title: Aggregated data from two double-blind base station provocation studies comparing individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields and controls.
abstract: Data from two previous studies were aggregated to provide a statistically powerful test of whether exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by telecommunication base stations negatively affects well-being in individuals who report idiopathic environmental illness with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and control participants. A total of 102 IEI-EMF and 237 controls participated in open provocation trials and 88 IEI-EMF and 231 controls went on to complete double-blind trials in which they were exposed to EMFs from a base station emitting either a Global System for Mobile Communication and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System or a Terrestrial Trunked Radio Telecommunications System signal. Both experiments included a comparison sham condition. Visual analog and symptom scales measured subjective well-being. Results showed that IEI-EMF participants reported lower levels of well-being during real compared to sham exposure during open provocation, but not during double-blind trials. Additionally, participants reported lower levels of well-being during high compared to low load trials and this did not interact with radiofrequency-EMF exposure. These findings are consistent with a growing body of literature indicating there is no causal relationship between short-term exposure to EMFs and subjective well-being in members of the public whether or not they report perceived sensitivity to EMFs.
authors: Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex, UK; Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, La Mirada, California.
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Eltiti
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Wallace
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Russo
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Fox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011846:Radio Waves
keywords: electromagnetic hypersensitivity; human health; mobile communications; radiofrequency fields