RF Safe

Health effects of living near mobile phone base transceiver station (BTS) antennae: a report from Isfahan, Iran.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2014 · Harm · Very low evidence

← Research stream
HarmVery low evidencePaper 6543

In a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of 250 inhabitants, multiple self-reported symptoms (e.g., nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, depression, sleep disturbance, memory loss, lowered libido) were reported as statistically significantly more …

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2014
Study typecross_sectional
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In recent years, by tremendous use of mobile phone telecommunication, a growing concern about the possible health hazards has increased greatly among public and scientists. The mobile phone exposure has been shown to have many effects upon the immune functions, stimulating hormones, mammalian brain, sperm motility and morphology, and neurological pathologies syndrome. The aim of this study was to find out the psychological and psychobiological reactions of the people who are living near mobile phone base transceiver stations (BTS) antenna, in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 250 randomly selected inhabitants (133 women and 117 men) was performed in October 2012 till November 2012. The inhabitants were requested to complete a standardized questionnaire that focused on the relevant psychological and psychobiological reactions parameters. A computer program (SPSS version16.0, Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analysis using the Chi-square test with Yates correction. All the data were tested using a criterion level of p = 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that most of the symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, discomfort, nervousness, depression, sleep disturbance, memory loss and lowering of libido were statistically significant in the inhabitants living near the BTS antenna (<300 m distances) compared to those living far from the BTS antenna (>300 m). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that cellular phone BTS antenna should not be sited closer than 300 m to populations to minimize exposure of neighbors.

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 typecross_sectional
Effect directionharm
PopulationInhabitants living near vs far from mobile phone base transceiver station (BTS) antennae in Isfahan, Iran
Sample size250
ExposureRF · October 2012 to November 2012
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of 250 inhabitants, multiple self-reported symptoms (e.g., nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, depression, sleep disturbance, memory loss, lowered libido) were reported as statistically significantly more common among those living <300 m from a BTS antenna compared with those living >300 m away.

Outcomes measured

  • nausea
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • irritability
  • discomfort
  • nervousness
  • depression
  • sleep disturbance
  • memory loss
  • lowering of libido

Limitations

  • Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
  • Outcomes based on self-reported questionnaire symptoms
  • Exposure characterized by distance to BTS (<300 m vs >300 m) without reported RF measurements (e.g., field strength, frequency, SAR)
  • Potential for confounding and reporting/expectation bias not addressed in abstract
  • Publication type indicates retracted publication
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "October 2012 to November 2012"
  },
  "population": "Inhabitants living near vs far from mobile phone base transceiver station (BTS) antennae in Isfahan, Iran",
  "sample_size": 250,
  "outcomes": [
    "nausea",
    "headache",
    "dizziness",
    "irritability",
    "discomfort",
    "nervousness",
    "depression",
    "sleep disturbance",
    "memory loss",
    "lowering of libido"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of 250 inhabitants, multiple self-reported symptoms (e.g., nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, depression, sleep disturbance, memory loss, lowered libido) were reported as statistically significantly more common among those living <300 m from a BTS antenna compared with those living >300 m away.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
    "Outcomes based on self-reported questionnaire symptoms",
    "Exposure characterized by distance to BTS (<300 m vs >300 m) without reported RF measurements (e.g., field strength, frequency, SAR)",
    "Potential for confounding and reporting/expectation bias not addressed in abstract",
    "Publication type indicates retracted publication"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "base transceiver station",
    "BTS",
    "mobile phone",
    "base station",
    "distance",
    "questionnaire",
    "symptoms",
    "psychological",
    "psychobiological",
    "Iran",
    "Isfahan",
    "cross-sectional",
    "retracted"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Study makes a siting recommendation (300 m) relevant to exposure guideline discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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: 10.3109/15368378.2013.801352
PubMed: 23781985

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library