EMF-protection sleep study near mobile phone base stations

Abstract

In a crossover field study the potential role of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) in causing sleep disturbances was investigated in sleeping rooms of 43 volunteers (26 women and 17 men) attributing their sleep problems to RF-EMF from mobile telecommunication base stations. With a new approach of protection from rather than provocation to RF-EMF exposure potential sleep parameter changes were investigated. With mobile shields three conditions (true-shield, sham-shield and control) were tested in random order. Shielding conditions were single-blind to allow controlling shielding efficiency while data analysis was performed double-blind by an independent team. RF-EMF immissions were continuously recorded frequency-selectively. In total, 465 nights were assessed by morning questionnaires and polysomnographic recordings. Pooled analysis did not exhibit statistically significant EMF-dependent sleep parameters, neither on total RF-EMF immissions nor on base station signals. Volunteer-specific analysis mostly did not show any significant effect on sleep parameters. Subjective sleep parameters of seven volunteers (16 %) exhibited significant placebo effects. However, four volunteers (9 %) showed consistent statistical significant prolongations of sleep latencies: for sleep onset latency to sleep stage 1 it was up to 36.8 min (median of unshielded nights 4.7 min), from sleep stage 1 to sleep stage 2 up to 3.8 min ( median 2.3 min) and from sleep stage 2 to 3 up to 18.0 min (median 8.0 min). REM latency was prolonged up to 160.0 min (median 85.8 min).