Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of cell phone radiofrequency signal exposure on brain glucose metabolism med./bio.

By: Volkow ND, Tomasi D, Wang GJ, Vaska P, Fowler JS, Telang F, Alexoff D, Logan J, Wong C

Published in: JAMA 2011; 305 (8): 808-813

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study if acute cell phone exposure affects brain glucose metabolism, a marker of brain activity.

Background/further details

47 subjects participated. Brain glucose metabolism was measured twice, once with the right cell phone activated for 50 minutes ("on" condition) and once with both cell phones deactivated ("off" condition).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: brain activity (brain glucose metabolism)

Exposure

- CDMA
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- digital mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 837.8 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 50 min	SAR: 0.901 W/kg maximum (in the head)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	837.8 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 50 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Samsung SCH-U310 cell phone
Setup	mobile phones placed on the left and right ear of the test person secured by a muffler; for exposure only the right phone was activated
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.901 W/kg	maximum	-	-	in the head

Exposed system:

human
partial body: left and right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: brain glucose metabolism (for the whole brain and different brain regions; via fluorodeoxyglucose uptake; positron emission tomography)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Whole-brain metabolism did not differ between mobile phone "on" and "off" conditions. In contrast, metabolism in the region closest to the antenna (orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole) was significantly higher for "on" than "off" conditions. The increases were significantly correlated with the estimated electromagnetic field amplitudes both for absolute metabolism and normalized metabolism (region/whole brain).
Compared with sham exposure, 50 minute mobile phone exposure was associated with increased brain glucose metabolism in the region closest to the antenna. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that in humans radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure from cell phone use affects brain function, as shown by the regional increases in metabolic activity.This finding is of unknown clinical significance.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
cross-over study, blind study

Study funded by

Department of Energy, USA
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Maryland, USA

Comments on this article

Lai H et al. (2011): Cell phone radiofrequency radiation exposure and brain glucose metabolism
Nordstrom CH (2011): Cell phone activation and brain glucose metabolism (author's reply included)
Kosowsky A et al. (2011): Cell phone activation and brain glucose metabolism
Davis CC et al. (2011): Cell phone activation and brain glucose metabolism

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