Use of Mobile Phones and Radiofrequency-Emitting Devices in the COSMOS-France Cohort

Abstract

Use of Mobile Phones and Radiofrequency-Emitting Devices in the COSMOS-France Cohort Deltour I, Guida F, Ribet C, Zins M, Goldberg M, Schüz J. Use of Mobile Phones and Radiofrequency- Emitting Devices in the COSMOS-France Cohort. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(11):1514. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21111514. Abstract COSMOS-France is the French part of the COSMOS project, an international prospective cohort study that investigates whether the use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies is associated with health effects and symptoms (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, neurologic pathologies, tinnitus, headaches, or sleep and mood disturbances). Here, we provide the first descriptive results of COSMOS- France, a cohort nested in the general population-based cohort of adults named Constances. Methods: A total of 39,284 Constances volunteers were invited to participate in the COSMOS-France study during the pilot (2017) and main recruitment phase (2019). Participants were asked to complete detailed questionnaires on their mobile phone use, health conditions, and personal characteristics. We examined the association between mobile phone use, including usage for calls and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), cordless phone use, and Wi-Fi usage with age, sex, education, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), and handedness. Results: The participation rate was 48.4%, resulting in 18,502 questionnaires in the analyzed dataset. Mobile phone use was reported by 96.1% (N = 17,782). Users reported typically calling 5–29 min per week (37.1%, N = 6600), making one to four calls per day (52.9%, N = 9408), using one phone (83.9%, N = 14,921) and not sharing it (80.4% N = 14,295), mostly using the phone on the side of the head of their dominant hand (59.1%, N = 10,300), not using loudspeakers or hands-free kits, and not using VoIP (84.9% N = 15,088). Individuals’ age and sex modified this picture, sometimes markedly. Education and smoking status were associated with ever use and call duration, but neither BMI nor handedness was. Cordless phone use was reported by 66.0% of the population, and Wi-Fi use was reported by 88.4%. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional presentation of contemporary mobile phone usage in France, age and sex were important determinants of use patterns. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Among 18,502 analyzed questionnaires, 96.1% reported mobile phone use, 66.0% reported cordless phone use, and 88.4% reported Wi-Fi use. Age and sex were important determinants of use patterns; education and smoking status were associated with ever use and call duration, while BMI and handedness were not.

Outcomes measured

• Mobile phone use patterns (calls duration, calls/day, VoIP use, sharing, side of head, hands-free/loudspeaker use)
• Cordless phone use
• Wi-Fi use
• Associations of use patterns with age, sex, education, smoking status, BMI, handedness

Limitations

• Descriptive cross-sectional analysis (no health effects results reported)
• Exposure based on self-reported questionnaires

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.2)
  Includes Wi-Fi usage as an exposure, though not school-specific.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone; cordless phone; Wi-Fi",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Self-reported use patterns (e.g., minutes/week calling; calls/day; VoIP use; sharing; side of head; hands-free/loudspeaker use)"
    },
    "population": "Adults from the Constances general population-based cohort (France) invited to COSMOS-France",
    "sample_size": 18502,
    "outcomes": [
        "Mobile phone use patterns (calls duration, calls/day, VoIP use, sharing, side of head, hands-free/loudspeaker use)",
        "Cordless phone use",
        "Wi-Fi use",
        "Associations of use patterns with age, sex, education, smoking status, BMI, handedness"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Among 18,502 analyzed questionnaires, 96.1% reported mobile phone use, 66.0% reported cordless phone use, and 88.4% reported Wi-Fi use. Age and sex were important determinants of use patterns; education and smoking status were associated with ever use and call duration, while BMI and handedness were not.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Descriptive cross-sectional analysis (no health effects results reported)",
        "Exposure based on self-reported questionnaires"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "COSMOS-France",
        "Constances cohort",
        "mobile phone",
        "radiofrequency",
        "wireless technologies",
        "VoIP",
        "cordless phone",
        "Wi-Fi",
        "questionnaire",
        "use patterns",
        "France"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "school-wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Includes Wi-Fi usage as an exposure, though not school-specific."
        }
    ]
}

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