Estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses, and sleep in preadolescents

Abstract

Estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses, and sleep in preadolescents Cabré-Riera A, van Wel L, Liorni I, Koopman-Verhoeff ME, Imaz L, Ibarluzea J, Huss A, Wiart J, Vermeulen R, Joseph W, Capstick M, Vrijheid M, Cardis E, Röösli M, Eeftens M, Thielens A, Tiemeier H, Guxens M. Estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses, and sleep in preadolescents. Environ Res. 2021 Oct 29:112291. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112291. Highlights • We estimated whole-brain RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) for several RF-EMF sources. • We estimated all-day and evening whole-brain RF-EMF doses. • We assessed subjective and objective sleep measures in preadolescents. • No association between all-day whole-brain RF-EMF doses and sleep. • Evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls related to shorter total sleep time. Abstract Objective: To investigate the association of estimated all-day and evening whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) doses with sleep disturbances and objective sleep measures in preadolescents. Methods: We included preadolescents aged 9-12 years from two population-based birth cohorts, the Dutch Generation R Study (n = 974) and the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project (n = 868). All-day and evening overall whole-brain RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) were estimated for several RF-EMF sources including mobile and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phone calls (named phone calls), other mobile phone uses, tablet use, laptop use (named screen activities), and far-field sources. We also estimated all-day and evening whole-brain RF-EMF doses in these three groups separately (i.e. phone calls, screen activities, and far- field). The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was completed by mothers to assess sleep disturbances. Wrist accelerometers together with sleep diaries were used to measure sleep characteristics objectively for 7 consecutive days. Results: All-day whole-brain RF-EMF doses were not associated with self-reported sleep disturbances and objective sleep measures. Regarding evening doses, preadolescents with high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls had a shorter total sleep time compared to preadolescents with zero evening whole-brain RF- EMF dose from phone calls [-11.9 min (95%CI -21.2; -2.5)]. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the evening as a potentially relevant window of RF-EMF exposure for sleep. However, we cannot exclude that observed associations are due to the activities or reasons motivating the phone calls rather than the RF-EMF exposure itself or due to chance finding. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts Preadolescents spend 48.9 min/day using mobile communication devices for screen activities and 2.5 min/day making phone calls (Supplementary Table S3). The median of the overall estimated all-day whole-brain RF-EMF dose was 60 (interquartile range (IQR) 20; 118) mJ/kg/day and the main contributor to the all-day whole-brain RF-EMF dose were phone calls (78%) (Table 2) Preadolescents who spent more time with console/computer gaming or television watching were more likely to have higher evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from screen activities.... Objective total sleep time was on average 7.5 h, sleep efficiency was 84%, and wake after sleep onset was 71.4 min in the study sample (Table 3).... Preadolescents with high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls had a shorter total sleep time and longer sleep latency compared to preadolescents with zero evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls [−11.9 min (95%CI -21.2; −2.5) and) 0.3 min (95%CI 0.0; 0.7), respectively] (Table 6). However, the latter association did not survive correction for multiple testing. Overall evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose, and evening dose from screen activities were not associated with objective sleep measures (Table 6) and with sleep quality and restfulness (data not shown).... This study investigated the association of overall and source-specific all-day and evening whole-brain RF-EMF doses with sleep parameters in preadolescents. We found that the all-day whole-brain RF-EMF doses were not associated with sleep disturbances and objective sleep measures. Regarding evening doses, preadolescents with a high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls had shorter total sleep time.... All-day and evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from screen activities were not associated with subjective or objective sleep measures.... A more comprehensive study needs to be designed to disentangle between all the potential factors related to the use of mobile communication devices that might affect sleep, including RF-EMF exposure. Also, of note, preadolescents are reducing the use of phones for calling and those who make phone calls use hands-free devices or mobile phone applications that allow voice or video calls. This changing pattern might decrease the overall RF-EMF dose the brain receives but increase the amount of RF-EMF dose from screen activities with mobile communication devices.... The levels of RF-EMF exposure from far-field sources are low and do not produce peak and high intensity exposures to the brain such as those from personal use of mobile communication devices for phone calls or screen activities (Birks et al., 2018, 2021). In our study, RF-EMF dose from far-field sources was not related to subjective or objective sleep measures. Previous studies assessing the association between RF-EMF exposure from far-field sources and sleep showed mixed results.... Conclusion Overall all-day whole-brain RF-EMF dose and all-day dose from phone calls were not associated with sleep, though evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls were associated with less favourable sleep characteristics as objectively measured by actigraphy. These findings suggest the evening as a potentially relevant window of exposure. Since this is the first study investigating the association between RF-EMF dose and sleep and there is not known biological mechanism explaining the observed associations, our results should be interpreted with caution. Studies exploring the relationship of RF-EMF exposure to the brain and sleep should assess the amount of RF-EMF dose absorbed by the brain in the evening or at night which might be more relevant for adolescents’ sleep.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

All-day estimated whole-brain RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) were not associated with self-reported sleep disturbances or objective sleep measures. For evening exposure, high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls was associated with shorter total sleep time compared with zero evening dose from phone calls (−11.9 minutes; 95% CI −21.2 to −2.5); an association with longer sleep latency was reported but did not survive correction for multiple testing.

Outcomes measured

• Self-reported sleep disturbances (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, mother-reported)
• Objective sleep characteristics from wrist accelerometry and sleep diaries (e.g., total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset)

Limitations

• Exposure was estimated (whole-brain RF-EMF dose) rather than directly measured.
• Authors note observed associations could be due to activities or reasons motivating phone calls rather than RF-EMF exposure itself, or due to chance finding.
• Multiple testing: at least one reported association (sleep latency) did not survive correction.

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.2)
  Includes tablet/laptop (screen activities) as RF-EMF sources, though not specifically school Wi‑Fi.

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    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone and DECT phone calls; other mobile phone uses; tablet; laptop; far-field sources",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "all-day and evening (sleep measured over 7 consecutive days)"
    },
    "population": "Preadolescents aged 9–12 years from two population-based birth cohorts (Dutch Generation R; Spanish INMA)",
    "sample_size": 1842,
    "outcomes": [
        "Self-reported sleep disturbances (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, mother-reported)",
        "Objective sleep characteristics from wrist accelerometry and sleep diaries (e.g., total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "All-day estimated whole-brain RF-EMF doses (mJ/kg/day) were not associated with self-reported sleep disturbances or objective sleep measures. For evening exposure, high evening whole-brain RF-EMF dose from phone calls was associated with shorter total sleep time compared with zero evening dose from phone calls (−11.9 minutes; 95% CI −21.2 to −2.5); an association with longer sleep latency was reported but did not survive correction for multiple testing.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure was estimated (whole-brain RF-EMF dose) rather than directly measured.",
        "Authors note observed associations could be due to activities or reasons motivating phone calls rather than RF-EMF exposure itself, or due to chance finding.",
        "Multiple testing: at least one reported association (sleep latency) did not survive correction."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "RF-EMF",
        "whole-brain dose",
        "mJ/kg/day",
        "sleep",
        "actigraphy",
        "preadolescents",
        "mobile phone calls",
        "DECT",
        "far-field",
        "Generation R",
        "INMA"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "school-wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Includes tablet/laptop (screen activities) as RF-EMF sources, though not specifically school Wi‑Fi."
        }
    ]
}

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