Prospective cohort study on non-specific symptoms, cognitive, behavioral, sleep and mental health in relation to electronic media use and transportation noise among adolescents (HERMES): study protocol

PAPER manual Open Research Europe 2024 Cohort study Effect: unclear Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: notprovided Evidence Lab

Abstract

Category: Epidemiology Institution: Not specified Tags: RF-EMF, adolescents, electronic media, health outcomes, transportation noise, cognitive function, mental health DOI: notprovided URL: open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu Overview Electronic media (eMedia) devices and transportation noise are integral parts of adolescents' daily lives. Concerns have been raised about excessive eMedia usage—not only for its links to sleep deprivation, but notably because of increased exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by wireless devices. Study Aim The HERMES (Health Effects Related to Mobile PhonE Use in AdolescentS) study seeks to pinpoint biophysical and psychological pathways that relate eMedia use, RF-EMF exposure, and transportation noise to cognitive, behavioral, sleep, and mental health outcomes—as well as to non-specific symptoms. Methodology - Third wave of the ongoing HERMES cohort: prospective design, with follow-up every four months and at one year. - Participants: Adolescents in 7th or 8th grade in Northwest and Central Switzerland. - Assessments include: Questionnaire on eMedia use and health outcomes, computerized cognitive tests, parental questionnaire regarding child's health and eMedia use predictors. - Exposure assessment: Far-field RF-EMF and transportation noise at home/school modeled with propagation models; cumulative RF-EMF brain dose calculated using self-reported use, mobile data, and RF-EMF modeling. - Follow-up: One-year revisit, interim home questionnaires, and, for a subsample, RF-EMF personal measurements plus sleep/physical activity tracked by accelerometer. Findings & Implications This HERMES recruitment wave is designed to deepen our understanding of causal pathways between adolescent eMedia use, RF-EMF, and transportation noise exposures, and health impacts. There is evidence linking RF-EMF exposure to cognitive, behavioral, and mental health risks, and this study aims to clarify those relationships in the adolescent population. Conclusion The HERMES study outcomes will significantly inform governmental health policy and provide important insights for parents and the public regarding the health risks associated with RF-EMF from wireless devices and environmental noise. Plain Language Summary - eMedia devices (like smartphones) and transportation noise are daily exposures for adolescents. - Excessive use of these devices increases both sleep deprivation and RF-EMF exposure, - Both types of exposures may adversely impact cognition, mental health, and behavior in adolescents. - The study uses questionnaires, cognitive testing, and physical measurements to unravel these health links over a one-year period.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Cohort study

Effect direction

unclear

Population

Adolescents in 7th or 8th grade in Northwest and Central Switzerland

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF electronic media / wireless devices; transportation noise · follow-up every four months and at one year (one-year period)

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: unknown

Outcomes measured

non-specific symptoms
cognitive outcomes / cognitive function
behavioral outcomes
sleep outcomes
mental health outcomes

Limitations

Study protocol; no results reported in abstract
Sample size not stated in provided text
RF-EMF exposure metrics (frequency, SAR) not specified in provided text

Suggested hubs

school-wi-fi (0.42)
Exposure assessment includes far-field RF-EMF at school; adolescent school setting implied.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "electronic media / wireless devices; transportation noise",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "follow-up every four months and at one year (one-year period)"
    },
    "population": "Adolescents in 7th or 8th grade in Northwest and Central Switzerland",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "non-specific symptoms",
        "cognitive outcomes / cognitive function",
        "behavioral outcomes",
        "sleep outcomes",
        "mental health outcomes"
    ],
    "main_findings": null,
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Study protocol; no results reported in abstract",
        "Sample size not stated in provided text",
        "RF-EMF exposure metrics (frequency, SAR) not specified in provided text"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "HERMES",
        "adolescents",
        "electronic media use",
        "RF-EMF",
        "transportation noise",
        "cognitive function",
        "behavior",
        "sleep",
        "mental health",
        "non-specific symptoms",
        "prospective cohort",
        "exposure modeling",
        "personal measurements",
        "accelerometer"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "school-wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.419999999999999984456877655247808434069156646728515625,
            "reason": "Exposure assessment includes far-field RF-EMF at school; adolescent school setting implied."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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