Modeled and Perceived Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields From Mobile-Phone Base Stations and the Development of Symptoms Over Time in a General Population Cohort

Abstract

We assessed associations between modeled and perceived exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile-phone base stations and the development of nonspecific symptoms and sleep disturbances over time. A population-based Dutch cohort study, the Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort Study (AMIGO) (n = 14,829; ages 31-65 years), was established in 2011/2012 (T0), with follow-up of a subgroup (n = 3,992 invited) in 2013 (T1; n = 2,228) and 2014 (T2; n = 1,740). We modeled far-field RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations at the home addresses of the participants using a 3-dimensional geospatial model (NISMap). Perceived exposure (0 = not at all; 6 = very much), nonspecific symptoms, and sleep disturbances were assessed by questionnaire. We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, including fixed-effects regression. We found small correlations between modeled and perceived exposure in AMIGO participants at baseline (n = 14,309; rSpearman = 0.10). For 222 follow-up participants, modeled exposure increased substantially (>0.030 mW/m2) between T0 and T1. This increase in modeled exposure was associated with an increase in perceived exposure during the same time period. In contrast to modeled RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations, perceived exposure was associated with higher symptom reporting scores in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, as well as with sleep disturbances in cross-sectional analyses.

Becoming electro‐hypersensitive: A replication study

“…Today, the prevailing interpretation is that the persons affected are in poorer health because they consider themselves more exposed, and as a result tend to develop nocebo responses [Baliatsas et al, ]. However, it is also plausible that these persons consider themselves more exposed because they are in poorer health, which leads them to seek causes in their environment [Martens et al, ].…”

Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland

“…Autorzy stwierdzili w nim występowanie związku między ogólną liczbą zgłaszanych dolegliwości subiektywnych, a postrzeganiem ekspozycji; wskazali natomiast brak istotnego statystycznie związku między występowaniem dolegliwości, a ekspozycją oszacowaną z zastosowaniem modelu geoprzestrzennego. Wykazano jednak niewielki, nieistotny statystycznie wzrost częstości zawrotów głowy i uczucia ucisku w klatce piersiowej wraz ze wzrostem oszacowanej ekspozycji [15].…”

Headache, tinnitus and hearing loss in the international Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) in Sweden and Finland

“…Few studies have addressed the occurrence of symptoms such as headache, tinnitus and other somatic complaints in relation to prospectively collected information on RF-EMF exposure 11 , 12 . A Swiss study reported no association between mobile phone use and tinnitus or overall symptom score, but it had limited statistical power to assess the occurrence of outcomes among people free from the conditions at baseline, due to a relatively small sample size ( n = 1122) and only 1 year of follow-up 11 .…”

“…A Swiss study reported no association between mobile phone use and tinnitus or overall symptom score, but it had limited statistical power to assess the occurrence of outcomes among people free from the conditions at baseline, due to a relatively small sample size ( n = 1122) and only 1 year of follow-up 11 . A Dutch study found no association with sleep disturbances or other symptoms and focused on exposure from base stations rather than mobile phone use 12 . In a large Danish cohort study of mobile phone subscribers, increased rates of hospitalizations for migraine and vertigo among subscribers were reported, but the study had no information on amount of mobile phone use and confounders were limited to age, sex and calendar period, due to the register-based approach 13 .…”