Mobile phone induced EMF stress is reversed upon the use of protective devices: results from two experiments testing different boundary conditions

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2022 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 671

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2022

Study typeother

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Mobile phone induced EMF stress is reversed upon the use of protective devices: results from two experiments testing different boundary conditions Schneider R. Mobile phone induced EMF stress is reversed upon the use of protective devices: results from two experiments testing different boundary conditions. Electromagn Biol Med. 2022 Oct 3:1-10. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2129380. Abstract This work examines (a) the impact of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cortisol, arterial blood oxygenation, and tympanic temperature, and (b) the potential effect of protective devices developed to counter EMF-induced stress. In a pilot study, recordings were taken during a 15-min mobile phone call emitting a high burden of EMF (electric, magnetic, high frequency) after a baseline measurement at rest with very low EMF. In a second visit, this was repeated with participants using three protective devices (insoles, pendant, mobile phone chip). In the main study, four experimental arms were employed, two of which replicated the experimental setup of the pilot study, and two of which examined the effect of only one mobile phone chip in an open-hidden-paradigm. In both experiments, exposure to EMF decreased HRV and increased salivary cortisol. In the protective experimental condition, HRV increased above and cortisol decreased below the level of the baseline measures. All differences were large and specific and not modulated by non-specific effects like placebo effects. Excerpts Study 1 (Pilot Study): The sample consisted of N = 6 subjects (three females) who were on average 31 years old (22–46 years). Study 2: Based on the effect size of HRV (RMSSD) found in the pilot study, the sample size of each experimental group was set at n = 15 to achieve a power of 1- β ≥ .95 (Faul et al. 2009). In total, 60 participants (28 females) were enrolled in study 2. Their mean age was 37.6 years (SD = 13.9). Conclusion The use of mobile phones induces physiological stress on a neurocardiac and neuroendocrine level after a short exposure time of 15 minutes. These physiological stress responses can be offset with specially designed protected devices. The technology tested (EssenceX shungite) produces a ‘super-optimization’ of HRV and cortisol inhibition exceeding normoregulation in non-stressful conditions. These results encourage further investigation of long-term effects of this technology in different environments. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionharm

PopulationAdult participants (pilot: mean age 31 years; main study: mean age 37.6 years)

Sample size66

Exposure15-min mobile phone call

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across two experiments, exposure during a 15-min mobile phone call described as emitting a high burden of EMF was associated with decreased HRV and increased salivary cortisol versus baseline at rest with very low EMF. In conditions using protective devices (insoles, pendant, mobile phone chip), HRV increased above baseline and cortisol decreased below baseline; authors state effects were not modulated by non-specific (placebo) effects.

Outcomes measured

heart rate variability (HRV)
salivary cortisol
arterial blood oxygenation
tympanic temperature

Limitations

EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in the abstract
Pilot study sample size was very small (N=6)
Study design details (randomization, blinding, control conditions) not fully described in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "15-min mobile phone call"
  },
  "population": "Adult participants (pilot: mean age 31 years; main study: mean age 37.6 years)",
  "sample_size": 66,
  "outcomes": [
    "heart rate variability (HRV)",
    "salivary cortisol",
    "arterial blood oxygenation",
    "tympanic temperature"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across two experiments, exposure during a 15-min mobile phone call described as emitting a high burden of EMF was associated with decreased HRV and increased salivary cortisol versus baseline at rest with very low EMF. In conditions using protective devices (insoles, pendant, mobile phone chip), HRV increased above baseline and cortisol decreased below baseline; authors state effects were not modulated by non-specific (placebo) effects.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in the abstract",
    "Pilot study sample size was very small (N=6)",
    "Study design details (randomization, blinding, control conditions) not fully described in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF stress",
    "heart rate variability",
    "salivary cortisol",
    "protective devices",
    "open-hidden paradigm"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2129380
PubMed: 36189775

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