RF Safe

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted from W-CDMA-like mobile phones on sleep in humans.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2013 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 4577

In a double-blind real vs sham exposure design, no significant differences were observed between conditions in subjective sleepiness or sleep insufficiency. Polysomnography sleep parameters (including sleep stage percentages) and EEG power spectra also did no…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2013
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

In this study, we investigated subjective and objective effects of mobile phones using a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA)-like system on human sleep. Subjects were 19 volunteers. Real or sham electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures for 3 h were performed before their usual sleep time on 3 consecutive days. They were exposed to real EMF on the second or third experimental day in a double-blind design. Sleepiness and sleep insufficiency were evaluated the next morning. Polysomnograms were recorded for analyses of the sleep variables and power spectra of electroencephalograms (EEG). No significant differences were observed between the two conditions in subjective feelings. Sleep parameters including sleep stage percentages and EEG power spectra did not differ significantly between real and sham exposures. We conclude that continuous wave EMF exposure for 3 h from a W-CDMA-like system has no detectable effects on human sleep.

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 directionno_effect
Population19 volunteers (humans)
Sample size19
ExposureRF · 3 h before usual sleep time on 3 consecutive days
Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blind real vs sham exposure design, no significant differences were observed between conditions in subjective sleepiness or sleep insufficiency. Polysomnography sleep parameters (including sleep stage percentages) and EEG power spectra also did not differ significantly between real and sham exposures.

Outcomes measured

  • Subjective sleepiness (next morning)
  • Subjective sleep insufficiency (next morning)
  • Polysomnography sleep variables (sleep parameters, sleep stage percentages)
  • EEG power spectra during sleep

Limitations

  • Small sample size (19 volunteers)
  • Exposure frequency and SAR not reported in the abstract
  • Exposure described as W-CDMA-like system; generalizability to other phone technologies not stated
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "3 h before usual sleep time on 3 consecutive days"
  },
  "population": "19 volunteers (humans)",
  "sample_size": 19,
  "outcomes": [
    "Subjective sleepiness (next morning)",
    "Subjective sleep insufficiency (next morning)",
    "Polysomnography sleep variables (sleep parameters, sleep stage percentages)",
    "EEG power spectra during sleep"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind real vs sham exposure design, no significant differences were observed between conditions in subjective sleepiness or sleep insufficiency. Polysomnography sleep parameters (including sleep stage percentages) and EEG power spectra also did not differ significantly between real and sham exposures.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (19 volunteers)",
    "Exposure frequency and SAR not reported in the abstract",
    "Exposure described as W-CDMA-like system; generalizability to other phone technologies not stated"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "W-CDMA",
    "sleep",
    "polysomnography",
    "EEG power spectra",
    "double-blind",
    "sham exposure"
  ],
  "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: 10.1002/bem.21809
PubMed: 24037832

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