Symptoms and the use of wireless communication devices: A prospective cohort study in Swiss adolescents
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel (Switzerland)
Background: We investigated whether radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile phones and other wireless devices or by the wireless device use itself due to non-radiation related factors in that context are associated with an increase in health symptom reports of adolescents in Central Switzerland. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 439 study participants (participation rate: 36.8%) aged 12–17 years, completed questionnaires about their mobile and cordless phone use, their self-reported symptoms and possible confounding factors at baseline (2012/2013) and one year later (2013/2014). Operator recorded mobile phone data was obtained for a subgroup of 234 adolescents. RF-EMF dose measures considering various factors affecting RF-EMF exposure were computed for the brain and the whole body. Data were analysed using a mixed-logistic cross-sectional model and a cohort approach, where we investigated whether cumulative dose over one year was related to a new onset of a symptom between baseline and follow-up. All analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders. Results: Participation rate in the follow-up was 97% (425 participants). In both analyses, cross-sectional and cohort, various symptoms tended to be mostly associated with usage measures that are only marginally related to RF-EMF exposure such as the number of text messages sent per day (e.g. tiredness: OR:1.81; 95%CI:1.20–2.74 for cross-sectional analyses and OR:1.87; 95%CI:1.04–3.38 for cohort analyses). Outcomes were generally less strongly or not associated with mobile phone call duration and RF-EMF dose measures. Conclusions: Stronger associations between symptoms of ill health and wireless communication device use than for RF-EMF dose measures were observed. Such a result pattern does not support a causal association between RF-EMF exposure and health symptoms of adolescents but rather suggests that other aspects of extensive media use are related to symptoms. - Highlights: • This is a prospective cohort study with approximately one year of follow-up. • Self-reported and operator recorded mobile phone use data were collected. • The cumulative RF-EMF dose for the brain and for the whole body was calculated. • Associations were stronger for the use of wireless devices than for RF-EMF dose. • This suggests that rather aspects of extensive media use than RF-EMF are related to symptoms.
- OSTI ID:
- 22689547
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Research, Vol. 154; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0013-9351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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