Association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields assessed by dosimetry and acute symptoms in children and adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study.

Environmental health : a global access science source · 2010 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4350

Few statistically significant associations were found between RF EMF exposure and acute symptoms, but these were inconsistent over time and not confirmed when considering the highest exposure group. The authors conclude the significant associations likely occ…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental health : a global access science source · 2010

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The increase in numbers of mobile phone users was accompanied by some concern that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) might adversely affect acute health especially in children and adolescents. The authors investigated this potential association using personal dosimeters. METHODS: A 24-hour exposure profile of 1484 children and 1508 adolescents was generated in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany between 2006 and 2008 (participation 52%). Personal interview data on socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported exposure and potential confounders were collected. Acute symptoms were assessed twice during the study day using a symptom diary. RESULTS: Only few of the large number of investigated associations were found to be statistically significant. At noon, adolescents with a measured exposure in the highest quartile during morning hours reported a statistically significant higher intensity of headache (Odd Ratio: 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 2.19). At bedtime, adolescents with a measured exposure in the highest quartile during afternoon hours reported a statistically significant higher intensity of irritation in the evening (4th quartile 1.79; 1.23, 2.61), while children reported a statistically significant higher intensity of concentration problems (4th quartile 1.55; 1.02, 2.33). CONCLUSIONS: We observed few statistically significant results which are not consistent over the two time points. Furthermore, when the 10% of the participants with the highest exposure are taken into consideration the significant results of the main analysis could not be confirmed. Based on the pattern of these results, we assume that the few observed significant associations are not causal but rather occurred by chance.

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 typecross_sectional

Effect directionno_effect

Populationchildren and adolescents in Germany

Sample size2992

ExposureRF · 24-hour exposure profile

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 60% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

headache
irritation
concentration problems

Limitations

cross-sectional design limits causal inference
only 52% participation rate
self-reported symptoms may be subject to bias
significant findings were inconsistent and not confirmed in subgroup analysis

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24-hour exposure profile"
  },
  "population": "children and adolescents in Germany",
  "sample_size": 2992,
  "outcomes": [
    "headache",
    "irritation",
    "concentration problems"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Few statistically significant associations were found between RF EMF exposure and acute symptoms, but these were inconsistent over time and not confirmed when considering the highest exposure group. The authors conclude the significant associations likely occurred by chance.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "cross-sectional design limits causal inference",
    "only 52% participation rate",
    "self-reported symptoms may be subject to bias",
    "significant findings were inconsistent and not confirmed in subgroup analysis"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.6,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "children",
    "adolescents",
    "acute symptoms",
    "dosimetry",
    "cross-sectional study"
  ],
  "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: 10.1186/1476-069x-9-75
PubMed: 21108839

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