title: Effects of mobile phone exposure (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on polysomnography based sleep quality: An intra- and inter-individual perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on effects of radio frequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on the macrostructure of sleep so far yielded inconsistent results. This study investigated whether possible effects of RF-EMF exposure differ between individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over study possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by pulsed Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 900 and Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (WCDMA/UMTS) devices on sleep were analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy young men (range 18-30 years) were exposed three times per exposure condition while their sleep was recorded. Sleep was evaluated according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine standard and eight basic sleep variables were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analyses at the individual level indicate that RF-EMF effects are observed in 90% of the individuals and that all sleep variables are affected in at least four subjects. While sleep of participants was affected in various numbers, combinations of sleep variables and in different directions, showing improvements but also deteriorations, the only consistent finding was an increase of stage R sleep under GSM 900MHz exposure (9 of 30 subjects) as well as under WCDMA/UMTS exposure (10 of 30 subjects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results underline that sleep of individuals can be affected differently. The observations found here may indicate an underlying thermal mechanism of RF-EMF on human REM sleep. Nevertheless, the effect of an increase in stage R sleep in one third of the individuals does not necessarily indicate a disturbance of sleep.
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: heidi.danker-hopfe@charite.de.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Danker-Hopfe
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: hans.dorn@charite.de.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mobile and Satellite communication Technology GmbH, Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Straße 2, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany. Electronic address: bolz@rf-frontend.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bolz
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: anita.peter@charite.de.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: marie-luise.hansen@charite.de.
authors.forename: Marie-Luise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: torsten.eggert@charite.de.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: cornelia.sauter@charite.de.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012890:Sleep / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mobile telephony; RF-EMF exposure; Sleep architecture; Stage R sleep; Temperature