title: Mobile phone base stations and well-being--A meta-analysis.
abstract: It is unclear whether electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations affect well-being in adults. The existing studies on this topic are highly inconsistent. In the current paper we attempt to clarify this question by carrying out a meta-analysis which is based on the results of 17 studies. Double-blind studies found no effects on human well-being. By contrast, field or unblinded studies clearly showed that there were indeed effects. This provides evidence that at least some effects are based on a nocebo effect. Whether there is an influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone base stations thus depends on a person's knowledge about the presence of the presumed cause. Taken together, the results of the meta-analysis show that the effects of mobile phone base stations seem to be rather unlikely. However, nocebo effects occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klaps
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Statistics and Economics, MODUL University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ponocny
authors.affiliation: Health and Prevention Center of the Insurance Institution for Vienna Employees, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winker
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: Felicitas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auersperg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Linz, Austria. Electronic address: alfred.barth@sfu.ac.at.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011846:Radio Waves
keywords: Electromagnetic fields; Human health; Mobile phone base station; Well-being