60 "sensitive" subjects participated who reported often getting headache-like symptoms within 20 minutes of using a GSMmobile phone and 60 "control" participants who did not report any such symptoms. Participants completed visual analogue scale measures after 5, 15, 30, and 50 minutes of exposure and 30 min after the end of each exposure.
Both testing rooms, which were lit by two table lamps, were not shielded against outside EMF.
Setup
A headband mounted standard GSM handset system was used for exposures with the antenna positioned slightly above and behind the left ear and within a few millimetres of the participant's scalp.
For sham exposure, a CWsignal was generated to ensure that the system heated up to the same degree as during the active exposures but was diverted to an internal load instead of being transmitted through the antenna; only minimal leakage of this signal occurred.
The data did not indicate that people with self reported sensitivity to mobile phone signals are able to detect such signals or that they react to them with increased symptom severity. As sham exposure was sufficient to trigger severe symptoms in some subjects, psychological factors may have an important role in causing this condition.
Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK
Comments on this article
Sivertsen B et al.
(2008):
Psychological factors associated with self-reported sensitivity to mobile phones.
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