RF Safe

Effects of weak mobile phone - electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on well-being and resting EEG.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2008 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5016

In a double-blind, randomized, crossover study of 15 healthy subjects, exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS (SAR 0.1 and 1 W/kg) and pulsed 900 MHz GSM (SAR 1 W/kg) produced no significant changes in well-being or vigilance-controlled resting EEG compared with sham expo…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2008
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Modern mobile phones emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs) ranging from 900 to 2000 MHz which are suggested to have an influence on well-being, attention and neurological parameters in mobile phone users. To date most studies have investigated Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-EMF and only very few studies were concerned with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-EMF. Consequently, we tested the effects of both types of EMF, 1950 MHz UMTS (SAR 0.1 and 1 W/kg) and pulsed 900 MHz GSM (1 W/kg), on well-being and vigilance-controlled resting electroencephalogram (eyes closed) in 15 healthy, right-handed subjects. A double-blind, randomised, crossover application of the test procedure was used. Neither the UMTS- nor the GSM-EMF produced any significant changes in the measured parameters compared to sham exposure. The results do not give any evidence for a deleterious effect of the EMF on normal healthy mobile phone users.

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
Population15 healthy, right-handed subjects
Sample size15
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blind, randomized, crossover study of 15 healthy subjects, exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS (SAR 0.1 and 1 W/kg) and pulsed 900 MHz GSM (SAR 1 W/kg) produced no significant changes in well-being or vigilance-controlled resting EEG compared with sham exposure.

Outcomes measured

  • well-being
  • vigilance-controlled resting EEG (eyes closed)

Limitations

  • Small sample size (15 subjects)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "15 healthy, right-handed subjects",
  "sample_size": 15,
  "outcomes": [
    "well-being",
    "vigilance-controlled resting EEG (eyes closed)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind, randomized, crossover study of 15 healthy subjects, exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS (SAR 0.1 and 1 W/kg) and pulsed 900 MHz GSM (SAR 1 W/kg) produced no significant changes in well-being or vigilance-controlled resting EEG compared with sham exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (15 subjects)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "EMF",
    "RF",
    "GSM",
    "UMTS",
    "900 MHz",
    "1950 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "well-being",
    "resting EEG",
    "double-blind",
    "randomized",
    "crossover",
    "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.20419
PubMed: 18431738

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