Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study

2022 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 865

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study Po-Chang Huang, Jui-Chin Chiang, Ya-Yun Cheng, Tain-Junn Cheng, Chien-Yuan Huang, Ya-Ting Chuang, Ti Hsu, How-Ran Guo. Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study. Environ Health. 2022 Mar 8;21(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s12940- 022-00843-1. Abstract Background: The biological association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) has not been established. To assess the physiological changes and symptoms associated with exposure to EMF, we conducted a randomized crossover provocation study. Methods: We recruited 58 individuals with IEI-EMF (IEI-EMF group) and 92 individuals without IEI-EMF (control group). In a controlled environment, all participants received EMF signals mimicking those from mobile phone base stations in a randomized sequence under the blinded condition. During the course, participants reported their symptoms and whether they perceived EMF, and we monitored their physiological parameters, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability. Results: The IEI-EMF and control groups reported similar frequencies of symptoms during both the provocation and sham sessions. No participant could accurately identify the provocation. In both groups, physiological parameters were similar between the two sessions. The control group, but not the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure. Conclusions: No symptoms or changes in physiological parameters were found to be associated with short-term exposure to EMF, and no participant could accurately detect the presence of EMF. Moreover, the participants in the control group, but not those in the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF. Open access paper: ehjournal.biomedcentral.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

PopulationIndividuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) and individuals without IEI-EMF (controls)

Sample size150

Exposureshort-term

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

IEI-EMF and control participants reported similar symptom frequencies during both EMF provocation and sham sessions, and no participant accurately identified the provocation. Physiological parameters (BP, HR, HRV) were similar between provocation and sham in both groups; however, the control group (not the IEI-EMF group) showed elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

Self-reported symptoms during provocation vs sham
Perceived EMF exposure / ability to identify provocation vs sham
Blood pressure (BP)
Heart rate (HR)
Heart rate variability (HRV)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone base stations (mimicked signals)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term"
  },
  "population": "Individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) and individuals without IEI-EMF (controls)",
  "sample_size": 150,
  "outcomes": [
    "Self-reported symptoms during provocation vs sham",
    "Perceived EMF exposure / ability to identify provocation vs sham",
    "Blood pressure (BP)",
    "Heart rate (HR)",
    "Heart rate variability (HRV)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "IEI-EMF and control participants reported similar symptom frequencies during both EMF provocation and sham sessions, and no participant accurately identified the provocation. Physiological parameters (BP, HR, HRV) were similar between provocation and sham in both groups; however, the control group (not the IEI-EMF group) showed elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "IEI-EMF",
    "idiopathic environmental intolerance",
    "provocation study",
    "randomized crossover",
    "blinded",
    "mobile phone base stations",
    "symptoms",
    "blood pressure",
    "heart rate",
    "heart rate variability"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Provocation study on short-term EMF exposure and symptoms/physiology, relevant to broader EMF health evidence base."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1186/s12940
PubMed: Not supplied

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