Effects of GSM cellular phones on human hearing: the European project "GUARD".

Radiation research · 2007 · No effect · Moderate evidence

← Research stream

No effectModerate evidencePaper 5044

In a double-blind sham-controlled procedure, auditory function measures assessed immediately before and after exposure showed no effects of GSM mobile phone signal exposure on main measures of auditory system status.

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation research · 2007

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The European multicenter project named GUARD involved nine centers and aimed to assess potential changes in auditory function as a consequence of exposure to low-intensity electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by GSM cellular phones. Participants were healthy young adults without any evidence of hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to EMFs, and only the exposed ear was tested. The procedure was conducted twice in a double blinded design, once with a genuine EMF exposure and once with a sham exposure (at least 24 h apart). Tests for assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem response (ABR). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham EMF exposure. The EMF exposure used the output of a software-controlled consumer cellular phone at full power for 10 min. A system of phone positioning that allowed participants to freely move their heads without affecting exposure was used. Analysis of the data showed there were no effects of exposure to GSM mobile phone signals on the main measures of the status of the auditory system.

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

PopulationHealthy young adults without evidence of hearing or ear disorders

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 10 min

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

hearing threshold level (HTL)
transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE)
distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE)
auditory brainstem response (ABR)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Frequency and SAR/exposure metrics not reported in abstract
Only immediate pre/post effects assessed; no longer-term follow-up described
Only the exposed ear was tested

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "10 min"
  },
  "population": "Healthy young adults without evidence of hearing or ear disorders",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "hearing threshold level (HTL)",
    "transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE)",
    "distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE)",
    "auditory brainstem response (ABR)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind sham-controlled procedure, auditory function measures assessed immediately before and after exposure showed no effects of GSM mobile phone signal exposure on main measures of auditory system status.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Frequency and SAR/exposure metrics not reported in abstract",
    "Only immediate pre/post effects assessed; no longer-term follow-up described",
    "Only the exposed ear was tested"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "mobile phone",
    "RF EMF",
    "hearing",
    "auditory function",
    "HTL",
    "TEOAE",
    "DPOAE",
    "ABR",
    "double blind",
    "sham exposure",
    "GUARD",
    "multicenter"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Assesses auditory effects from GSM cellular phone EMF exposure in humans."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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/rr1020.1
PubMed: 17973552

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library