title: Assessment of intermittent UMTS electromagnetic field effects on blood circulation in the human auditory region using a near-infrared system.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the potential effects of intermittent Universal Mobile Telecommunications System electromagnetic fields (UMTS-EMF) on blood circulation in the human head (auditory region) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on two different timescales: short-term (effects occurring within 80 s) and medium-term (effects occurring within 80 s to 30 min). For the first time, we measured potential immediate effects of UMTS-EMF in real-time without any interference during exposure. Three different exposures (sham, 0.18 W/kg, and 1.8 W/kg) were applied in a controlled, randomized, crossover, and double-blind paradigm on 16 healthy volunteers. In addition to oxy-, deoxy-, and total haemoglobin concentrations ([O(2) Hb], [HHb], and [tHb], respectively), the heart rate (HR), subjective well-being, tiredness, and counting speed were recorded. During exposure to 0.18 W/kg, we found a significant short-term increase in Δ[O(2) Hb] and Δ[tHb], which is small (≈17%) compared to a functional brain activation. A significant decrease in the medium-term response of Δ[HHb] at 0.18 and 1.8 W/kg exposures was detected, which is in the range of physiological fluctuations. The medium-term ΔHR was significantly higher (+1.84 bpm) at 1.8 W/kg than for sham exposure. The other parameters showed no significant effects. Our results suggest that intermittent exposure to UMTS-EMF has small short- and medium-term effects on cerebral blood circulation and HR.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. spichtig.sonja@alumni.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spichtig
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scholkmann
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004423:Ear / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; C100003:deoxyhemoglobin