title: Effects of GSM cellular phones on human hearing: the European project "GUARD".
abstract: The European multicenter project named GUARD involved nine centers and aimed to assess potential changes in auditory function as a consequence of exposure to low-intensity electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by GSM cellular phones. Participants were healthy young adults without any evidence of hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to EMFs, and only the exposed ear was tested. The procedure was conducted twice in a double blinded design, once with a genuine EMF exposure and once with a sham exposure (at least 24 h apart). Tests for assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem response (ABR). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham EMF exposure. The EMF exposure used the output of a software-controlled consumer cellular phone at full power for 10 min. A system of phone positioning that allowed participants to freely move their heads without affecting exposure was used. Analysis of the data showed there were no effects of exposure to GSM mobile phone signals on the main measures of the status of the auditory system.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ingegneria Biomedica ISIB, Consglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy. marta.parazzini@polimi.it
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: Alessandra R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brazzale
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paglialonga
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognola
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lutman
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Ingrida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uloziene
authors.forename: Virgijlius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uloza
authors.forename: Gyorgy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thuroczy
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tavartkiladze
authors.forename: Miltos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsalighopoulos
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kyriafinis
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravazzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D011829:Radiation Dosage