Radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure and non-specific symptoms of ill health: A systematic review

• Published in: Environmental research 2008-06, Vol.107 (2), p.277-287
• Main Author: Roosli, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Biological and medical sciences; Effects of various physical factors on living matter (vibrations, electric field, ultrasound, sound...); ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS); ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE; ENVIRONMENT; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Idiopathic environmental intolerance; IONIZING RADIATIONS; Mobile phones; Radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF); Radio Waves - adverse effects; RADIOWAVE RADIATION; RECOMMENDATIONS; REVIEWS; Sensory Thresholds; SYMPTOMS; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Well-being
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2008.02.003

This article is a systematic review of whether everyday exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) causes symptoms, and whether some individuals are able to detect low-level RF-EMF (below the ICNIRP [International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection] guidelines). Peer-reviewed articles published before August 2007 were identified by means of a systematic literature search. Meta-analytic techniques were used to pool the results from studies investigating the ability to discriminate active from sham RF-EMF exposure. RF-EMF discrimination was investigated in seven studies including a total of 182 self-declared electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals and 332 non-EHS individuals. The pooled correct field detection rate was 4.2% better than expected by chance (95% CI: −2.1 to 10.5). There was no evidence that EHS individuals could detect presence or absence of RF-EMF better than other persons. There was little evidence that short-term exposure to a mobile phone or base station causes symptoms based on the results of eight randomized trials investigating 194 EHS and 346 non-EHS individuals in a laboratory. Some of the trials provided evidence for the occurrence of nocebo effects. In population based studies an association between symptoms and exposure to RF-EMF in the everyday environment was repeatedly observed. This review showed that the large majority of individuals who claims to be able to detect low level RF-EMF are not able to do so under double-blind conditions. If such individuals exist, they represent a small minority and have not been identified yet. The available observational studies do not allow differentiating between biophysical from EMF and nocebo effects.