EMF-Portal | Study overviews

Authors	Year	Study type	Study group	Observation period	Study location	Endpoints	Parameters
Röösli M et al.	2010	cohort study, prospective cohort study	men, women, 30–60 years	2008, follow-up in 2009	Switzerland	daytime sleepiness, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, headache, tinnitus	mobile communications, mobile phone, mobile phone base station, cordless phone, W-LAN/WiFi, Radio/TV transmitter, residential, personal
Frei P et al.	2012	cohort study, prospective cohort study	men, women, 30–60 years	2008, follow-up in 2009	Switzerland	non-specific health symptoms (e.g., headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of energy or concentration) and tinnitus	mobile communications, mobile phone, mobile phone base station, DECT, cordless phone, W-LAN/WiFi, Radio/TV transmitter, personal
Sandström M et al.	2001	cross-sectional study	men, women	1996	Sweden, Norway	subjective symptoms: dizziness, discomfort, concentration, memory loss, fatigue, headaches, warmth behind ear, warmth on ear, burning skin, tingling/tightness	mobile communications, analog mobile phone, digital mobile phone, GSM, NMT, occupational, personal
Oftedal G et al.	2000	cross-sectional study	men, women	1996	Sweden, Norway	subjective symptoms: dizziness, feelings of discomfort, difficulties concentrating, memory loss, unusual fatigue, headaches, sensations of warmth behind/ around/ on the ear, burning sensations in the facial skin, tingling/tightness sensations in the facial skin and other symptoms, details of symptom experience (e.g. duration of symptoms, medical consultation and sick leave), conditions under which the symptoms are experienced (e.g. long duration mobile phone calls), measures to reduce the symptoms	mobile communications, GSM, NMT, PC/TV monitor, occupational, personal
Salama OE et al.	2004	cross-sectional study	men, women, 20–60 years	not stated	Egypt	headache, earache, burning sensation of the face, fatigue, concentration difficulty, sleep disturbances	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal
Schreier N et al.	2006	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 14 years	May - July 2004	Switzerland	sleep disorders, headache, concentration difficulties, nervousness, rheumatism/muscle pain, respiratory problems, dizziness	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, mobile phone base station, cordless phone, Radio/TV transmitter, microw. oven/heating device, magnetic field, 50/60 Hz, power transmission line, PC/TV monitor, other domestic appliance, residential, personal, also other exposures without EMF
Mortazavi SM et al.	2007	cross-sectional study	men, women	spring 2005	Iran	headache, vertigo/dizziness, myalgia, palpitation, fatigue, tinnitus, difference in concentration, attention disorder, nervousness, and low back pain	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, PC/TV monitor, personal
Thomas S et al.	2008	cross-sectional study	men, women, 18–65 years	January 2005 - August 2006	Germany	headache, neurological symptoms (e.g., tinnitus), cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., tachycardia), concentration problems, fatigue, sleep disturbances	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, personal
Söderqvist F et al.	2008	cross-sectional study	men, women, 15–19 years	October 2005	Sweden	sleep disturbances, health symptoms such as tiredness, stress, headache, anxiety, and concentration difficulties	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, GSM, UMTS, NMT, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, personal, also other exposures without EMF
Blettner M et al.	2009	cross-sectional study	men, women, 14–69 years	2004	Germany	concerns; health complaints e.g. cognition problems, pain, sleeping problems, skin reactions, gastrointestinal affections, visual problems	mobile communications, mobile phone base station, residential
Berg-Beckhoff G et al.	2009	cross-sectional study	men, women, 15–71 years	March - August 2006	Germany	headaches, health complaints, mental, and physical health, sleep disturbances, risk perception (not concerned, concerned, attributed own adverse health effects to base stations)	mobile communications, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, TETRA/TETRAPOL, Bluetooth, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, TV broadcast (VHF/UHF), FM broadcast (UKW), DVB-T, residential
Johansson A et al.	2010	cross-sectional study	men, women	December 2005 - April 2006	Sweden	sleep disturbances, dizziness, discomfort, concentration, memory loss, fatigue, headaches, warmth behind/around ear, warmth on ear, burning skin, tingling/tightness, tinnitus, numbness, anxiety, depression, somatization, exhaustion and stress	mobile phone, mobile communications, magnetic field, 50/60 Hz, PC/TV monitor, other domestic appliance, personal
Milde-Busch A et al.	2010	cross-sectional study	children, 13–17 years	not stated	Germany	headache (migraine, tension-type headache, miscellaneous headache)	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, personal
Mohler E et al.	2010	cross-sectional study	men, women, 30–60 years	May 2008	Switzerland	sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness	mobile communications, mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, TETRA/TETRAPOL, RF field, DECT, cordless phone, W-LAN/WiFi, TV broadcast (VHF/UHF), FM broadcast (UKW), residential, personal
Breckenkamp J et al.	2010	cross-sectional study	men, women, 15–71 years	March - August 2006	Germany	headache, health complaints, mental, and physical health, sleep disturbances, risk perception (not concerned, concerned, attributed own adverse health effects to base stations)	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, TETRA/TETRAPOL, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, TV broadcast (VHF/UHF), FM broadcast (UKW), residential
Heinrich S et al.	2011	cross-sectional study	children, 8–17 years	2006 - 2007	Germany	chronic symptoms over the last 6 months: headache, irritation, nervousness, dizziness, fatigue, and fear, sleep disturbances	mobile phone, digital mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, mobile communications, RF field, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, residential, personal
Heinrich S et al.	2010	cross-sectional study	children, 8–17 years	2006 - 2008	Germany	headache, irritation, nervousness, dizziness, fatigue and concentration problems	mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, mobile communications, RF field, DECT, W-LAN/WiFi, residential, personal
Baliatsas C et al.	2011	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	2006	The Netherlands	non-specific physical symptoms	mobile phone base station, mobile communications, power transmission line, residential
Tseng MMC et al.	2011	cross-sectional study	men, ≥ 18 years	August 2007	Taiwan	electromagnetic hypersensitivity	mobile communications, mobile phone, mobile phone base station, 50/60 Hz, power transmission line, EMF general
Bortkiewicz A et al.	2012	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	not stated	Poland	headache, impaired memory, dermal changes, depression, fatigue, irritation, circulatory systoms, vertigo, mental discomfort, visual disorders, hearing problems, loss of appetite, nausea, sleep disturbances, health status	mobile communications, mobile phone base station, residential
Chu MK et al.	2011	cross-sectional study	men, women, 21–25 years	2005	Korea	headache	mobile phone, CDMA, mobile communications, personal
van Dongen D et al.	2014	cross-sectional study	men, women, 18–87 years	not stated	Netherlands	self-reported non-specific symptoms (e.g., headache, fatigue, back pain, nausea, dizziness, tingling, palpitation), risk perception of EMF in general and of different EMF sources, attribution of symptoms to possible causes, including EMF	mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, mobile communications, DECT, microw. oven/heating device, magnetic field, 50/60 Hz, power transmission line, residential, personal, also other exposures without EMF
Gomez-Perretta C et al.	2013	cross-sectional study	men, women, 15–81 years	January 2001	Spain	fatigue, irritability, headache, nausea, lack of appetite, depression, lack of concentration, memory loss, skin alterations, visual disturbances, vertigo, vascular alterations, hearing problems, walking difficulty, sleep disturbances	mobile phone base station, GSM, mobile communications, residential
Baliatsas C et al.	2014	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	January 2011 - June 2011	Netherlands	23 symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, memory or concentration problems, skin symptoms, heart palpitations, ear symptoms, neck or shoulder symptoms, back pain, muscular pain, abdominal/stomach pain, sleep disturbances, electromagnetic hypersensitivity	mobile phone, mobile phone base station, mobile communications, W-LAN/WiFi, 50/60 Hz, other domestic appliance, residential, personal, also other exposures without EMF
Chiu CT et al.	2015	cross-sectional study	children, 11–15 years	May 2010 - September 2010	Taiwan	headaches/migraine and skin itches, insomnia, excess daytime sleepiness	mobile phone, mobile communications, personal
Zheng F et al.	2014	cross-sectional study	men, women, children, 12–20 years	not stated	China	inattention	mobile phone, mobile communications, personal
Liu H et al.	2014	cross-sectional study	men, women, 22–60 years	August - September 2011	China	sleep quality and sleep duration	mobile phone, mobile communications, electric field, magnetic field, 50/60 Hz, occupational, personal
Alazawi SA	2011	cross-sectional study	men, women, 18–66 years	May - June 2010	Iraq	headaches, fatigue, depressive tendencies, irritability, feeling of discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, visual disturbances, hearing disturbances, dizziness, cardiovascular problems, lowering of libido, nervousness, sleep disturbances	mobile phone base station, mobile communications, residential
Zheng F et al.	2015	cross-sectional study	children, 9–12 years	October 2011 - May 2012	China	headache, dizziness, fatigue, feeling low, heart beating fast, sleep disturbances	mobile phone, mobile communications
Mortazavi SM et al.	2011	cross-sectional study	children, 6–16 years	not stated	Iran	headache, myalgia, palpitation, fatigue, tinnitus, concentration problems, attention problems, nervousness	mobile phone, mobile communications, cordless phone, PC/TV monitor
Silva DF et al.	2015	cross-sectional study	men, women, 18–87 years	not stated	Brazil	irritability, anxiety, decreased libido, palpitation, depression, depressive tendency, depressive symptoms	mobile phone, mobile phone base station, mobile communications
Stalin P et al.	2016	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	January 2014	India	headache, earache, neck pain, tinnitus, painful fingers, restlessness, morning tiredness, tingling fingers, fatigue, eye symptoms, sleep disturbance and hypertension, sleep disturbances	mobile phone, mobile communications
Eyvazlou M et al.	2016	cross-sectional study	men, women, 18–28 years	2014	Iran	general health status, somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, anxiety and severe depression, insomnia	mobile phone, mobile communications
Islam SMS	2014	cross-sectional study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	2009	Bangladesh	headache, dizziness, mood change, anxiety, depression and palpitation, sleep disturbances	mobile phone base station, mobile communications, residential
Nagarjunakonda S et al.	2017	cross-sectional study	men, women, 16–65 years	2014 - 2015	India	epilepsy	mobile phone, mobile communications, also other exposures without EMF
Cho YM et al.	2016	cross-sectional study	men, women	2012 - 2013	Korea	sleep quality, headache, psychosocial well-being, depression, cognitive function, stress, physical and mental health	mobile phone, mobile communications
Durusoy R et al.	2017	cross-sectional study	men, women, 14–16 years	2009 - 2010	Turkey	health symptoms: fatigue, headache, nervousness/irritability, concentration difficulties, forgetfulness, depressive symptoms, dizziness, tremor, nausea, visual disturbances, dryness of the throat, arrythmia, loss of appetite, sensitivity towards sounds, hearing difficulties, allergy, warming of the ear, discomfort during calls, numbness in the heed or face, prickling in the ear, flushing, sleep disturbances	mobile communications, mobile phone, mobile phone base station, GSM, UMTS, DECT, RF field
Višnjić A et al.	2018	cross-sectional study	men, women	2015 - 2016	Serbia and Italy	mental health: depression, anxiety and stress	mobile communications, mobile phone, also other exposures without EMF
Singh K et al.	2016	cross-sectional study, preliminary study	men, women, ≥ 18 years	2013	India	hypertension, headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, salivary function (unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates, level of hydration, saliva consistency and pH)	mobile phone base station, mobile communications, residential
Cao X et al.	2022	meta-analysis	-	-	-	glioma, thyroid cancer, headache, ADHD, dry eye disease, damage to the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, serum S100B protein level	mobile communications, mobile phone, also other exposures without EMF
Meo SA et al.	2005	preliminary study	men, women, 18–42 years	2002 - 2004	Saudi-Arabia	hearing and vision complaints: earache, heating around the ear, decreased hearing, decreased or blurred vision	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal
Navarro EA et al.	2003	preliminary study	men, women, ≥ 15 years	January 2001	Spain	microwave sickness: fatigue, irritability, headache, nausea, appetite loss, insomnia, depression, discomfort, difficulty in concentration, memory loss, skin alterations, visual + auditory dysfunction, dizziness, gait difficulty, cardiovascular alterations	mobile phone base station, GSM, mobile communications, residential
Hocking B	1998	survey	men, women	1996	Australia	cranial symptoms, neurological symptoms, atypical symptoms, waist symptoms	mobile communications, analog mobile phone, digital mobile phone, personal
Santini R et al.	2002	survey	men, women	not given	France	general symptoms (headache, concentration difficulties, loss of memory, tiredness, sleep disturbance); symptoms during use (discomfort, burning sensation of the face, pricking sensation on the ear, warmth of the ear)	mobile communications, digital mobile phone, GSM, PC/TV monitor, personal
Santini R et al.	2003	survey	men, women	not given	France	symptoms of discomfort, sleep disturbances, fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, depressive tendency, concentration difficulties, memory loss, skin problems, visual + hearing disturbances, dizziness, movement diff, cardiovasc. problems, libido lowering	mobile phone base station, mobile communications, residential
Balikci K et al.	2005	survey	men, women	not given	Turkey	headache, dizziness, extreme irritation, shaking in the hands, speaking falteringly, forgetfulness, neuro-psychological discomfort, increase in the carelessness, decrease of the reflex and clicking sound in the ears	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal
Balik HH et al.	2005	survey	men, women	not given	Turkey	blurring of vision, redness on the eyes, vision disturbance, secretion of the eyes, inflammation in the eyes and lacrimation of the eyes	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal
Meo SA et al.	2005	survey	men, women, 18–46 years	not given	Saudi-Arabia	hearing and vision complaints: impaired hearing, ear ache and/or warmth of the ear; decreased vision and/or blurred vision	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal
Schüz J et al.	2006	survey	men, women	October 2003 - March 2005	Germany	headache, tiredness, concentration difficulties, increased heart beat, vertigo, impaired vision, loss of appetite, anxiety, and other symptoms, self-classified hypersensitivity, sleep disturbances	mobile communications, analog mobile phone, digital mobile phone, mobile phone base station, cordless phone, electric field, magnetic field, 50/60 Hz, power transmission line, electrical substation, 16 2/3 Hz (train), other domestic appliance, residential, personal
Khan MM	2008	survey	men, women	not given	Saudi-Arabia	chronic headache, impaired concentration, impaired memory, fatigue, hearing problem, skin disease, warmth around the ear, sleeplessness, self-rated health condition, relation of symptoms to mobile phone use	mobile communications, mobile phone, personal

Study overviews

Epidemiological studies on mobile communications

Hypersensitivity/well-being/subjective complaints 112 studies in total