Effect of acute exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by a mobile phone (GSM 900 MHz) on electrodermal responsiveness in healthy human.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to determine the effect of acute exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by a mobile phone on electrodermal activity (EDA) in response to an auditory stimulus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The EDA of 28 young volunteers was recorded following 26 min of exposure to a GSM mobile phone (900 MHz). Palmar sensors enabled repeat recording of 2 min 45 s in the pre-exposure, exposure and post-exposure phases in response to sound stimuli. RESULTS: The latency, amplitude of skin conductance responses (SCRs), integral of skin conductance response and number of SCRs in response to the auditory stimuli were not modified by exposure. Skin conductance and tonic activity decomposition of the recorded signal were significantly different between the two sessions (p < .0001), but the changes could not be attributed to EMF exposure. There was also a tendency toward a fast reduction in the amplitude and number of electrodermal responses after placement of the mobile phone. In response to successive stimuli, there was a significant difference between the first response and subsequent responses for all variables except latency. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a decrease in the number of responses and their amplitude as a result of placement of the mobile device and whether it was turned 'on' or 'off', but there were no changes associated with exposure to GSM radiofrequency waves in this group of volunteers.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

After 26 min exposure to a GSM 900 MHz mobile phone, SCR latency, amplitude, integral, and number of SCRs in response to auditory stimuli were not modified by exposure. Although skin conductance and tonic activity decomposition differed between sessions (p<.0001), the changes were reported as not attributable to EMF exposure; decreases in response number and amplitude were associated with placement of the device regardless of whether it was on or off.

Outcomes measured

• electrodermal activity (EDA) in response to auditory stimulus
• skin conductance response (SCR) latency
• SCR amplitude
• integral of SCR
• number of SCRs
• skin conductance
• tonic activity decomposition

Limitations

• Small sample size (n=28)
• Acute/short exposure duration (26 min)
• Population limited to young healthy volunteers

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.9)
  Study tests acute GSM 900 MHz mobile phone RF exposure in humans.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "26 min (acute exposure)"
    },
    "population": "28 young healthy volunteers",
    "sample_size": 28,
    "outcomes": [
        "electrodermal activity (EDA) in response to auditory stimulus",
        "skin conductance response (SCR) latency",
        "SCR amplitude",
        "integral of SCR",
        "number of SCRs",
        "skin conductance",
        "tonic activity decomposition"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 26 min exposure to a GSM 900 MHz mobile phone, SCR latency, amplitude, integral, and number of SCRs in response to auditory stimuli were not modified by exposure. Although skin conductance and tonic activity decomposition differed between sessions (p<.0001), the changes were reported as not attributable to EMF exposure; decreases in response number and amplitude were associated with placement of the device regardless of whether it was on or off.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (n=28)",
        "Acute/short exposure duration (26 min)",
        "Population limited to young healthy volunteers"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "GSM",
        "900 MHz",
        "mobile phone",
        "radiofrequency",
        "electrodermal activity",
        "skin conductance response",
        "auditory stimulus",
        "acute exposure"
    ],
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        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study tests acute GSM 900 MHz mobile phone RF exposure in humans."
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