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Longitudinal associations between risk appraisal of base stations for mobile phones, radio or television and non-specific symptoms

2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2049

In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, higher risk appraisal indicators (perceived exposure, perceived risk, health concerns) regarding base stations were associated with higher non-specific symptom scores. Only health concerns (not perceived exposure …

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018
Study typecohort
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Longitudinal associations between risk appraisal of base stations for mobile phones, radio or television and non-specific symptoms Martens AL, Slottje P, Smid T, Kromhout H, Vermeulen RCH, Timmermans DRM. Longitudinal associations between risk appraisal of base stations for mobile phones, radio or television and non-specific symptoms. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 112:81-89. Sep 2018.doi.org Highlights • We studied longitudinal associations in a general population cohort. • Risk appraisal of base stations was associated with higher symptom scores. • The results indicate the presence of bidirectional longitudinal associations. • Female sex, younger age, higher education, were associated with high risk appraisal. Abstract Introduction: Studies found that higher risk appraisal of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields is associated with reporting more non-specific symptoms such as headache and back pain. There is limited data available on the longitudinal nature of such associations and what aspects of risk appraisal and characteristics of subjects are relevant. Objective: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between risk appraisal measures and non- specific symptoms, and assess the role of subject characteristics (sex, age, education, trait negative affect) in a general population cohort. Methods: This study was nested in the Dutch general population AMIGO cohort that was established in 2011/2012, when participants were 31-65 years old. We studied a sample of participants (n = 1720) who filled in two follow-up questionnaires in 2013 and 2014, including questions about perceived exposure, perceived risk, and health concerns as indicators of risk appraisal of base stations, and non-specific symptoms. Results: Perceived exposure, perceived risk, and health concerns, respectively, were associated with higher symptom scores in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Only health concerns (not perceived exposure and perceived risk) temporally preceded high symptom scores and vice versa. Female sex, younger age, higher education, and higher trait negative affect were associated with higher risk appraisal of mobile phone base stations. Discussion: The findings in this study strengthen the evidence base for cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between higher risk appraisal and non-specific symptoms in the general population. However, the directionality of potential causal relations in non-sensitive general population samples should be examined further in future studies, providing information to the benefit of risk communication strategies. sciencedirect.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 typecohort
Effect directionmixed
PopulationDutch general population AMIGO cohort participants (aged 31–65 at baseline)
Sample size1720
ExposureRF · Two follow-up questionnaires in 2013 and 2014 (cohort established 2011/2012)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, higher risk appraisal indicators (perceived exposure, perceived risk, health concerns) regarding base stations were associated with higher non-specific symptom scores. Only health concerns (not perceived exposure or perceived risk) showed bidirectional temporal associations with high symptom scores (health concerns preceded symptoms and symptoms preceded health concerns).

Outcomes measured

  • Non-specific symptoms (e.g., headache, back pain)
  • Symptom scores

Limitations

  • Frequency/SAR not reported
  • Exposure assessed as risk appraisal indicators (perceived exposure/risk/concerns) rather than objective RF measurements
  • Directionality/causality remains uncertain per authors
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Two follow-up questionnaires in 2013 and 2014 (cohort established 2011/2012)"
  },
  "population": "Dutch general population AMIGO cohort participants (aged 31–65 at baseline)",
  "sample_size": 1720,
  "outcomes": [
    "Non-specific symptoms (e.g., headache, back pain)",
    "Symptom scores"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, higher risk appraisal indicators (perceived exposure, perceived risk, health concerns) regarding base stations were associated with higher non-specific symptom scores. Only health concerns (not perceived exposure or perceived risk) showed bidirectional temporal associations with high symptom scores (health concerns preceded symptoms and symptoms preceded health concerns).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency/SAR not reported",
    "Exposure assessed as risk appraisal indicators (perceived exposure/risk/concerns) rather than objective RF measurements",
    "Directionality/causality remains uncertain per authors"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "risk appraisal",
    "perceived exposure",
    "perceived risk",
    "health concerns",
    "base stations",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "non-specific symptoms",
    "longitudinal",
    "general population",
    "AMIGO cohort"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Addresses RF-EMF-related symptom reporting and risk appraisal in the general population, relevant to broader RF health evidence discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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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.jpsychores.2018.07.008
PubMed: Not supplied

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