Medical/biological study (observational study)

[Reduced Fertility and Increased Number of Birth Defects under Cell Phone Radiation- Documentation from a Pig Farm] med./bio.

Reduzierte Fruchtbarkeit und vermehrte Missbildungen unter Mobilfunkstrahlung- Dokumentation aus einem landwirtschaftlichen Nutzbetrieb

By: Buchner K, Eger H, Hopper J

Published in: Umwelt · Medizin · Gesellschaft 2014; 27 (3): 182-191

Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Data on fertility of sows and malformation rate of piglets after the installation of a mobile phone base station should be compared to data gathered prior to the installation.

Background/further details

At the end of April 2009, a mobile phone base station was installed at a distance of about 300 meters from the investigated pig farm in the Lower Bavarian county of Passau (Germany). In the present study, data of two periods are compared: prior to the installation of the transmitter: 1) from 2002 to 2008 and 2) after the installation of the transmitter: from 2009 to 2011.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: fertility of sows and malformation rate of piglets

Exposure

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

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous	power density: 700 µW/m² maximum (in the stables after onset of transmitter) power density: 1,200 µW/m² maximum (near the farm after onset of transmitter) power density: 1 µW/m² maximum (near the farm before onset of transmitter)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous
Additional info	GSM-900 signal

Exposure setup

Exposure source	base transceiver station
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	300 m
Chamber	stables in buildings made of massive brick walls
Setup	pigs were housed in groups; mobile phone base station with 3 GSM 900 transmitters in approximately 300 m distance to the farm

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	700 µW/m²	maximum	measured	-	in the stables after onset of transmitter
power density	1,200 µW/m²	maximum	measured	-	near the farm after onset of transmitter
power density	1 µW/m²	maximum	measured	-	near the farm before onset of transmitter

Additional parameter details

background expsoure in the stables from other appliances was max. 9 nT and 4 V/m in the frequency range 15 Hz - 100 kHz

Exposed system:

animal
pig (German Landrace (sows) and German Landrace x Pietrain (piglets))
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: number of housed sows, number of born piglets, number of failed fertilizations, number of fertilizations per year, number of liveborn piglets, number of piglets per farrow, number of malformations in piglets (total number and differentiated into lack of anus, hermaphrodite, malformations of the skin, head, legs and stomach), sex ratio of piglets

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The average number of piglets decreased from 2,908 before installing the transmitter to 2,576 piglets per year after installation of the transmitter although the number of sows was increased from 133 to 140 on average. In addition to that, the number of fallows decreased significantly from 2.17 to 2.09 litters per sow per year.
As a result, the number of piglets per sow per year decreased significantly from 23.5 prior to the start of transmission to 20.6 after the onset. The assumed reason for this is a significantly increased occurence of failed fertilizations (25.7% after installing the transmitter compared to 17.6% before installation).
Just a few months after the start of transmission, an increased number of hermaphrodites and malformations of the head, abdomen and legs was observed in newborn piglets (no information about the significance).
The sex ratio changed significantly in newborn piglets after onset of the transmitter towards an increased number of female animals.
The authors conclude that an increase in malformations of newborn piglets and fertility problems in sows could be assumed after installing the mobile phone base station in the vicinity of the farm. This could not only have veterinary but also human medical relevance.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Hässig M et al. (2012): [Increased occurence of nuclear cataract in the calf after erection of a mobile phone base station]
Löscher W (2003): [Survey of effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on production, health and behaviour of farm animals]