Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM-900 cellular telephones on the circadian patterns of gonadal, adrenal and pituitary hormones in men med./bio.

By: Djeridane Y, Touitou Y, de Seze R

Published in: Radiat Res 2008; 169 (3): 337-343

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study should examine whether the exposure to 900 MHz GSM electromagnetic fields induces changes in hormone levels in men.

Background/further details

20 healthy male volunteers in the age of 20 to 32 years participated in this study. To account physiological circadian alterations in the hormone levels blood samples were collected hourly during the night and every 3 hours during the day. Each individual's hormone concentration before the exposure was used as his control.

Endpoint

endocrine changes: hormone levels

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 2 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks	power: 2 W peak value SAR: 0.3 W/kg average over time (10 g) (in the temporal brain)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure, 2 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Duty cycle	12.5 %
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Chamber	During the exposure sessions, the attention of the volunteers and a correct normal use position of the mobile phone were maintained by TV projection of movies. The audio signal from the TV set was distributed to four fixed telephones that could be called from the GSM handsets to hear the movie soundtrack.
Setup	For each subject, exposure was on the same side of the head for all sessions.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	A sham exposure was also performed on the days of the first and the last blood drawing sessions by switching the RF output to a 50-Ω dummy load instead of the antenna and presenting the movie sound directly on the TV speakers.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-
SAR	0.3 W/kg	average over time	-	10 g	in the temporal brain

Exposed system:

human
partial body: consistent one side of the head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

endocrine changes: cortisol, testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone, growth hormone, prolactin, and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels (immunofluorescence)

Investigated system:

blood
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

endocrine system

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There were significant decreases in growth hormone and cortisol levels in the 2-week exposure period and for growth hormone additionally in the 4-week exposure period. However, these differences did not persist in the period after the exposure.
No changes were observed in other investigated hormones neither in hormone concentration nor in circadian pattern.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Motorola

Schauer I et al. (2018): Combined effects of varicocele and cell phones on semen and hormonal parameters
Geronikolou SA et al. (2015): Frequent cellular phone use modifies hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a cellular phone call after mental stress in healthy children and adolescents: A pilot study
Eskander EF et al. (2012): How does long term exposure to base stations and mobile phones affect human hormone profiles?
Seyednour R et al. (2011): Effects of Exposure to Cellular Phones 950 MHZ Electromagnetic Fields on Progesterone, Cortisol and Glucose Level in Female Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)
Sarookhani MR et al. (2011): The influence of 950 MHz magnetic field (mobile phone radiation) on sex organ and adrenal functions of male rabbits
Gutschi T et al. (2011): Impact of cell phone use on men's semen parameters
Meo SA et al. (2010): Effects of mobile phone radiation on serum testosterone in Wistar albino rats
Augner C et al. (2010): Effects of Exposure to GSM Mobile Phone Base Station Signals on Salivary Cortisol, Alpha-Amylase, and Immunoglobulin A
Mortazavi S et al. (2009): Alterations in TSH and Thyroid Hormones following Mobile Phone Use
Clark ML et al. (2007): Biomonitoring of estrogen and melatonin metabolites among women residing near radio and television broadcasting transmitters
Vangelova KK et al. (2005): Variations of melatonin and stress hormones under extended shifts and radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation
Koyu A et al. (2005): Effects of 900MHz electromagnetic field on TSH and thyroid hormones in rats
Braune S et al. (2002): Influence of a radiofrequency electromagnetic field on cardiovascular and hormonal parameters of the autonomic nervous system in healthy individuals
de Seze R et al. (2001): Evaluation of the Health Impact of the Radio-Frequency Fields from Mobile Telephones
Radon K et al. (2001): No effects of pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic fields on melatonin, cortisol, and selected markers of the immune system in man
de Seze R et al. (1998): GSM radiocellular telephones do not disturb the secretion of antepituitary hormones in humans
Mann K et al. (1998): Effects of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields on the neuroendocrine system