Can mobile phone emissions affect auditory functions of cochlea or brain stem?
OBJECTIVE
Despite their abundant spread, mobile phones are suspected by a major share of the population to cause adverse effects on health and welfare. The ear as the sense organ next to the individual device has rarely been investigated for short-term effects in this regard. In a previous article, we could not prove any impact on the vestibular part of the inner ear. Our present examinations are concerned with the question whether mobile phone emissions could affect cochlear or auditory brain stem functions.


METHODS
In 12 healthy test persons with normal hearing, auditory brain stem reflexes recordings were performed before, during, and after exposure to electromagnetic emissions by standardized mobile phone devices. Two modes of electromagnetic emissions fields were administered: pulsed and continuous. For acoustic stimulation simultaneous to field exposure, special "plug-in" earphones had to be used.


RESULTS
No impact on auditory brain stem reflexes recordings in terms of absolute and interpeak latencies could be found.


CONCLUSIONS
Together with the results of a previous article concerned with the vestibular part of the inner ear, we can state that there are no adverse effects of mobile phone emissions on the ear function, at least on a short-term range. Of course, any long-term effects cannot be excluded by our study.
Sievert
Uwe
U
ENT Department, Medical School, University of Rostock, Rostock, USA. uwe.sievert@med.uni-rostock.de
Eggert
Siegfried
S
Pau
Hans Wilhelm
HW
D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged