Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields.

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields. O. Drozdovszky1, R. Szemerszky2, F. Köteles2 and G. Bárdos1, 2* 1 Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungary 2 Eötvös Loránd University, Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciencies, Hungary Although the adverse effects of the non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have not been proven, there are frequent complaints about non-specific symptoms (e.g. headache, dizziness, sleeping disturbances, etc.) attributed to EMF exposure. Our aim was to study the influence of psychological factors (e.g. negative expectancies, worrying about EMF) as well as direct biological effects of EMF exposure on the complaints. In animal experiments, male and female Wistar rat embrios or pups, respectively, had been exposed to an EMF of 50 Hz, 0.5 mT for 168 hours and were examined later in 3 different behavioral tests (locomotor activity, Elevated Plus Maze, Social Avoidance). In another, human study, 72 volunteers filled up symptom expectancy and modern health worries /MHW/ questionnaires, then put one hand between two active electromagnetic coils and were asked to mark experienced items from a list of 19 somatic symptoms. Although some minor effects following EMF exposure in the animal experiments have been found, the changes were small and inconsistent. In other words, we could not reproduce the human symptoms in animal models thus their biological origin has still remained questionable. In the human study, those participants experienced more symptoms during the exposure who had shown more symptom expectancies (r=0,54; p<0,000) and increased worries (r=0,25; p=0,035), proving that psychological factors may really affect and enchace EMF-induced symptom perception. Keywords: Behaviour and cognition, Neuroscience Conference: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT), Budapest, Hungary, 20 Jan - 22 Jan, 2011. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Behaviour and cognition Citation: Drozdovszky O, Szemerszky R, Köteles F and Bárdos G (2011). Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields.. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2011.84.00110 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 03 Mar 2011; Published Online: 23 Mar 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. G. Bárdos, Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Budapest, Hungary, bardosgy@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos Google O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos Google Scholar O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos PubMed O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.