title: Modeled and Perceived Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields From Mobile-Phone Base Stations and the Development of Symptoms Over Time in a General Population Cohort.
abstract: We assessed associations between modeled and perceived exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile-phone base stations and the development of nonspecific symptoms and sleep disturbances over time. A population-based Dutch cohort study, the Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort Study (AMIGO) (n = 14,829; ages 31-65 years), was established in 2011/2012 (T0), with follow-up of a subgroup (n = 3,992 invited) in 2013 (T1; n = 2,228) and 2014 (T2; n = 1,740). We modeled far-field RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations at the home addresses of the participants using a 3-dimensional geospatial model (NISMap). Perceived exposure (0 = not at all; 6 = very much), nonspecific symptoms, and sleep disturbances were assessed by questionnaire. We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, including fixed-effects regression. We found small correlations between modeled and perceived exposure in AMIGO participants at baseline (n = 14,309; rSpearman = 0.10). For 222 follow-up participants, modeled exposure increased substantially (>0.030 mW/m2) between T0 and T1. This increase in modeled exposure was associated with an increase in perceived exposure during the same time period. In contrast to modeled RF-EMF exposure from mobile-phone base stations, perceived exposure was associated with higher symptom reporting scores in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, as well as with sleep disturbances in cross-sectional analyses.
authors.forename: Astrid L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slottje
authors.forename: Danielle R M
authors.initials: DRM
authors.lastname: Timmermans
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
authors.forename: Marije
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reedijk
authors.forename: Roel C H
authors.initials: RCH
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Tjabe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009426:Netherlands; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: cell phones; geospatial model; mobile-phone base stations; nonspecific symptoms; perceived exposure; prospective cohort studies; radiofrequency electromagnetic fields; sleep disturbances