title: Sensitivity to electricity--temporal changes in Austria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increasing number of persons suffer from non-specific health symptoms such as headache, sleep disturbances, difficulties in concentrating and more. In lack of a medical explanation, more and more persons take refuge to the assumption that they were electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) and electromagnetic pollution causes their problems. The discussion whether electromagnetic fields (EMF) could cause such adverse health effects is still ongoing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the Austrian inhabitants a statistical cross-sample of the general population with regard to age, gender and federal state had been investigated to assess the actual situation and potential temporal changes in comparison with a former study of 1994. In a telephone survey a total number of 526 persons were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed an actual EHS prevalence of 3.5% compared with 2% estimated in 1994. About 70% of the sample believed that electromagnetic pollution could be a risk factor for health. More than 30% declared to at least some degree to be concerned about their well-being near mobile phone base stations or power lines. However, only 10% were actively looking for specific information. Media triggered EHS hypothesis in 24% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that concerns about EMF did not decrease with time in spite of scientific studies and health risk assessments concluding that a causal relationship of EMF below recommended reference levels and non-specific health symptoms would be implausible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Care Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria. schroettner@tugraz.at
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schröttner
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leitgeb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis
references.citation: Health Phys. 1998 Apr;74(4):494-522
references.pmid: 9525427
references.citation: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2004 Feb;207(2):141-50
references.pmid: 15031956
references.citation: Gesundheitswesen. 2003 Jun;65(6):378-92
references.pmid: 12836129
references.citation: Bioelectromagnetics. 2002 May;23(4):264-70
references.pmid: 11948605
references.citation: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Aug;114(8):1270-5
references.pmid: 16882538
references.citation: Psychosom Med. 2005 Mar-Apr;67(2):224-32
references.pmid: 15784787
references.citation: Bioelectromagnetics. 2007 Apr;28(3):208-13
references.pmid: 17080457
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 2000 Apr;26(2):93-8
references.pmid: 10817373
references.citation: Bioelectromagnetics. 2003 Sep;24(6):387-94
references.pmid: 12929157
references.citation: Wien Med Wochenschr. 2005 May;155(9-10):237-41
references.pmid: 15999632
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 1995 Aug;24(4):796-803
references.pmid: 8550278
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002 Feb;28(1):33-41
references.pmid: 11871850
references.citation: Environ Health Perspect. 2002 Aug;110 Suppl 4:619-23
references.pmid: 12194896
references.citation: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2002 Jul;205(5):353-60
references.pmid: 12173533
references.citation: Soz Praventivmed. 2006;51(4):202-9
references.pmid: 17193782
references.citation: Bioelectromagnetics. 2002 Jan;23(1):26-36
references.pmid: 11793403
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2006 Oct 30;6:267
references.pmid: 17074080