Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of Exposure to GSM Mobile Phone Base Station Signals on Salivary Cortisol, Alpha-Amylase, and Immunoglobulin A med./bio.

By: Augner C, Hacker GW, Oberfeld G, Florian M, Hitzl W, Hutter J, Pauser G

Published in: Biomed Environ Sci 2010; 23 (3): 199-207

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To test whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations may have effects on salivary alpha-amylase, immunoglobulin A, and cortisol levels in human subjects.

Background/further details

57 participants (35 females) were randomly allocated to one of three different experimental scenarios (22 participants to scenario 1, 26 to scenario 2, and 9 to scenario 3; for further information see exposure details). In every session saliva samples were taken after 10, 25, and 45 minutes for biochemical analyses.

Endpoint

endocrine changes: levels of salivary alpha-amylase, immunoglobulin A, and cortisol (as stress and immunological parameters)

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: five times 50 minutes (five sessions)	power density: 5.2 µW/m² (low exposure) power density: 153.6 µW/m² (medium exposure) power density: 2,126.8 µW/m² (high exposure)

General information

Test persons were divided into three groups and exposed in three different scenarios of five sessions each: Scenario1: low exposure, high exposure, low exposure, medium exposure, low exposure Scenario2: low exposure, medium exposure, low exposure, high exposure, low exposure Scenario3: low exposure, low exposure, low exposure, low exposure, high exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	five times 50 minutes (five sessions)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	base transceiver station micro-cell omni antenna
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	6 m
Setup	antenna mounted on the outer wall of the building; further GSM-900 and GSM-1800 base stations in the area; different exposure levels gained by the use of shielding curtains; wall painted with shielding paint except for the exposure area

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	5.2 µW/m²	-	measured	-	low exposure
power density	153.6 µW/m²	-	measured	-	medium exposure
power density	2,126.8 µW/m²	-	measured	-	high exposure

Reference articles

Augner C et al. (2009): GSM base stations: short-term effects on well-being

Exposed system:

human
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

endocrine changes: salivary alpha-amylase (spectrophotometry), immunoglobulin A, and cortisol (ELISA) levels

Investigated system:

saliva samples

Investigated organ system:

endocrine system

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In scenario 3 from session 4 to session 5 (from "low" to "high" exposure), a significant increase of cortisol was detected, while in scenarios 1 and 2 (sessions 2-4), a higher concentration of alpha-amylase was observed as compared to that in scenario 3. Immunoglobulin A concentration was not significantly related to the exposure.
The authors conclude that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in considerably lower power flux densities than ICNIRP-guidelines may influence certain psychobiological stress markers.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

Land Salzburg Federal Government, Austria
Mr. Daniell Porsche, Chairman of the Paracelsus-School at St. Jakob am Thurn, Salzburg, Austria

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