RF Safe

Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus.

Environment international · 2012 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 4437

In multivariate regression analyses, neither baseline far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure nor near-field exposure (mobile/cordless phone use and operator data), nor changes in exposure over one year, were associated with changes in somatic complaints, hea…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironment international · 2012
Study typecohort
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is public concern regarding potential health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure, as produced by mobile phones or broadcast transmitters. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms and tinnitus in a prospective cohort study. METHODS: In 2008, 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey with follow-up after one year (participation rate 82%). A score for somatic complaints (von Zerssen list) and headache (HIT-6) was assessed. Far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure was predicted using a validated prediction model. Regarding near-field exposure, self-reported mobile and cordless phone use as well as mobile phone operator data were collected. In multivariate regression models, we investigated whether exposure at baseline (cohort analysis) or changes in exposure between baseline and follow-up (change analysis) were related to changes in health scores. RESULTS: For participants in the top decile of environmental far-field RF-EMF exposure at baseline, in comparison to participants exposed below the median value, the change in the von Zerssen- and HIT-6-scores between baseline and follow-up was -0.12 (95%-CI: -1.79 to 1.56) and -0.37 (95%-CI: -1.80 to 1.07) units, respectively. Exposure to near-field sources and a change in exposure between baseline and follow-up were not related to non-specific symptoms. Similarly, no association between RF-EMF exposure and tinnitus was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this first cohort study using objective and well-validated RF-EMF exposure measures, we did not observe an association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms or tinnitus.

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 directionno_effect
PopulationRandomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland (questionnaire cohort)
Sample size1375
ExposureRF · baseline with 1-year follow-up; change in exposure assessed between baseline and follow-up
Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In multivariate regression analyses, neither baseline far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure nor near-field exposure (mobile/cordless phone use and operator data), nor changes in exposure over one year, were associated with changes in somatic complaints, headache scores, or tinnitus. For the top decile of far-field exposure vs below-median exposure, changes in von Zerssen and HIT-6 scores were -0.12 (95% CI: -1.79 to 1.56) and -0.37 (95% CI: -1.80 to 1.07), respectively.

Outcomes measured

  • Non-specific symptoms (somatic complaints; von Zerssen list)
  • Headache (HIT-6)
  • Tinnitus
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "everyday life RF-EMF (far-field environmental exposure from broadcast transmitters; near-field from mobile and cordless phones)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "baseline with 1-year follow-up; change in exposure assessed between baseline and follow-up"
  },
  "population": "Randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland (questionnaire cohort)",
  "sample_size": 1375,
  "outcomes": [
    "Non-specific symptoms (somatic complaints; von Zerssen list)",
    "Headache (HIT-6)",
    "Tinnitus"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In multivariate regression analyses, neither baseline far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure nor near-field exposure (mobile/cordless phone use and operator data), nor changes in exposure over one year, were associated with changes in somatic complaints, headache scores, or tinnitus. For the top decile of far-field exposure vs below-median exposure, changes in von Zerssen and HIT-6 scores were -0.12 (95% CI: -1.79 to 1.56) and -0.37 (95% CI: -1.80 to 1.07), respectively.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radio frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "far-field environmental exposure",
    "near-field exposure",
    "mobile phone",
    "cordless phone",
    "broadcast transmitters",
    "non-specific symptoms",
    "somatic complaints",
    "headache",
    "HIT-6",
    "tinnitus",
    "prospective cohort",
    "Switzerland"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0,
      "reason": null
    }
  ]
}
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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.envint.2011.08.002
PubMed: 21982030

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