Abstract
There is now strong evidence that radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure influences the human electroencephalogram (EEG). While effects on the alpha band of the resting EEG have been repeatedly shown, the mechanisms underlying that effect have not been established. The current study used well-controlled methods to assess the RF-EMF exposure effect on the EEG and determine whether that effect might be thermally mediated. Thirty-six healthy adults participated in a randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced provocation study. A water-perfusion suit (34 °C) was worn throughout the study to negate environmental influences and stabilize skin temperature. Participants attended the laboratory on four occasions, the first being a calibration session and the three subsequent ones being exposure sessions. During each exposure session, EEG and skin temperature (8 sites) were recorded continuously during a baseline phase, and then during a 30 min exposure to a 920 MHz GSM-like signal (Sham, Low RF-EMF (1 W/kg) and High RF-EMF (2 W/kg)). Consistent with previous research, alpha EEG activity increased during the High exposure condition compared to the Sham condition. As a measure of thermoregulatory activation, finger temperature was found to be higher during both exposure conditions compared to the Sham condition, indicating for the first time that the effect on the EEG is accompanied by thermoregulatory changes and suggesting that the effect of RF-EMF on the EEG is consistent with a thermal mechanism.
Highlights
Previous research has largely been unable to identify acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on humans, an important exception is the effect on the resting electroencephalogram (EEG), where the ‘alpha’ frequency range has been consistently affected, with the majority of the methodologically appropriate studies showing an increase in alpha activity (e.g., [1,2,3])
Mean skin temperature did not differ between the three exposure conditions (p = 0.33; see Table 1), confirming that thermal clamping was effective at maintaining skin temperature constant throughout the experiment, and eliminating the impact of ambient temperature influences
The study demonstrated an increase in finger temperature in the exposure conditions relative to the Sham condition, which shows that the small but highly specific and localized thermal change caused by the RF-EMF exposure was sufficient to engage thermoregulatory processes
Summary
Previous research has largely been unable to identify acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on humans, an important exception is the effect on the resting electroencephalogram (EEG), where the ‘alpha’ frequency range has been consistently affected, with the majority of the methodologically appropriate studies (i.e., those that used eyes open EEG to avoid ceiling effects) showing an increase in alpha activity (e.g., [1,2,3]). Public Health 2019, 16, 1505; doi:10.3390/ijerph16091505 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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