Influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM-900 cellular telephones on the circadian patterns of gonadal, adrenal and pituitary hormones in men.

Radiation research · 2008 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5023

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation research · 2008

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The potential health risks of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) emitted by mobile phones are currently of considerable public interest. The present study investigated the effect of exposure to 900 MHz GSM radiofrequency radiation on steroid (cortisol and testosterone) and pituitary (thyroid-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, prolactin and adrenocorticotropin) hormone levels in 20 healthy male volunteers. Each subject was exposed to RF EMFs through the use of a cellular phone for 2 h/day, 5 days/ week, for 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected hourly during the night and every 3 h during the day. Four sampling sessions were performed at 15-day intervals: before the beginning of the exposure period, at the middle and the end of the exposure period, and 15 days later. Parameters evaluated included the maximum serum concentration, the time of this maximum, and the area under the curve for hormone circadian patterns. Each individual's pre-exposure hormone concentration was used as his control. All hormone concentrations remained within normal physiological ranges. The circadian profiles of prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropin and testosterone were not disrupted by RF EMFs emitted by mobile phones. For growth hormone and cortisol, there were significant decreases of about 28% and 12%, respectively, in the maximum levels when comparing the 2-week (for growth hormone and cortisol) and 4-week (for growth hormone) exposure periods to the pre-exposure period, but no difference persisted in the postexposure period. Our data show that the 900 MHz EMF exposure, at least under our experimental conditions, does not appear to affect endocrine functions in men.

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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 typeother

Effect directionmixed

Population20 healthy male volunteers

Sample size20

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 2 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 20 healthy men exposed to 900 MHz GSM mobile phone RF EMFs (2 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks), all measured hormone concentrations remained within normal physiological ranges. Circadian profiles of prolactin, TSH, ACTH and testosterone were not disrupted; growth hormone and cortisol showed significant decreases in maximum levels (~28% and ~12%, respectively) during exposure comparisons versus pre-exposure, but these differences did not persist post-exposure.

Outcomes measured

Cortisol (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)
Testosterone (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone/TSH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)
Growth hormone/GH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)
Prolactin (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)
Adrenocorticotropin/ACTH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)

Limitations

No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in the abstract
Small sample size (n=20)
Within-subject pre-exposure used as control; no separate sham/control group described in the abstract
Findings limited to the specific exposure regimen and conditions described

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks"
  },
  "population": "20 healthy male volunteers",
  "sample_size": 20,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cortisol (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)",
    "Testosterone (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)",
    "Thyroid-stimulating hormone/TSH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)",
    "Growth hormone/GH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)",
    "Prolactin (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)",
    "Adrenocorticotropin/ACTH (circadian pattern parameters: maximum level, time of maximum, area under curve)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 20 healthy men exposed to 900 MHz GSM mobile phone RF EMFs (2 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks), all measured hormone concentrations remained within normal physiological ranges. Circadian profiles of prolactin, TSH, ACTH and testosterone were not disrupted; growth hormone and cortisol showed significant decreases in maximum levels (~28% and ~12%, respectively) during exposure comparisons versus pre-exposure, but these differences did not persist post-exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in the abstract",
    "Small sample size (n=20)",
    "Within-subject pre-exposure used as control; no separate sham/control group described in the abstract",
    "Findings limited to the specific exposure regimen and conditions described"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF EMF",
    "GSM-900",
    "900 MHz",
    "mobile phone",
    "circadian rhythm",
    "endocrine",
    "hormones",
    "cortisol",
    "testosterone",
    "growth hormone",
    "prolactin",
    "TSH",
    "ACTH"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study tests 900 MHz GSM cellular phone RF exposure in volunteers."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1667/rr0922.1
PubMed: 18302481

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