Effects of the acute exposure to the electromagnetic field of mobile phones on human auditory brainstem responses.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2005 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5200

In 18 healthy adults, 15 minutes of acute exposure to a 900 MHz mobile phone signal (highest SAR 0.82 W/kg) placed in direct contact with the right ear did not produce statistically significant changes in ABR wave latencies or interwave intervals at 60 or 80 …

Study snapshot

PublicationEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2005

Study typecohort

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) of mobile phones on human auditory brainstem responses. This prospective study of healthy adults evaluated the influence of EMF. Eighteen healthy adult volunteers participated in this study. Mobile telephones emitting signals in the region of 900 MHz and with the highest SAR value of 0.82 W/kg were positioned in direct contact to the right ear, which was exposed to the phone signal for 15 min before and after ABR testing with click stimuli of 60 and 80 dB nHL intensities. The latencies of the waves and interwave latencies were measured on screen by an experienced audiologist. The differences of the mean latencies of waves I, III and IV were not significant in initial and post-exposure ABR measurements at both 60 and 80 dB nHL stimulus levels ( P >0.05). Similarly, differences of the mean interwave intervals I-III, I-V and III-V remained insignificant at the initial and postexposure ABR measurements at stimulus levels of both 60 and 80 dB nHL ( P >0.05). Acute exposure to the EMF of mobile phones does not cause perturbations in ABR latencies. However, these negative results should not encourage excessive mobile communication, because minor biological and neurophysiological influences may not be detectable by the current technology.

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 typecohort

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationHealthy adult volunteers

Sample size18

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 0.82 W/kg · 15 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave latencies (I, III, IV)
ABR interwave intervals (I–III, I–V, III–V)

Limitations

Small sample size (n=18)
Only short-term (acute) exposure assessed (15 minutes)
Outcomes limited to ABR latency measures; authors note minor effects might not be detectable with current technology

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 0.82,
    "duration": "15 min"
  },
  "population": "Healthy adult volunteers",
  "sample_size": 18,
  "outcomes": [
    "Auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave latencies (I, III, IV)",
    "ABR interwave intervals (I–III, I–V, III–V)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 18 healthy adults, 15 minutes of acute exposure to a 900 MHz mobile phone signal (highest SAR 0.82 W/kg) placed in direct contact with the right ear did not produce statistically significant changes in ABR wave latencies or interwave intervals at 60 or 80 dB nHL click stimuli (P>0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=18)",
    "Only short-term (acute) exposure assessed (15 minutes)",
    "Outcomes limited to ABR latency measures; authors note minor effects might not be detectable with current technology"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "RF",
    "900 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "auditory brainstem response",
    "ABR",
    "latency",
    "acute exposure"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates acute RF exposure from mobile phones (900 MHz) and auditory 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: 10.1007/s00405-004-0900-3
PubMed: 15731903

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