The excretion of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate in healthy young men exposed to electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phone -- an experimental study.

Neuro endocrinology letters · 2002 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5302

Mean urinary 6-OHMS levels did not differ significantly between the exposure day and control day at 7 p.m., midnight, or 7 a.m. Circadian variation in 6-OHMS was observed in all subjects.

Study snapshot

PublicationNeuro endocrinology letters · 2002

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It is quite likely that non-visible electromagnetic fields (EMF) may affect melatonin production. Some studies confirmed this hypothesis and showed that extremely low EMF altered pineal function in animals and humans. Thus, it is reasonable to suppose that EMF emitted by cellular phones may also influence secretion of melatonin. The present study sought to evaluate possible effect of the exposure to EMF emitted by cellular phone on 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) excretion, which reflects melatonin levels in blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examined group consisted of 9 healthy males aged 19-29 years. The experiment was performed under controlled conditions (the light intensity-50 lx till midnight and 0 lx during night). Each person was examined twice: on a day without exposure (control day, C-day) and on a day with continuous exposure (60 min. exposure from cellular phone, frequency 900 MHz, pulsed with 217 Hz, pulse with 576 micros, SAR 1.23 W/kg, E-day). From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. they used a cellular phone. The subjects did not know which day was E-day, and which was C-day. From 8 p.m. till midnight the subjects listened to music and than they slept till 7 a.m. next day. Urine samples were collected at 7 p.m., at midnight, and at 7 a.m. in the same way in C-day as in E-day. Sample were frozen for later ELISA analysis of 6-OHMS. The 6-OHMS ELISA kit from Immuno-Biological Laboratories (Hamburg) was used for measurement of 6-OHMS. The data were analysed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test for each subject and for the whole group. We compared 6-OHMS level on the E-day and on the C-day separately for 3 time-points - 7 p.m., midnight, 7 a.m. RESULTS: Mean 6-OHMS level in both experiments did not differ significantly for any of the respective time points. Circadian variations of 6-OHMS level were detected in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our investigation has demonstrated that EMF emitted by cellular phones has no distinct influence on the melatonin level.

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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 directionno_effect

Population9 healthy males aged 19–29 years

Sample size9

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1.23 W/kg · 60 min continuous exposure (7–8 p.m.)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mean urinary 6-OHMS levels did not differ significantly between the exposure day and control day at 7 p.m., midnight, or 7 a.m. Circadian variation in 6-OHMS was observed in all subjects.

Outcomes measured

Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) excretion (ELISA) at 7 p.m., midnight, 7 a.m.
Circadian variation of 6-OHMS

Limitations

Small sample size (n=9)
Short exposure duration (single 60-minute session)
Only young healthy men studied (limited generalizability)
Outcome assessed via urinary 6-OHMS at three time points only

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 1.23,
    "duration": "60 min continuous exposure (7–8 p.m.)"
  },
  "population": "9 healthy males aged 19–29 years",
  "sample_size": 9,
  "outcomes": [
    "Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) excretion (ELISA) at 7 p.m., midnight, 7 a.m.",
    "Circadian variation of 6-OHMS"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mean urinary 6-OHMS levels did not differ significantly between the exposure day and control day at 7 p.m., midnight, or 7 a.m. Circadian variation in 6-OHMS was observed in all subjects.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=9)",
    "Short exposure duration (single 60-minute session)",
    "Only young healthy men studied (limited generalizability)",
    "Outcome assessed via urinary 6-OHMS at three time points only"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "melatonin",
    "6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate",
    "6-OHMS",
    "urine",
    "ELISA",
    "cellular phone",
    "mobile phone",
    "RF EMF",
    "900 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "pulsed signal",
    "circadian rhythm"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Experimental study of RF exposure from a mobile phone and a biological endpoint (melatonin marker), relevant to RF health evidence considered in guideline 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: 12019359

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