Symptoms and the use of wireless communication devices: A prospective cohort study in Swiss adolescents

2017 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1375

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Symptoms and the use of wireless communication devices: A prospective cohort study in Swiss adolescents Schoeni A, Roser K, Röösli M. Symptoms and the use of wireless communication devices: A prospective cohort study in Swiss adolescents.Environ Res. 2017 Jan 20;154:275-283. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.004. Abstract BACKGROUND: We investigated whether radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile phones and other wireless devices or by the wireless device use itself due to non-radiation related factors in that context are associated with an increase in health symptom reports of adolescents in Central Switzerland. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 439 study participants (participation rate: 36.8%) aged 12-17 years, completed questionnaires about their mobile and cordless phone use, their self-reported symptoms and possible confounding factors at baseline (2012/2013) and one year later (2013/2014). Operator recorded mobile phone data was obtained for a subgroup of 234 adolescents. RF-EMF dose measures considering various factors affecting RF-EMF exposure were computed for the brain and the whole body. Data were analysed using a mixed- logistic cross-sectional model and a cohort approach, where we investigated whether cumulative dose over one year was related to a new onset of a symptom between baseline and follow-up. All analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders. RESULTS: Participation rate in the follow-up was 97% (425 participants). In both analyses, cross-sectional and cohort, various symptoms tended to be mostly associated with usage measures that are only marginally related to RF-EMF exposure such as the number of text messages sent per day (e.g. tiredness: OR:1.81; 95%CI:1.20-2.74 for cross-sectional analyses and OR:1.87; 95%CI:1.04-3.38 for cohort analyses). Outcomes were generally less strongly or not associated with mobile phone call duration and RF-EMF dose measures. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger associations between symptoms of ill health and wireless communication device use than for RF-EMF dose measures were observed. Such a result pattern does not support a causal association between RF-EMF exposure and health symptoms of adolescents but rather suggests that other aspects of extensive media use are related to symptoms. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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 typecohort

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAdolescents in Central Switzerland aged 12–17 years

Sample size439

ExposureRF · assessed at baseline (2012/2013) and 1-year follow-up (2013/2014); cumulative dose over one year

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In cross-sectional and cohort analyses, symptoms were more often associated with usage measures only marginally related to RF-EMF exposure (e.g., number of text messages/day; tiredness OR 1.81 cross-sectional and OR 1.87 cohort) than with call duration or computed RF-EMF dose measures for brain/whole body. The authors conclude the pattern does not support a causal association between RF-EMF exposure and adolescents’ health symptoms.

Outcomes measured

Self-reported health symptoms (e.g., tiredness)
New onset of symptoms between baseline and follow-up

Limitations

Participation rate at baseline was 36.8%
Symptoms were self-reported via questionnaires
Operator-recorded mobile phone data were available only for a subgroup (n=234)
Observational design; residual confounding cannot be excluded

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone and other wireless devices (including cordless phone)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "assessed at baseline (2012/2013) and 1-year follow-up (2013/2014); cumulative dose over one year"
  },
  "population": "Adolescents in Central Switzerland aged 12–17 years",
  "sample_size": 439,
  "outcomes": [
    "Self-reported health symptoms (e.g., tiredness)",
    "New onset of symptoms between baseline and follow-up"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In cross-sectional and cohort analyses, symptoms were more often associated with usage measures only marginally related to RF-EMF exposure (e.g., number of text messages/day; tiredness OR 1.81 cross-sectional and OR 1.87 cohort) than with call duration or computed RF-EMF dose measures for brain/whole body. The authors conclude the pattern does not support a causal association between RF-EMF exposure and adolescents’ health symptoms.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Participation rate at baseline was 36.8%",
    "Symptoms were self-reported via questionnaires",
    "Operator-recorded mobile phone data were available only for a subgroup (n=234)",
    "Observational design; residual confounding cannot be excluded"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "mobile phone",
    "cordless phone",
    "wireless devices",
    "adolescents",
    "symptoms",
    "tiredness",
    "text messages",
    "prospective cohort",
    "Switzerland"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf-emf",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Examines RF-EMF exposure and usage from mobile phones/wireless devices in adolescents and symptom outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.004
PubMed: Not supplied

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