title: Effects of radiation emitted by WCDMA mobile phones on electromagnetic hypersensitive subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the use of the third generation (3 G) mobile phones on the rise, social concerns have arisen concerning the possible health effects of radio frequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) mobile phones in humans. The number of people with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), who complain of various subjective symptoms such as headache, dizziness and fatigue, has also increased. However, the origins of EHS remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-blind study, two volunteer groups of 17 EHS and 20 non-EHS subjects were simultaneously investigated for physiological changes (heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiration rate), eight subjective symptoms, and perception of RF-EMFs during real and sham exposure sessions. Experiments were conducted using a dummy phone containing a WCDMA module (average power, 24 dBm at 1950 MHz; specific absorption rate, 1.57 W/kg) within a headset placed on the head for 32 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WCDMA RF-EMFs generated no physiological changes or subjective symptoms in either group. There was no evidence that EHS subjects perceived RF-EMFs better than non-EHS subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the analyzed physiological data, the subjective symptoms surveyed, and the percentages of those who believed they were being exposed, 32 min of RF radiation emitted by WCDMA mobile phones demonstrated no effects in either EHS or non-EHS subjects.
authors.affiliation: Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Joon Yul
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Kean
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Keun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Deok Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010465:Perception; D056910:Republic of Korea; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055815:Young Adult