Effect of Short-Term Mobile Phone Base Station Exposure on Cognitive Performance, Body Temperature, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure of Malaysians.

Scientific reports · 2015 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 4757

In both IEI-EMF and non-IEI-EMF groups, there were no statistically significant differences between base station signal exposure (1 V/m; GSM/UMTS) and sham exposure for cognitive performance measures or physiological parameters (P>0.05).

Study snapshot

PublicationScientific reports · 2015

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Individuals who report their sensitivity to electromagnetic fields often undergo cognitive impairments that they believe are due to the exposure of mobile phone technology. The aim of this study is to clarify whether short-term exposure at 1 V/m to the typical Global System for Mobile Communication and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) affects cognitive performance and physiological parameters (body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate). This study applies counterbalanced randomizing single blind tests to determine if sensitive individuals experience more negative health effects when they are exposed to base station signals compared with sham (control) individuals. The sample size is 200 subjects with 50.0% Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) also known as sensitive and 50.0% (non-IEI-EMF). The computer-administered Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB eclipse(TM)) is used to examine cognitive performance. Four tests are chosen to evaluate Cognitive performance in CANTAB: Reaction Time (RTI), Rapid Visual Processing (RVP), Paired Associates Learning (PAL) and Spatial Span (SSP). Paired sample t-test on the other hand, is used to examine the physiological parameters. Generally, in both groups, there is no statistical significant difference between the exposure and sham exposure towards cognitive performance and physiological effects (P's > 0.05).

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

PopulationMalaysian adults; 50% with Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and 50% non-IEI-EMF

Sample size200

ExposureRF · short-term

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Cognitive performance (CANTAB: Reaction Time (RTI), Rapid Visual Processing (RVP), Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Spatial Span (SSP))
Body temperature
Heart rate
Blood pressure

Limitations

Exposure duration described only as short-term (no specific time reported in abstract)
Single-blind design (not double-blind)
Exposure characterized as 1 V/m but specific frequencies and other dosimetry details not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term"
  },
  "population": "Malaysian adults; 50% with Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and 50% non-IEI-EMF",
  "sample_size": 200,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cognitive performance (CANTAB: Reaction Time (RTI), Rapid Visual Processing (RVP), Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Spatial Span (SSP))",
    "Body temperature",
    "Heart rate",
    "Blood pressure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In both IEI-EMF and non-IEI-EMF groups, there were no statistically significant differences between base station signal exposure (1 V/m; GSM/UMTS) and sham exposure for cognitive performance measures or physiological parameters (P>0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration described only as short-term (no specific time reported in abstract)",
    "Single-blind design (not double-blind)",
    "Exposure characterized as 1 V/m but specific frequencies and other dosimetry details not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone base station",
    "GSM",
    "UMTS",
    "RF exposure",
    "IEI-EMF",
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "cognitive performance",
    "CANTAB",
    "body temperature",
    "heart rate",
    "blood pressure",
    "single-blind",
    "sham-controlled"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Human experimental study of RF exposure from mobile phone base station signals (GSM/UMTS) with cognitive/physiological outcomes, relevant to guideline discussions."
    },
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.1,
      "reason": "Includes controlled exposure assessment context, though not explicitly occupational."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1038/srep13206
PubMed: 26286015

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