Modeled and perceived RF-EMF, noise and air pollution and symptoms in a population cohort. Is perception key in predicting symptoms?

The Science of the total environment · 2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5539

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2018

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial research has shown that perceived exposure can influence symptom reporting, regardless of actual exposure. The impact of this phenomenon on the interpretation of results from epidemiological research on environmental determinants of symptoms is unclear. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare associations between modeled exposures, the perceived level of these exposures and reported symptoms (non-specific symptoms, sleep disturbances, and respiratory symptoms) for three different environmental exposures (radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), noise, and air pollution). These environmental exposures vary in the degree to which they can be sensorially observed. METHODS: Participant characteristics, perceived exposures, and self-reported health were assessed with a baseline (n = 14,829, 2011/2012) and follow-up (n = 7905, 2015) questionnaire in the Dutch population-based Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort (AMIGO). Environmental exposures were estimated at the home address using spatial models. Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models were used to examine the associations between modeled and perceived exposures, and reported symptoms. RESULTS: The extent to which exposure sources could be observed by participants likely influenced correlations between modeled and perceived exposure as correlations were moderate for air pollution (r = 0.34) and noise (r = 0.40), but less so for RF-EMF (r = 0.11). Perceived exposures were consistently associated with increased symptom scores (respiratory, sleep, non-specific). Modeled exposures, except RF-EMF, were associated with increased symptom scores, but these associations disappeared or strongly diminished when accounted for perceived exposure in the analyses. DISCUSSION: Perceived exposure has an important role in symptom reporting. When environmental determinants of symptoms are studied without acknowledging the potential role of both modeled and perceived exposures, there is a risk of bias in health risk assessment. However, the etiological role of exposure perceptions in relation to symptom reporting requires further research.

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 directionmixed

PopulationDutch population-based Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort (AMIGO) participants

Sample size14829

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Correlations between modeled and perceived exposure were moderate for air pollution (r=0.34) and noise (r=0.40) but low for RF-EMF (r=0.11). Perceived exposures were consistently associated with increased symptom scores (respiratory, sleep, non-specific). Modeled exposures (except RF-EMF) were associated with increased symptom scores, but these associations disappeared or strongly diminished after accounting for perceived exposure.

Outcomes measured

non-specific symptoms
sleep disturbances
respiratory symptoms
symptom scores

Limitations

Exposure estimates were modeled at the home address (not direct personal measurements).
Symptoms and perceived exposures were self-reported via questionnaires.
Etiological role of exposure perceptions in symptom reporting was stated to require further research.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "residential (home address; modeled environmental exposure)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Dutch population-based Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort (AMIGO) participants",
  "sample_size": 14829,
  "outcomes": [
    "non-specific symptoms",
    "sleep disturbances",
    "respiratory symptoms",
    "symptom scores"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Correlations between modeled and perceived exposure were moderate for air pollution (r=0.34) and noise (r=0.40) but low for RF-EMF (r=0.11). Perceived exposures were consistently associated with increased symptom scores (respiratory, sleep, non-specific). Modeled exposures (except RF-EMF) were associated with increased symptom scores, but these associations disappeared or strongly diminished after accounting for perceived exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure estimates were modeled at the home address (not direct personal measurements).",
    "Symptoms and perceived exposures were self-reported via questionnaires.",
    "Etiological role of exposure perceptions in symptom reporting was stated to require further research."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "perceived exposure",
    "modeled exposure",
    "symptoms",
    "sleep disturbances",
    "respiratory symptoms",
    "non-specific symptoms",
    "noise",
    "air pollution",
    "AMIGO cohort",
    "Netherlands",
    "questionnaire",
    "spatial models"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Uses the Dutch Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort (AMIGO), though exposures were modeled at home address."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.007
PubMed: 29778684

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