Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Assessment of potential short-term effects of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic fields on blood circulation in an exploratory study, using near-infrared imaging med./bio.

By: Spichtig S, Scholkmann F, Chin L, Lehmann H, Wolf M
Published in: Oxygen Transport to Tissue XXXIII. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology vol. 737. Wolf M, Bucher HU, Rudin M, Van Huffel S, Wolf U, Bruley DF, Harrison DK (eds.): Springer, New York, 2012: 83-88, ISBN 978-1-4614-1565-7
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate several UMTS signal types and exposure positions for potential effects on cerebral blood flow.

Background/further details

Right handed male subjects (n=8) underwent eight measurements on different days. A measurement consisted of 15 exposure and recovery cycles.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1.9 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
  • SAR: 1.8 W/kg peak value (10 g)
Exposure 2: 1.9 GHz
Exposure duration: 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
  • SAR: 1.8 W/kg peak value (10 g)
Exposure 3: 1.9 GHz
Exposure duration: 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
W-CDMA uplink 1 communication channel
  • SAR: 1.8 W/kg peak value (10 g)
Exposure 4: 1.9 GHz
Exposure duration: 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
W-CDMA uplink 6 communication channel
  • SAR: 1.8 W/kg peak value (10 g)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.9 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup absorber walls arranged around the subject's bench exposure took place in two positions: 1) close to the ear of the test person 2) at point B-C3 in the international 10-20 EEG positioning system
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.8 W/kg peak value calculated 10 g -
Additional parameter details

background fields: f = 1.9 GHz - E = 0.0002 V/m GMS downlink f = 900 MHz - E = 0.005 V/m FM radio signal f = 88 MHz - E = 0.0005 V/m hospital pager f = 451 MHz - E = 0.0003 V/m

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.9 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
Additional info base station like signal
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.8 W/kg peak value calculated 10 g -
Additional parameter details

background fields: f = 1.9 GHz - E = 0.0002 V/m GMS downlink f = 900 MHz - E = 0.005 V/m FM radio signal f = 88 MHz - E = 0.0005 V/m hospital pager f = 451 MHz - E = 0.0003 V/m

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.9 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
Additional info W-CDMA uplink 1 communication channel
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.8 W/kg peak value calculated 10 g -
Additional parameter details

background fields: f = 1.9 GHz - E = 0.0002 V/m GMS downlink f = 900 MHz - E = 0.005 V/m FM radio signal f = 88 MHz - E = 0.0005 V/m hospital pager f = 451 MHz - E = 0.0003 V/m

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.9 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 20 s on - 60 s off for 15 cycles
Additional info W-CDMA uplink 6 communication channel
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.8 W/kg peak value calculated 10 g -
Additional parameter details

background fields: f = 1.9 GHz - E = 0.0002 V/m GMS downlink f = 900 MHz - E = 0.005 V/m FM radio signal f = 88 MHz - E = 0.0005 V/m hospital pager f = 451 MHz - E = 0.0003 V/m

Reference articles

  • Lehmann H et al. (2012): Head exposure system for a human provocation study to assess the possible influence of UMTS-like electromagnetic fields on cerebral blood circulation using near-infrared imaging
  • Ndoumbe Mbonjo Mbonjo H et al. (2004): Generic UMTS test signal for RF bioelectromagnetic studies
  • Zwamborn APM et al. (2003): Effects of Global Communication system radio-frequency fields on Well Being and Cognitive Functions of human subjects with and without subjective complaints

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No statistically significant differences between exposure and recovery were found regarding the content of deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin for any condition and measurement parameter. Hence, no differences in the cerebral blood flow were found.

Study character:

Study funded by

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