RF Safe

Fetal and neonatal responses following maternal exposure to mobile phones.

Saudi medical journal · 2008 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5030

After 10 minutes of maternal exposure to EMF emitted by mobile phones (telephone-dialing mode), fetal and neonatal heart rate increased and stroke volume and cardiac output decreased; changes were reported as statistically significant. The reported changes we…

Study snapshot

PublicationSaudi medical journal · 2008
Study typeother
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study fetal and neonatal heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (COP), following acute maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones. METHODS: The present study was carried out at Benha University Hospital and El-Shorouq Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, from October 2003 to March 2004. Ninety women with uncomplicated pregnancies aged 18-33 years, and 30 full term healthy newborn infants were included. The pregnant mothers were exposed to EMF emitted by mobile telephones while on telephone-dialing mode for 10 minutes during pregnancy and after birth. The main outcome were measurements of fetal and neonatal HR and COP. RESULTS: A statistical significant increase in fetal and neonatal HR, and statistical significant decrease in stroke volume and COP before and after use of mobile phone were noted. All these changes are attenuated with increase in gestational age. CONCLUSION: Exposure of pregnant women to mobile phone significantly increase fetal and neonatal HR, and significantly decreased the COP.

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 typeother
Effect directionharm
PopulationPregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies (18–33 years) and full-term healthy newborn infants
Sample size120
ExposureRF · 10 minutes (acute exposure; during pregnancy and after birth)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 72% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 10 minutes of maternal exposure to EMF emitted by mobile phones (telephone-dialing mode), fetal and neonatal heart rate increased and stroke volume and cardiac output decreased; changes were reported as statistically significant. The reported changes were attenuated with increasing gestational age.

Outcomes measured

  • Fetal heart rate (HR)
  • Neonatal heart rate (HR)
  • Stroke volume
  • Cardiac output (COP)

Limitations

  • Exposure characteristics not fully specified (e.g., frequency, SAR, field strength).
  • Acute exposure only (10 minutes).
  • Study design details (randomization/blinding/control conditions) not described in the abstract.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "10 minutes (acute exposure; during pregnancy and after birth)"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies (18–33 years) and full-term healthy newborn infants",
  "sample_size": 120,
  "outcomes": [
    "Fetal heart rate (HR)",
    "Neonatal heart rate (HR)",
    "Stroke volume",
    "Cardiac output (COP)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 10 minutes of maternal exposure to EMF emitted by mobile phones (telephone-dialing mode), fetal and neonatal heart rate increased and stroke volume and cardiac output decreased; changes were reported as statistically significant. The reported changes were attenuated with increasing gestational age.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure characteristics not fully specified (e.g., frequency, SAR, field strength).",
    "Acute exposure only (10 minutes).",
    "Study design details (randomization/blinding/control conditions) not described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.72,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pregnancy",
    "fetus",
    "newborn",
    "heart rate",
    "cardiac output",
    "stroke volume",
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "acute exposure"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Study evaluates health-related physiological responses to mobile-phone EMF exposure, relevant to RF exposure guidance discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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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: Not supplied
PubMed: 18246230

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