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EMF Study
(Database last updated on Mar 27, 2024)

ID Number 893
Study Type Human / Provocation
Model 900 MHz (GSM) exposure to human volunteers and analysis of auditory response, subjective symptoms and graviception.
Details

Human subjects (n=30-40) exposed to 900 MHz (GSM) RF using a modified mobile phone handset and analyzed for headache, nausea, and disorientation that the authors hypothesize may result from stimulation of the inner ear. Half of the subjects were self-identified hypersensitive. Data gathered by means of a questionnaire. Auditory evoked potentials (otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and vestibulo-oculagraphy (VOG) in each ear) performed to look for effects and differences between groups. A similar study was performed involving > 20 subjects, half self-reported hypersensitive / half non-hypersensitive, exposed to mobile phone RF by use for 30 minutes. The authors had hypothesized that RF exposure might stimulate the labyrinthine hair cells, perhaps by thermal convection in the endolymph. During unilateral stimulation of the labyrinth in the inner ear by RF exposure, the subjects were administered a series of sensitive tests for hearing and balance. No consistent effects were observed due to RF exposure on tests of labyrinth function or other auditory tests, although there was some individual variation in otoacoustic emissions in response to provocation. In a related study, subjects (n = 9 hypersensitive, 21 non-hypersensitive) were exposed to 900 MHz (GSM or CW) for 6 x 30 minutes (random sham, exposure and to both sides of the head) using a phone with a rated max SAR of 1.31 W/kg and evaluated for oto-acoustic emissions. No effects of RF exposure were reported. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Bamiou et al. 2014 (IEEE #5791): Low-level radiofrequency (RF) signals may produce disorientation and nausea. In experiment I, we assessed mobile phone effects on graviception in nine symptomatic subjects after mobile telephone use and 21 controls. The mobile handset was strapped to each ear for 30 min in pulsed emission, continuous RF emission, or no emission test mode, respectively. The subjective visual vertical and horizontal (SVV/SVH) were tested from min 25 of exposure. There was no exposure effect; however, there was an ear effect, with the SVV/SVH being shifted to the opposite direction of the ear exposed. This could be due to thermal or RF effects or handset weight. In experiment II, we assessed the handset weight effect on 18 normal controls. After baseline SVV/SVH, the switched off handset was strapped to either ear; the SVV/SVH was repeated 25 min later. A significant ear effect was found. We compared the observed ear effect SVV/SVH change in the experiment II group to the continuous exposure ear effect change in the experiment I group, and the difference was not significant. The ear effect was attributed to a minor head tilt due to the handset weight, or proprioceptive stimulation of neck muscle affecting the perception of verticality.

Findings No Effects
Status Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator Nat'l Hosp Neurology & Neurosurgery, UK
Funding Agency MMF, MTHR (NRPB), UK, GSM Association
Country UNITED KINGDOM
References
  • Bamiou, DE et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2008) 29:108-117
  • Bamiou, DE et al. Bioelectromagnetics., (2015) 36:27-34
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