Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Human short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones decreases computer-assisted visual reaction time. med./bio.

By: Mortazavi SM, Rouintan MS, Taeb S, Dehghan N, Ghaffarpanah AA, Sadeghi Z, Ghafouri F

Published in: Acta Neurol Belg 2012; 112 (2): 171-175

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the acute and chronic effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on reaction time in male and female students (n=160).

Background/further details

Each experiment (either real or sham exposed) was repeated five times. The test persons were not aware of the order of real/sham exposure.
For chronic effects, the test persons were divided into three groups according to the duration of their mobile phone usage: low level (total exposure <200 h, n=35), moderate (201-600 h, n=98) and frequent (>600 h, n=27) users of mobile phones.

Endpoint

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: visual reaction time

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: unspecified Exposure duration: 5 x 10 min. (in random order with sham exposure and 30 min. rest in between)	SAR: 1.23 W/kg maximum (at the ear - manufacturer's data)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	unspecified
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	5 x 10 min. (in random order with sham exposure and 30 min. rest in between)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone GSM
Setup	mute phone in talking mode placed on the right ear of the test person
Additional info	for control ("sham exposure") mobile phone was in standby mode

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.23 W/kg	maximum	-	-	at the ear - manufacturer's data

Exposed system:

human
partial body: right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: measurement of visual reaction time (modified "Bracy simple VRT test")

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

It was shown that the visual reaction time was significantly decreased after exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by a mobile phone.
No chronic effects were observed. There was no significant difference between low level, moderate and frequent users of mobile phones.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

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