Electromagnetic fields produced by GSM cellular phones and heart rate variability.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2007 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5084

In a double-blind sham-controlled design, 900 MHz (2 W) GSM phone exposure showed no statistically significant effect on RR mean and most HRV parameters. A weak interaction between RF exposure and some HRV parameters (SDNN, TINN, triangular index, LF power) w…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2007

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In this study, 26 healthy young volunteers were submitted to 900 MHz (2 W) GSM cellular phone exposure and to sham exposure in separate sessions. The study was designed to assess cardiac regulatory mechanism in different autonomic nervous system (ANS) states during exposure to low-intensity EMF. Rest-to-stand protocol was applied to evaluate ANS in quiet condition (rest, vagal prevalence) and after a sympathetic activation (stand). The procedure is conducted twice in a double-blind design: once with a genuine EMF exposure and once with a sham exposure (at least 24 h apart). During each session three-leads electrocardiograms were recorded and RR series extracted off-line. Time domain and frequency domain HRV parameters were calculated in every phase of the protocol and during different exposures. The analysis of the data show there was no statistically significant effect due to EMF exposure both on main (i.e., RR mean) and most of the other HRV parameters. A weak interaction between some HRV parameters (i.e., SDNN, TINN, and triangular index in time domain and LF power in frequency domain analysis) and RF exposure was observed and this effect seems to be gathered around the sympathetic response to stand.

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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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

Population26 healthy young volunteers

Sample size26

ExposureRF · 900 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

heart rate variability (HRV) parameters
RR mean
SDNN
TINN
triangular index
LF power

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in abstract
SAR or dosimetry details not reported in abstract
Small sample size (n=26)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "26 healthy young volunteers",
  "sample_size": 26,
  "outcomes": [
    "heart rate variability (HRV) parameters",
    "RR mean",
    "SDNN",
    "TINN",
    "triangular index",
    "LF power"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind sham-controlled design, 900 MHz (2 W) GSM phone exposure showed no statistically significant effect on RR mean and most HRV parameters. A weak interaction between RF exposure and some HRV parameters (SDNN, TINN, triangular index, LF power) was observed, appearing mainly around the sympathetic response to standing.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "SAR or dosimetry details not reported in abstract",
    "Small sample size (n=26)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "cellular phone",
    "RF exposure",
    "sham exposure",
    "double-blind",
    "heart rate variability",
    "autonomic nervous system",
    "rest-to-stand"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "GSM cellular phone RF exposure (900 MHz) with HRV outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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.20275
PubMed: 17004239

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