Wireless sensitivity and co-morbidities: A prevalence study in Australia, Canada, and the United States

Abstract

Wireless radiation—such as from cell phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, laptops, and cell towers—is pervasive in society. Wireless sensitivity is the condition of adverse health effects from exposure to wireless radiation. This study investigates the prevalence of wireless sensitivity, and the medical diagnosis of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), in the general population of three countries: the United States (US), Australia (AU), and Canada (CA). It also investigates the prevalence of wireless sensitivity/EHS with co-morbid conditions: chemical sensitivity/multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), asthma/asthma-related conditions (ARCs), autism/autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and fragrance sensitivity. Nationally representative population-based data were collected in February 2022 (US, AU) and May 2022 (CA) through online surveys of adults [n=3,475 (1,271; 1,104; 1,100) US, AU, CA, respectively]. The study found that, across the general population, 12.6% reported wireless sensitivity (12.8%, 17.4%, 7.5%), 10.0% reported medically diagnosed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) (10.1%, 14.9%, 5.0%), and 14.0% reported either or both (14.3%, 18.9%, 8.7%). Among all gender and age categories, males ages 25 to 34 reported the highest prevalence proportionally. In addition, among those with wireless sensitivity/EHS, 80.6% also reported chemical sensitivity/MCS, 73.2% reported asthma/ARCs, 53.8% reported autism/ASDs, and 84.8% reported fragrance sensitivity. Given these results, across the three countries, over 26 million adults would experience health problems from wireless radiation. Results underscore the need for further research on ways to prevent and reduce exposures and associated adverse effects.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In online surveys of 3,475 adults across the US, Australia, and Canada, 12.6% reported wireless sensitivity, 10.0% reported medically diagnosed EHS, and 14.0% reported either or both. Among respondents with wireless sensitivity/EHS, 80.6% reported chemical sensitivity/MCS, 73.2% asthma/ARCs, 53.8% autism/ASDs, and 84.8% fragrance sensitivity; males aged 25 to 34 had the highest proportional prevalence among gender and age categories.

Outcomes measured

• Self-reported wireless sensitivity prevalence
• Medically diagnosed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) prevalence
• Prevalence of either wireless sensitivity or EHS
• Co-morbid chemical sensitivity/multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
• Co-morbid asthma/asthma-related conditions (ARCs)
• Co-morbid autism/autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
• Co-morbid fragrance sensitivity
• Prevalence by gender and age category

Limitations

• Cross-sectional survey design
• Online survey of adults
• Outcomes are self-reported, including wireless sensitivity and co-morbidities
• Exposure is broadly defined as wireless radiation from multiple sources without quantitative exposure assessment

Suggested hubs

• smart-meters (0.72)
  Smart meters are explicitly listed among wireless radiation sources studied.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "cell phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, laptops, and cell towers",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Nationally representative adult general population samples in the United States, Australia, and Canada",
    "sample_size": 3475,
    "outcomes": [
        "Self-reported wireless sensitivity prevalence",
        "Medically diagnosed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) prevalence",
        "Prevalence of either wireless sensitivity or EHS",
        "Co-morbid chemical sensitivity/multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)",
        "Co-morbid asthma/asthma-related conditions (ARCs)",
        "Co-morbid autism/autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)",
        "Co-morbid fragrance sensitivity",
        "Prevalence by gender and age category"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In online surveys of 3,475 adults across the US, Australia, and Canada, 12.6% reported wireless sensitivity, 10.0% reported medically diagnosed EHS, and 14.0% reported either or both. Among respondents with wireless sensitivity/EHS, 80.6% reported chemical sensitivity/MCS, 73.2% asthma/ARCs, 53.8% autism/ASDs, and 84.8% fragrance sensitivity; males aged 25 to 34 had the highest proportional prevalence among gender and age categories.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional survey design",
        "Online survey of adults",
        "Outcomes are self-reported, including wireless sensitivity and co-morbidities",
        "Exposure is broadly defined as wireless radiation from multiple sources without quantitative exposure assessment"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.93000000000000004884981308350688777863979339599609375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "wireless sensitivity",
        "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
        "EHS",
        "RF exposure",
        "Wi-Fi",
        "cell phones",
        "smart meters",
        "cell towers",
        "prevalence",
        "cross-sectional survey",
        "co-morbidity",
        "multiple chemical sensitivity",
        "asthma",
        "autism spectrum disorders",
        "fragrance sensitivity",
        "United States",
        "Australia",
        "Canada"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "smart-meters",
            "weight": 0.7199999999999999733546474089962430298328399658203125,
            "reason": "Smart meters are explicitly listed among wireless radiation sources studied."
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.