Clinically defined non-specific symptoms in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations: A retrospective before-after study.

The Science of the total environment · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4855

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2016

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The number of mobile phone base station(s) (MPBS) has been increasing to meet the rapid technological changes and growing needs for mobile communication. The primary objective of the present study was to test possible changes in prevalence and number of NSS in relation to MPBS exposure before and after increase of installed MPBS antennas. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, comparing two time periods with high contrast in terms of number of installed MPBS. Symptom data were based on electronic health records from 1069 adult participants, registered in 9 general practices in different regions in the Netherlands. All participants were living within 500m from the nearest bases station. Among them, 55 participants reported to be sensitive to MPBS at T1. A propagation model combined with a questionnaire was used to assess indoor exposure to RF-EMF from MPBS at T1. Estimation of exposure at T0 was based on number of antennas at T0 relative to T1. At T1, there was a >30% increase in the total number of MPBS antennas. A higher prevalence for most NSS was observed in the MPBS-sensitive group at T1 compared to baseline. Exposure estimates were not associated with GP-registered NSS in the total sample. Some significant interactions were observed between MPBS-sensitivity and exposure estimates on risk of symptoms. Using clinically defined outcomes and a time difference of >6years it was demonstrated that RF-EMF exposure to MPBS was not associated with the development of NSS. Nonetheless, there was some indication for a higher risk of NSS for the MPBS-sensitive group, mainly in relation to exposure to UMTS, but this should be interpreted with caution. Results have to be verified by future longitudinal studies with a particular focus on potentially susceptible population subgroups of large sample size and integrated exposure assessment.

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 directionmixed

PopulationAdults living within 500 m of the nearest mobile phone base station; registered in 9 general practices in the Netherlands

Sample size1069

ExposureRF · >6 years (time difference between T0 and T1)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In the total sample, RF-EMF exposure estimates from mobile phone base stations were not associated with GP-registered non-specific symptoms over a >6-year period despite a >30% increase in the number of antennas. Some significant interactions were observed between self-reported MPBS-sensitivity and exposure estimates on symptom risk, with an indication of higher risk in the MPBS-sensitive group mainly in relation to UMTS exposure, interpreted cautiously.

Outcomes measured

Non-specific symptoms (NSS) (GP-registered/clinically defined)
Prevalence and number of NSS
Risk of symptoms (including interactions with self-reported MPBS-sensitivity)

Limitations

Retrospective before-after design with exposure at T0 estimated indirectly from antenna counts relative to T1
Indoor exposure at T1 assessed using a propagation model combined with a questionnaire (potential exposure misclassification)
Only participants living within 500 m of a base station were included (may limit generalizability)
Small MPBS-sensitive subgroup (55 participants)
Authors note findings for susceptible subgroups should be interpreted with caution and verified in future longitudinal studies

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": ">6 years (time difference between T0 and T1)"
  },
  "population": "Adults living within 500 m of the nearest mobile phone base station; registered in 9 general practices in the Netherlands",
  "sample_size": 1069,
  "outcomes": [
    "Non-specific symptoms (NSS) (GP-registered/clinically defined)",
    "Prevalence and number of NSS",
    "Risk of symptoms (including interactions with self-reported MPBS-sensitivity)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the total sample, RF-EMF exposure estimates from mobile phone base stations were not associated with GP-registered non-specific symptoms over a >6-year period despite a >30% increase in the number of antennas. Some significant interactions were observed between self-reported MPBS-sensitivity and exposure estimates on symptom risk, with an indication of higher risk in the MPBS-sensitive group mainly in relation to UMTS exposure, interpreted cautiously.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Retrospective before-after design with exposure at T0 estimated indirectly from antenna counts relative to T1",
    "Indoor exposure at T1 assessed using a propagation model combined with a questionnaire (potential exposure misclassification)",
    "Only participants living within 500 m of a base station were included (may limit generalizability)",
    "Small MPBS-sensitive subgroup (55 participants)",
    "Authors note findings for susceptible subgroups should be interpreted with caution and verified in future longitudinal studies"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone base stations",
    "RF-EMF",
    "UMTS",
    "non-specific symptoms",
    "electronic health records",
    "general practice",
    "Netherlands",
    "retrospective cohort",
    "before-after",
    "MPBS-sensitivity"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Study evaluates health symptoms in relation to RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations, relevant to RF health-risk evidence used in guidelines."
    }
  ]
}

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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.scitotenv.2016.05.021
PubMed: 27219506

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