German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme

The German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme, which started in 2002 and was accomplished in 2008, comprised research projects on the topic of mobile telecommunication including the fields of biology, dosimetry, epidemiology, and risk communication. The researchers deliberately investigated a broad frequency range which partly exceeds the currently used GSM and UMTS ranges. The objective was to find scientifically demonstrable fundamental biological effects and mechanisms and to assess their relevance for people's health on the basis of international research results. The Programme also aimed at finding potential causes of electrosensitivity. It was intended to obtain results which are of importance to the entire field of telecommunications and which should make it possible to draw conclusions about future developments. The German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (DMF) was initiated by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The Programme was funded with 17 million euros, equally shared by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the network operators. In spite of their contribution to the Programme's funds, the German network operators were not entitled to decide on the research projects to be conducted nor to participate in the evaluation of the research results. The German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme was exclusively coordinated and implemented by BfS.

Relevant publications

• Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H, Bahr A, Anderer P, Sauter C (2011)
  Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep.
  J Sleep Res 20 (1 Pt 1): 73 - 81
• Cardis E, Deltour I, Mann S, Moissonnier M, Taki M, Varsier N, Wake K, Wiart J (2008)
  Distribution of RF energy emitted by mobile phones in anatomical structures of the brain.
  Phys Med Biol 53 (11): 2771 - 2783
• Schmid G, Lager D, Preiner P, Überbacher R, Cecil S (2007)
  Exposure caused by wireless technologies used for short-range indoor communication in homes and offices.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 58 - 62
• Schlehofer B, Schlaefer K, Blettner M, Berg G, Bohler E, Hettinger I, Kunna-Grass K, Wahrendorf J, Schüz J (2007)
  Environmental risk factors for sporadic acoustic neuroma (Interphone Study Group, Germany).
  Eur J Cancer 43 (11): 1741 - 1747
• Merzenich H, Schmiedel S, Bennack S, Brüggemeyer H, Philipp J, Spix C, Blettner M, Schüz J (2007)
  Leukämie bei Kindern in der Umgebung von Sendestationen des Rundfunks - Anforderungen an das Studiendesign.
  Umweltmed Forsch Prax 12 (4): 213 - 223
• Samaras T, Christ A, Klingenbock A, Kuster N (2007)
  Worst case temperature rise in a one-dimensional tissue model exposed to radiofrequency radiation.
  IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 54 (3): 492 - 496
• Schmid G, Überbacher R, Samaras T (2007)
  Radio frequency-induced temperature elevations in the human head considering small anatomical structures.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 15 - 20
• Schubert M, Bornkessel C, Wuschek M, Schmidt P (2007)
  Exposure of the general public to digital broadcast transmitters compared to analogue ones.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 53 - 57
• Christ A, Samaras T, Neufeld E, Klingenbock A, Kuster N (2007)
  SAR distribution in human beings when using body-worn RF transmitters.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 6 - 14
• Neitzke HP, Osterhoff J, Peklo K, Voigt H (2007)
  Determination of exposure due to mobile phone base stations in an epidemiological study.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 35 - 39
• Reinhardt T, Bitz A, El Ouardi A, Streckert J, Sommer A, Lerchl A, Hansen V (2007)
  Exposure set-ups for in vivo experiments using radial waveguides.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 21 - 26
• Bornkessel C, Schubert M, Wuschek M, Schmidt P (2007)
  Determination of the general public exposure around GSM and UMTS base stations.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 40 - 47
• Sommer AM, Bitz AK, Streckert J, Hansen VW, Lerchl A (2007)
  Lymphoma Development in Mice Chronically Exposed to UMTS-Modulated Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
  Radiat Res 168 (1): 72 - 80
• Schmid G, Überbacher R, Samaras T, Jappel A, Baumgartner WD, Tschabitscher M, Mazal PR (2007)
  High-resolution numerical model of the middle and inner ear for a detailed analysis of radio frequency absorption.
  Phys Med Biol 52 (7): 1771 - 1781
• Schmid G, Überbacher R, Samaras T, Tschabitscher M, Mazal PR (2007)
  The dielectric properties of human pineal gland tissue and RF absorption due to wireless communication devices in the frequency range 400-1850 MHz.
  Phys Med Biol 52 (17): 5457 - 5468
• Mann S (2007)
  Rapporteur's report.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 2 - 5
• Bahr A, Adami C, Bolz T, Rennings A, Dorn H, Ruttiger L (2007)
  Exposure setups for laboratory animals and volunteer studies using body-mounted antennas.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 31 - 34
• Schmid G, Preiner P, Lager D, Überbacher R, Georg R (2007)
  Exposure of the general public due to wireless LAN applications in public places.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 48 - 52
• Schelkshorn S, Tejero S, Detlefsen J (2007)
  Exposure setup for animal experiments using a parabolic reflector.
  Radiat Prot Dosimetry 124 (1): 27 - 30
• Koester P, Sakowski J, Baumann W, Glock HW, Gimsa J (2007)
  A new exposure system for the in vitro detection of GHz field effects on neuronal networks.
  Bioelectrochemistry 70 (1): 104 - 114
• Landgrebe M, Hauser S, Langguth B, Frick U, Hajak G, Eichhammer P (2007)
  Altered cortical excitability in subjectively electrosensitive patients: Results of a pilot study.
  J Psychosom Res 62 (3): 283 - 288
• Schüz J, Bohler E, Berg G, Schlehofer B, Hettinger I, Schlaefer K, Wahrendorf J, Kunna-Grass K, Blettner M (2006)
  Cellular phones, cordless phones, and the risks of glioma and meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany).
  Am J Epidemiol 163 (6): 512 - 520
• Sommer AM, Lerchl A (2006)
  50 Hz magnetic fields of 1 mT do not promote lymphoma development in AKR/J mice.
  Radiat Res 165 (3): 343 - 349
• Lantow M, Schuderer J, Hartwig C, Simko M (2006)
  Free radical release and HSP70 expression in two human immune-relevant cell lines after exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation.
  Radiat Res 165 (1): 88 - 94
• Radon K, Spegel H, Meyer N, Klein J, Brix J, Wiedenhofer A, Eder H, Praml G, Schulze A, Ehrenstein V, von Kries R, Nowak D (2006)
  Personal dosimetry of exposure to mobile telephone base stations? An epidemiologic feasibility study comparing the Maschek dosimeter prototype and the Antennessa SP-090 system.
  Bioelectromagnetics 27 (1): 77 - 81
• Sukhotina I, Streckert JR, Bitz AK, Hansen VW, Lerchl A (2006)
  1800 MHz electromagnetic field effects on melatonin release from isolated pineal glands.
  J Pineal Res 40 (1): 86 - 91
• Lantow M, Lupke M, Frahm J, Mattsson MO, Kuster N, Simko M (2006)
  ROS release and Hsp70 expression after exposure to 1,800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in primary human monocytes and lymphocytes.
  Radiat Environ Biophys 45 (1): 55 - 62
• Lantow M, Viergutz T, Weiss DG, Simko M (2006)
  Comparative study of cell cycle kinetics and induction of apoptosis or necrosis after exposure of human mono mac 6 cells to radiofrequency radiation.
  Radiat Res 166 (3): 539 - 543
• Berg G, Spallek J, Schüz J, Schlehofer B, Bohler E, Schlaefer K, Hettinger I, Kunna-Grass K, Wahrendorf J, Blettner M (2006)
  Occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of brain tumors: Interphone Study Group, Germany.
  Am J Epidemiol 164 (6): 538 - 548
• Schüz J, Bohler E, Schlehofer B, Berg G, Schlaefer K, Hettinger I, Kunna-Grass K, Wahrendorf J, Blettner M (2006)
  Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted from base stations of DECT cordless phones and the risk of glioma and meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany).
  Radiat Res 166 (1): 116 - 119
• Frick U, Mayer M, Hauser S, Binder H, Rosner R, Eichhammer P (2006)
  Entwicklung eines deutschsprachigen Messinstrumentes für 'Elektrosmog-Beschwerden'
  Umweltmed Forsch Prax 11 (2): 103 - 113
• Bahr A, Dorn H, Bolz T (2006)
  Dosimetric assessment of an exposure system for simulating GSM and WCDMA mobile phone usage.
  Bioelectromagnetics 27 (4): 320 - 327
• Simko M, Hartwig C, Lantow M, Lupke M, Mattsson MO, Rahman Q, Rollwitz J (2006)
  Hsp70 expression and free radical release after exposure to non-thermal radio-frequency electromagnetic fields and ultrafine particles in human Mono Mac 6 cells.
  Toxicol Lett 161 (1): 73 - 82
• Landgrebe M, Hauser S, Langguth B, Frick U, Hajak G, Eichhammer P (2006)
  Transkranielle Magnetstimulation zur neurobiologischen Charakterisierung somatoformer Störungen.
  Nervenheilkunde 25 (8): 653 - 656
• Baumann J, Landstorfer FM, Geisbusch L, Georg R (2006)
  Evaluation of radiation exposure by UMTS mobile phones.
  Electron Lett 42 (4): 225 - 226
• Simeonova M, Gimsa J (2006)
  The influence of the molecular structure of lipid membranes on the electric field distribution and energy absorption.
  Bioelectromagnetics 27 (8): 652 - 666
• Christ A, Klingenböck A, Samaras T, Goiceanu C, Kuster N (2006)
  The dependence of electromagnetic far-field absorption on body tissue composition in the frequency range from 300 MHz to 6 GHz.
  IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech 54 (5): 2188 - 2195
• Tejero S, Schelkshorn S, Detlefsen J (2005)
  Concept for the controlled plane wave exposure for animal experiments using a parabolic reflector.
  Adv Radio Sci 3: 233 - 238
• Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H (2005)
  Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields at Mobile Phone Frequencies on Sleep: Current State of Knowledge from Laboratory Studies.
  Somnologie (Somnology) 9 (4): 192 - 198
• Prolic Z, Janac B, Pesic V, Jelenkovic A (2005)
  The effect of extremely low-frequency magnetic field on motor activity of rats in the open field.
  Ann N Y Acad Sci 1048: 381 - 384
• Schmidt-Pokrzywniak A, Jöckel KH, Bornfeld N, Stang A (2004)
  Case-control study on uveal melanoma (RIFA): rational and design.
  BMC Ophthalmol 4 (1): 11
• Sommer AM, Lerchl A (2004)
  The risk of lymphoma in AKR/J mice does not rise with chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields (1 microT and 100 microT).
  Radiat Res 162 (2): 194 - 200
• Sommer AM, Streckert J, Bitz AK, Hansen VW, Lerchl A (2004)
  No effects of GSM-modulated 900 MHz electromagnetic fields on survival rate and spontaneous development of lymphoma in female AKR/J mice.
  BMC Cancer 4: 77
• Berg G, Breckenkamp J, Blettner M (2003)
  Gesundheitliche Auswirkungen hochfrequenter Strahlenexposition.
  Deutsches Ärzteblatt 100 (42): 2738 - 2740
• Breckenkamp J, Berg G, Blettner M (2003)
  Biological effects on human health due to radiofrequency/microwave exposure: a synopsis of cohort studies.
  Radiat Environ Biophys 42 (3): 141 - 154

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