Medical/biological study (experimental study)

No effect on cognitive function from daily mobile phone use med./bio.

By: Besset A, Espa F, Dauvilliers Y, Billiard M, de Seze R

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2005; 26 (2): 102-108

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of electromagnetic fields on cognitive function during a daily exposure with normal use of a mobile phone, in which the exposure duration is constant.

Endpoint

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive function

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 2 h/day, 5 days a week for 28 days	SAR: 0.54 W/kg unspecified (unspecified)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure, 2 h/day, 5 days a week for 28 days

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.576 ms
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	Subjects held the mobile phone with their preferred hand and the listening ear was not changed during the exposure.
Additional info	Two groups of subjects were formed that were either exposed or sham exposed (double blind) during the exposure period of 28 days. During the recovery period of 14 days all the subjects were sham exposed.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.54 W/kg	unspecified	measured	unspecified	-

Measurement and calculation details

SAR was assessed by four measurements on a phantom that had a 900 MHz phone in contact position.

Exposed system:

human
partial body: ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive function (information processing speed, attention capacity, memory function, executive function)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The findings indicate that daily mobile phone use has no effect on cognitive function after a 13 h rest period. However, this study is limited to medium term effect. It does not allow the authors to assert that a longer exposure or very intense use could not have long lasting effect on cognitive function.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double blind study

Study funded by

Bouygues Telecom, France
Ministère de l'Ecologie et du Developpement Durable (Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development), France

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