure (n = 11) as well as women without such sensitivity (n = 43) were evaluated using a well controlled, double blind, cross-over provocation design. The provocation testing required 3 days, with the first day including a psychological interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI] and the Big Five Personality Test [neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness]), and a preliminary practice session. Over the next two days, the subjects underwent testing with an exposure consisting of 30 minutes using a 2.14 GHz W-CDMA base station signal at and field strength of 10 V/m (incident power density of 0.265 W/m2) from a horn antenna. Exposure conditions were randomized and included: sham exposure (no acoustic noise or EMF), acoustic noise (65 dBA) without EMF, continuous W-CDMA signal exposure, and intermittent W-CDMA signal exposure (RF randomly turned on or off every 5 min). Immediately before and after each 30-minute exposure condition, subjects were evaluated for mood states (POMS) and reaction time (RT) using a precued choice reaction time task (PCRT). In addition, during each 30-minute exposure period several measures of autonomic nervous function were monitored including skin surface temperature, heart rate, and local blood flow in the finger tip. Finally, after each exposure session the subjects were asked whether they thought the EMF was on or off. Although the number of subjects evaluated was small, the authors conclude that neither self-reported EHS nor non EHS subjects responded to W-CDMA signals with measurable changes in cognitive function or physiological parameters. They note that the exposure level used in the study was significantly higher than what most individuals would experience in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station, although they acknowledge the conditions did not reflect the type of exposure that would be experienced from a mobile phone. They state that their observations support prior reports (quote) showing that EHS subjects cannot detect EMF reliably, but that they are more susceptible to the stress imposed by task performance (unquote) and (quote) perceived more fatigue and negative feeling than control subjects, regardless of whether it was real or sham exposure (unquote).
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Tokyo, Japan - ugawa-tky@umin.ac.jp
Funding Agency		MIC, Japan
Country		JAPAN
References		Furubayashi, T et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2009) 30:100-113
Comments		Study design set up as a replication of the TNO study