title: Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is public concern regarding potential health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure, as produced by mobile phones or broadcast transmitters. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms and tinnitus in a prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey with follow-up after one year (participation rate 82%). A score for somatic complaints (von Zerssen list) and headache (HIT-6) was assessed. Far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure was predicted using a validated prediction model. Regarding near-field exposure, self-reported mobile and cordless phone use as well as mobile phone operator data were collected. In multivariate regression models, we investigated whether exposure at baseline (cohort analysis) or changes in exposure between baseline and follow-up (change analysis) were related to changes in health scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For participants in the top decile of environmental far-field RF-EMF exposure at baseline, in comparison to participants exposed below the median value, the change in the von Zerssen- and HIT-6-scores between baseline and follow-up was -0.12 (95%-CI: -1.79 to 1.56) and -0.37 (95%-CI: -1.80 to 1.07) units, respectively. Exposure to near-field sources and a change in exposure between baseline and follow-up were not related to non-specific symptoms. Similarly, no association between RF-EMF exposure and tinnitus was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this first cohort study using objective and well-validated RF-EMF exposure measures, we did not observe an association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms or tinnitus.
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland. frei@cancer.dk
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Frei
authors: Evelyn
authors: E
authors: Mohler
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Braun-Fahrländer
authors: Jürg
authors: J
authors: Fröhlich
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Neubauer
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Röösli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology*