Electromagnetic hypersensitivity close to mobile phone base stations – a case study in Stockholm, Sweden

{
    "publication_year": 2022,
    "study_type": "case_report",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "base station",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Long term exposure at workplace; symptoms improved after 2 weeks sick leave"
    },
    "population": "Previously healthy worker in an office in Stockholm, Sweden",
    "sample_size": 1,
    "outcomes": [
        "Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) symptoms",
        "Headache",
        "Arthralgia",
        "Tinnitus",
        "Dizziness",
        "Memory loss",
        "Fatigue",
        "Insomnia",
        "Transitory cardiovascular abnormalities",
        "Skin lesions"
    ],
    "main_findings": "A worker developed symptoms described as EHS after moving to an office with measured RF and ELF fields, and most symptoms reportedly improved after 2 weeks away from the workplace. The authors state that workplace EMF exposure could be the cause, citing proximity to a mobile phone base station, a TETRA transmitter, and nearby electric train infrastructure, and suggest RF exposure as the most probable contributor.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Single-person case study without a control group",
        "Causality cannot be established from temporal association alone",
        "Potential for reporting/expectation effects and other unmeasured workplace or personal factors",
        "Exposure characterization is limited to reported measurements and does not isolate individual sources"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "stance": "concern",
    "stance_confidence": 0.8000000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
    "summary": "This case study reports a previously healthy worker who developed symptoms described as electromagnetic hypersensitivity after moving to an office with measured RF and ELF electromagnetic fields. Most symptoms reportedly improved after 2 weeks of sick leave away from the workplace. The authors propose that exposure from a nearby mobile phone base station, a TETRA transmitter, and electric train-related ELF fields could be involved, with RF exposure suggested as the most probable cause.",
    "key_points": [
        "Design is a single-person workplace case study describing symptom onset after relocation to a new office.",
        "Reported symptoms included headache, arthralgia, tinnitus, dizziness, memory loss, fatigue, insomnia, transient cardiovascular abnormalities, and skin lesions.",
        "Most symptoms were reported to improve after 2 weeks away from the workplace.",
        "The highest reported RF field level at the workplace was 1.72 V/m (7,852 μW/m2).",
        "ELF magnetic fields were reported from power at 50 Hz (maximum 285 nT) and from electric train power at 16.7 Hz (maximum 383 nT).",
        "The authors attribute exposure to multiple EMF sources, emphasizing proximity to a rooftop base station antenna and a nearby TETRA transmitter, plus fluctuating train-related ELF fields.",
        "The paper argues that symptom reduction outside the workplace strengthens the reported association, while acknowledging multiple EMF sources in the room."
    ],
    "categories": [
        "Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)",
        "Base Stations",
        "Occupational Exposure",
        "RF Exposure",
        "ELF Exposure"
    ],
    "tags": [
        "Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity",
        "Case Study",
        "Mobile Phone Base Station",
        "Workplace Exposure",
        "Radiofrequency Fields",
        "Extremely Low Frequency Fields",
        "TETRA",
        "Railway Power",
        "Symptom Improvement Away From Exposure",
        "Field Measurements"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
        "EHS",
        "base station",
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF",
        "ELF",
        "TETRA",
        "railroad",
        "workplace",
        "case study"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "ehs",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Focuses on symptoms assigned to electromagnetic hypersensitivity with reported improvement away from exposure."
        },
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.84999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Exposure and symptoms are described in a workplace setting."
        }
    ],
    "social": {
        "tweet": "Case study (Stockholm): a worker developed symptoms described as electromagnetic hypersensitivity after moving to an office with measured RF/ELF fields; most symptoms reportedly improved after 2 weeks away. Authors suggest proximity to a rooftop base station, TETRA transmitter, and nearby electric trains as possible contributors.",
        "facebook": "A case study from Stockholm reports a worker who developed symptoms described as electromagnetic hypersensitivity after relocating to an office with measured RF and ELF electromagnetic fields. Most symptoms reportedly improved after 2 weeks away from the workplace; the authors discuss nearby base station, TETRA, and electric train sources as possible contributors.",
        "linkedin": "This peer-reviewed case study describes symptom onset consistent with electromagnetic hypersensitivity after a workplace move to an office with measured RF and ELF fields, with reported symptom improvement after time away. The authors discuss multiple nearby EMF sources (rooftop base station, TETRA transmitter, and electric train infrastructure) and suggest RF exposure as the most probable contributor."
    }
}

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