Effect of a single 30 min UMTS mobile phone-like exposure on the thermal pain threshold of young healthy volunteers.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2013 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4597

Compared with control and sham, thermal pain threshold was intact after genuine UMTS exposure, but there was evidence of a reduced desensitization effect between repeated stimulations within blocks, observed only on the contralateral side. VAS ratings showed …

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2013

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

One of the most frequently investigated effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) on the behavior of complex biological systems is pain sensitivity. Despite the growing body of evidence of EMF-induced changes in pain sensation, there is no currently accepted experimental protocol for such provocation studies for the healthy human population. In the present study, therefore, we tested the effects of third generation Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) RF EMF exposure on the thermal pain threshold (TPT) measured on the surface of the fingers of 20 young adult volunteers. The protocol was initially validated with a topical capsaicin treatment. The exposure time was 30 min and the genuine (or sham) signal was applied to the head through a patch antenna, where RF EMF specific absorption rate (SAR) values were controlled and kept constant at a level of 1.75 W/kg. Data were obtained using randomized, placebo-controlled trials in a double-blind manner. Subjective pain ratings were tested blockwise on a visual analogue rating scale (VAS). Compared to the control and sham conditions, the results provide evidence for intact TPT but a reduced desensitization effect between repeated stimulations within the individual blocks of trials, observable only on the contralateral side for the genuine UMTS exposure. Subjective pain perception (VAS) data indicated marginally decreased overall pain ratings in the genuine exposure condition only. The present results provide pioneering information about human pain sensation in relation to RF EMF exposure and thus may contribute to cover the existing gap between safety research and applied biomedical science targeting the potential biological effects of environmental RF EMFs.

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Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

Population20 young adult healthy volunteers

Sample size20

ExposureRF · 1.75 W/kg · single 30 min exposure; genuine or sham UMTS signal applied to the head via patch antenna

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

thermal pain threshold (TPT) on fingers
desensitization effect between repeated thermal stimulations
subjective pain ratings (visual analogue scale, VAS)

Limitations

Small sample size (n=20)
Single short exposure (30 min)
Effects reported as contralateral-side specific and VAS changes described as marginal

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 1.75,
    "duration": "single 30 min exposure; genuine or sham UMTS signal applied to the head via patch antenna"
  },
  "population": "20 young adult healthy volunteers",
  "sample_size": 20,
  "outcomes": [
    "thermal pain threshold (TPT) on fingers",
    "desensitization effect between repeated thermal stimulations",
    "subjective pain ratings (visual analogue scale, VAS)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with control and sham, thermal pain threshold was intact after genuine UMTS exposure, but there was evidence of a reduced desensitization effect between repeated stimulations within blocks, observed only on the contralateral side. VAS ratings showed marginally decreased overall pain ratings in the genuine exposure condition only.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=20)",
    "Single short exposure (30 min)",
    "Effects reported as contralateral-side specific and VAS changes described as marginal"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "UMTS",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "mobile phone-like exposure",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "thermal pain threshold",
    "pain sensitivity",
    "visual analogue scale",
    "double-blind",
    "placebo-controlled"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "UMTS mobile phone-like RF exposure applied to the head with controlled SAR in a double-blind provocation study."
    }
  ]
}

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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.21801
PubMed: 23787775

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