Self-reported Mobile Phone Use Research Articles

Effects of recall and selection biases on modeling cancer risk from mobile phone use: Results from a case-control simulation study.

The largest case-control study (Interphone Study) investigating glioma risk related to mobile phone use showed a J-shaped relationship with reduced relative risks for moderate use and a 40% increased relative risk among the 10% heaviest regular mobile phone users, using a categorical risk model based on deciles of lifetime duration of use among ever regular users. We conducted Monte-Carlo simulations examining whether the reported estimates are compatible with an assumption of no effect of mobile phone use on glioma risk when the various forms of biases present in the Interphone study are accounted for. Four scenarios of sources of error in self-reported mobile phone use were considered, along with selection bias. Input parameters used for simulations were those obtained from Interphone validation studies on reporting accuracy and from using a non-response questionnaire. We found that the scenario simultaneously modeling systematic and random reporting errors produced a J-shaped relationship perfectly compatible with the observed relationship from the main Interphone study with a simulated spurious increased relative risk among heaviest users (OR = 1.91) compared to never regular users. The main determinant for producing this J shape was higher reporting error variance in cases compared to controls, as observed in the validation studies. Selection bias contributed to the reduced risks as well. Some uncertainty remains, but the evidence from the present simulation study shifts the overall assessment to making it less likely that heavy mobile phone use is causally related to an increased glioma risk.

Regression calibration of self-reported mobile phone use to optimize quantitative risk estimation in the COSMOS study.

The Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) has repeatedly collected self-reported and operator-recorded data on mobile phone use. Assessing health effects using self-reported information is prone to measurement error, but operator data were available prospectively for only part of the study population and did not cover past mobile phone use. To optimize the available data and reduce bias, we evaluated different statistical approaches for constructing mobile phone exposure histories within COSMOS. We evaluated and compared the performance of four regression calibration (RC) methods (simple, direct, inverse, and generalized additive model for location, shape, and scale), complete-case (CC) analysis and multiple imputation (MI) in a simulation study with a binary health outcome. We used self-reported and operator-recorded mobile phone call data collected at baseline (2007-2012) from participants in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. Parameter estimates obtained using simple, direct, and inverse RC methods were associated with less bias and lower mean squared error than those obtained with CC analysis or MI. We showed that RC methods resulted in more accurate estimation of the relation between mobile phone use and health outcomes, by combining self-reported data with objective operator-recorded data available for a subset of participants.

"It's okay because I'm just driving": an exploration of self-reported mobile phone use among Mexican drivers.

Technological advancements have the potential to enhance people's quality of life, but their misuse can have a detrimental impact on safety. A notable example is the escalating issue of distracted driving resulting from the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, leading to severe crashes and injuries. Despite these concerns, both drivers' usage patterns and their risk-related associations remain scarcely documented in Mexico. Therefore, this descriptive study aimed to examine the mobile phone usage of Mexican drivers, its relationships to risk awareness and near-miss/crash involvement, and the self-reported underlying reasons for this behavior. This cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 1,353 licensed Mexican drivers who took part in a nationwide series of interviews regarding their onboard phone use settings. A significant percentage of drivers (96.8%) recognize using a mobile phone while driving as high-risk behavior. However, only 7.4% reported completely avoiding its use while driving, with 22.4% identified as high-frequency users. Frequency was also found positively associated with the self-reported rate of near-misses and crashes. Furthermore, qualitative data analysis highlights the emergence of a 'sense of urgency' to attend to phone-related tasks in response to daily demands and life dynamics, offering a potential explanation for this behavior. The results of this study suggest common patterns of onboard mobile use among Mexican drivers concerning driving situations and associated risks. This underscores the need for increased efforts to discourage onboard phone use in the country.

Association between self-reported mobile phone use and the semen quality of young men

To investigate the association between mobile phone exposure and semen parameters. A nationwide cross-sectional study. Andrology laboratories in close proximity to 6 army recruitment centers. In total, 2886 men from the general Swiss population, 18-22 years old, were recruited between 2005 and 2018 during military conscription. Participants delivered a semen sample and completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle, including the number of hours they spent using their mobile phones and where they placed them when not in use. Using logistic and multiple linear regression models, adjusted odds ratios and β coefficients were determined, respectively. The association between mobile phone exposure and semen parameters such as volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), motility, and morphology was then evaluated. A total of 2759 men answered the question concerning their mobile phone use, and 2764 gave details on the position of their mobile phone when not in use. In the adjusted linear model, a higher frequency of mobile phone use (>20 times per day) was associated with a lower sperm concentration (adjusted β: -0.152; 95% confidence interval: -0.316; 0.011) and a lower TSC (adjusted β: -0.271; 95% confidence interval: -0.515; -0.027). In the adjusted logistic regression model, this translates to a 30% and 21% increased risk for sperm concentration and TSC to be below the World Health Organization reference values for fertile men, respectively. This inverse association was found to be more pronounced in the first study period (2005-2007) and gradually decreased with time (2008-2011 and 2012-2018). No consistent associations were observed between mobile phone use and sperm motility or sperm morphology. Keeping a mobile phone in the pants pocket was not found to be associated with lower semen parameters. This large population-based study suggests that higher mobile phone use is associated with lower sperm concentration and TSC. The observed time trend of decreasing association is in line with the transition to new technologies and the corresponding decrease in mobile phone output power. Prospective studies with improved exposure assessment are needed to confirm whether the observed associations are causal.

The association between self-reported mobile phone usage with blood pressure and heart rate: evidence from a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWith the advancement of technology, the rate of access and use of mobile phones in different communities has increased significantly. Mobile phones emit electromagnetic waves and therefore excessive use of them may have harmful effects on physical and mental health and especially on the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to investigate the association between self-reported mobile phone use duration and blood pressure and heart rate (HR) using data from Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was performed using the data of 8905 out of 10,065 participants in the RaNCD study in Iran. According to the mean self-reported duration of mobile phone usage (min/day) over the previous 12 months, all users were divided into four groups. The first and fourth groups had the least and most time using mobile phones respectively. The relationship between blood pressure and the duration of mobile phone use was determined using univariate and multiple linear regression.ResultsOf 8905 participants aged 35–65 years, 1515 (17.0%) of them didn't use mobile phones. The minimum, maximum, and mean duration of self-reported mobile phone use between users were 3.4, 50.4, and 19.5 min/day, respectively. A decrease in women's systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and HR was observed by increasing the duration of mobile phone use. With adjustment for effective confounding factors, there was a significant negative association between SBP [-2.52 (-4.11, -0.94)], DBP [-1.86 (-2.83, -0.89)], and duration of mobile use.ConclusionIn this study, a significant decreasing trend was found between SBP, DBP, and HR and higher mobile phone usage in women. Based on regression analysis, SBP, DBP, and duration of mobile phone use were associated negatively in those who used their phones for at least 8 h.

A double-edged sword? Identifying the influence of peers, mass and social media on engagement in mobile phone use while driving

While the ever-expanding proliferation of social media is well documented, the relationship such exposure has upon road rule compliance remains completely unknown. Further, it is not clear as to whether social media independently affects such behaviour, when accounting for the influence of mass media and peers. As a result, this study examined the relative influence of exposure to content that encourages phone use while driving via these three mediums in order to identify the most salient stimuli. A total of 509 participants (aged 17–88 years, M = 33, SD = 17) from the state of Queensland, Australia, were included in this study. Participants completed an online survey, which examined self-reported levels of exposure to material encouraging hand-held mobile phone use while driving from three sources: mass media (e.g., television, movies and gaming), social media, and peer behaviour (descriptive norms). Results indicated that participants on average engaged in illegal mobile phone use while driving 16% of the time they drive. Exposure to material encouraging phone use while driving was significantly higher from mass media (M = 32% of the time) and via peers (M = 30%) compared to social media (M = 27%). However, only social media and peer behaviour (the frequency with which participants believed that their peers engage in the behaviour) significantly predicted engagement in self-reported illegal mobile phone use, such that increasing levels of exposure were associated with more frequent use while driving. These findings: (a) support an emerging body of evidence indicating that both peer behaviours and social media messages are highly salient and influential and (b) are the first to suggest that such exposure might directly affect road safety. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to elucidate the nature and direction of the relationship between social media and driving behaviour, and the mechanisms through which such messages influence behaviour. Such lines of enquiry would have important implications for road safety (e.g., by informing the development of countermeasures/interventions delivered via social media).

Who uses a mobile phone while driving for food delivery? The role of personality, risk perception, and driving self-efficacy

Introduction: The existing literature on mobile phone use while driving (MPUWD) mainly targets the participants from general population and the young adults, however, few studies pay attention to this form of distracted driving with samples in professional contexts. The present study aims to bridge the gap by identifying the extent of and the motives behind making use of mobile phones while driving for food dispatch among deliveryman. Method: The snowball sampling was used to collect the data (N = 317) through a self-reported questionnaire, including demographics, personality traits, risk perception, driving self-efficacy, and mobile phone use while driving. Results: Descriptive analysis for the assessed MPUWD behaviors showed that 96.3% (N = 315) of food deliveryman undertook the MPUWD behaviors, though disproportionate distribution among these behaviors existed. Structural equation modeling analysis displayed that psychoticism and driving self-efficacy directly predicted the MPUWD behaviors. The mediating role of driving self-efficacy was verified with the findings that driving self-efficacy completely mediated the relationships that between risk perception and MPUWD behaviors and that between extraversion and MPUWD behaviors, as well as partially mediated the correlation between psychoticism and MPUWD behaviors. Conclusions: The present study confirms the prevalence of MPUWD behaviors among food deliveryman. The SEM estimates and bootstrap estimates suggest that personality traits and perceived risk perception per se display limited predicting utility to MPUWD behaviors among food deliveryman, whereas driving self-efficacy and the proposed predictors together well illustrate the assessed MPUWD behaviors among food deliveryman. Practical Applications: These findings imply that developing and implementing intervention efforts in a concerted way would curb these behaviors effectively.

Too good to be cautious: High implicit self-esteem predicts self-reported dangerous mobile phone use

Mobile phone use and misuse have become a pressing challenge in today's society. Dangerous mobile phone use, such as the use of a mobile phone while driving, is widely practiced, though banned in several jurisdictions. Research aiming at unfolding the psychological predictors of dangerous mobile phone use have so far been scarce. Especially, researchers have never taken the role of self-esteem into account, which is unfortunate given prior research linking self-esteem to addictive mobile phone use. In the present study, we evaluated the associations between both explicit and implicit self-esteem and dangerous mobile phone use, with a particular focus on phoning while driving. To do so, we assessed implicit self-esteem among 95 participants (89 females) via the Implicit Association Test and explicit self-esteem via a self-reported measure. Problematic mobile phone use and demographic data were assessed with self-reported measures. Implicit self-esteem predicted dangerous mobile phone use, even after we controlled for demographic data and mobile phone dependence. Explicit self-esteem, however, was related to neither dependence nor dangerous use of the mobile phone, thereby supporting the importance of distinguishing between explicit and implicit self-esteem. Our results set the scene for new research avenues regarding mobile phone use while driving.

Self-Reported Mobile Phone Use & Workplace Productivity between Age Groups

Self-Reported Mobile Phone Use & Workplace Productivity between Age Groups

Recall of mobile phone usage and laterality in young people: The multinational Mobi-Expo study

ObjectiveTo study recall of mobile phone usage, including laterality and hands-free use, in young people. MethodsActual mobile phone use was recorded among volunteers aged between 10 and 24 years from 12 countries by the software application XMobiSense and was compared with self-reported mobile phone use at 6 and 18 months after using the application. The application recorded number and duration of voice calls, number of text messages, amount of data transfer, laterality (% of call time the phone was near the right or left side of the head, or neither), and hands-free usage. After data cleaning, 466 participants were available for the main analyses (recorded vs. self-reported phone use after 6 months). ResultsParticipants were on average 18.6 years old (IQR 15.2–21.8 years). The Spearman correlation coefficients between recorded and self-reported (after 6 months) number and duration of voice calls were 0.68 and 0.65, respectively. Number of calls was on average underestimated by the participants (adjusted geometric mean ratio (GMR) self-report/recorded = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.47–0.58), while duration of calls was overestimated (GMR=1.32, 95%, CI = 1.15–1.52). The ratios significantly differed by country, age, maternal educational level, and level of reported phone use, but not by time of the interview (6 vs. 18 months). Individuals who reported low mobile phone use underestimated their use, while individuals who reported the highest level of phone use were more likely to overestimate their use. Individuals who reported using the phone mainly on the right side of the head used it more on the right (71.1%) than the left (28.9%) side. Self-reported left side users, however, used the phone only slightly more on the left (53.3%) than the right (46.7%) side. Recorded percentage hands-free use (headset, speaker mode, Bluetooth) increased with increasing self-reported frequency of hands-free device usage. Frequent (≥50% of call time) reported headset or speaker mode use corresponded with 17.1% and 17.2% of total call time, respectively, that was recorded as hands-free use. DiscussionThese results indicate that young people can recall phone use moderately well, with recall depending on the amount of phone use and participants’ characteristics. The obtained information can be used to calibrate self-reported mobile use to improve estimation of radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones.

Validity of Self-Reported Mobile Phone Use in the COSMOS Study

Background/Aim: Possible health effects of mobile phone use are of considerable public and scientific interest, but previous epidemiological research has been limited by problems associated with (differential) recall bias and cross-sectional health analyses. The COSMOS cohort study, comprising almost 300,000 adult mobile phone users across Europe, has the advantages of a prospective study design and objective mobile phone use data from operator records. We assess validity of self-reported mobile phone use in a sub-population (N=75993) of the COSMOS study, and examine, for the first time, if validity differs according to experience of symptoms during mobile phone use or concerns related to mobile phones. Methods: We used Cohen’s weighted Kappa to assess agreement between self-reported and operator-derived mobile call frequency and duration for a 3-month period. We evaluated sensitivity of both self-reported high (≥ 10 calls/day or ≥ 4 hours/week) and low (≤6 calls/week or <30 minutes/week) mobile phone use, against the gold standard operator data. Results: We observed stronger agreement between self-reported and operator-derived estimates of mobile phone use for call duration compared to call frequency. Self-reported low mobile call frequency and duration demonstrated high sensitivity, however for self-reported high mobile call frequency and duration sensitivity was considerably lower. Self-reported call frequency validity was lower in younger age strata and women. Validity of self-reported call duration was lower in those who reported symptoms during or shortly after mobile phone use, compared to those who reported no symptoms. Conclusions: In contrast to previous validation studies, we observed better agreement overall, but a tendency for greater underestimation than overestimation in self-reporting of mobile phone use. This is most likely due to our use of a pre-defined categorical scale, rather than continuous scale, for self-reporting of mobile phone use.

Total recall in the SCAMP cohort: Validation of self-reported mobile phone use in the smartphone era

Mobile phone use, predominantly smartphones, is almost ubiquitous amongst both adults and children. However adults and children have different usage patterns. A major challenge with research on mobile phone use is the reliability of self-reported phone activity for accurate exposure assessment. We investigated the agreement between self-reported mobile phone use data and objective mobile operator traffic data in a subset of adolescents aged 11–12 years participating in the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) cohort. We examined self-reported mobile phone use, including call frequency, cumulative call time duration and text messages sent among adolescents from SCAMP and matched these data with records provided by mobile network operators (n = 350). The extent of agreement between self-reported mobile phone use and mobile operator traffic data use was evaluated using Cohen's weighted Kappa (ĸ) statistics. Sensitivity and specificity of self-reported low (< 1 call/day, ≤ 5min of call/day or ≤ 5 text messages sent/day) and high (≥ 11 calls/day, > 30min of call/day or ≥ 11 text messages sent /day) use were estimated.Agreement between self-reported mobile phone use and mobile operator traffic data was highest for the duration spent talking on mobile phones per day on weekdays (38.9%) and weekends (29.4%) compared to frequency of calls and number of text messages sent. Adolescents overestimated their mobile phone use during weekends compared to weekdays. Analysis of agreement showed little difference overall between the sexes and socio-economic groups. Weighted kappa between self-reported and mobile operator traffic data for call frequency during weekdays was κ = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.18. Of the three modes of mobile phone use measured in the questionnaire, call frequency was the most sensitive for low mobile phone users on weekdays and weekends (77.1, 95% CI: 69.3—83.7 and 72.0, 95% CI: 65.0–78.4, respectively). Specificity was moderate to high for high users with the highest for call frequency during weekdays (98.4, 95% CI: 96.4–99.5).Despite differential agreement between adolescents’ self-reported mobile phone use and mobile operator traffic data, our findings demonstrate that self-reported usage adequately distinguishes between high and low use. The greater use of mobile smartphones over Wi-Fi networks by adolescents, as opposed to mobile phone networks, means operator data are not the gold standard for exposure assessment in this age group. This has important implications for epidemiologic research on the health effects of mobile phone use in adolescents.

An international prospective cohort study of mobile phone users and health (COSMOS): Factors affecting validity of self-reported mobile phone use.

This study investigates validity of self-reported mobile phone use in a subset of 75 993 adults from the COSMOS cohort study. Agreement between self-reported and operator-derived mobile call frequency and duration for a 3-month period was assessed using Cohen's weighted Kappa (κ). Sensitivity and specificity of both self-reported high (≥10 calls/day or ≥4h/week) and low (≤6 calls/week or <30min/week) mobile phone use were calculated, as compared to operator data. For users of one mobile phone, agreement was fair for call frequency (κ=0.35, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.36) and moderate for call duration (κ=0.50, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.50). Self-reported low call frequency and duration demonstrated high sensitivity (87% and 76% respectively), but for high call frequency and duration sensitivity was lower (38% and 56% respectively), reflecting a tendency for greater underestimation than overestimation. Validity of self-reported mobile phone use was lower in women, younger age groups and those reporting symptoms during/shortly after using a mobile phone. This study highlights the ongoing value of using self-report data to measure mobile phone use. Furthermore, compared to continuous scale estimates used by previous studies, categorical response options used in COSMOS appear to improve validity considerably, most likely by preventing unrealistically high estimates from being reported.

Self-reported mobile phone use and semen parameters among men from a fertility clinic

There is increasing concern that use of mobile phones, a source of low-level radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, may be associated with poor semen quality, but the epidemiologic evidence is limited and conflicting. The relationship between mobile phone use patterns and markers of semen quality was explored in a longitudinal cohort study of 153 men that attended an academic fertility clinic in Boston, Massachusetts. Information on mobile phone use duration, headset or earpiece use, and the body location in which the mobile phone was carried was ascertained via nurse-administered questionnaire. Semen samples (n=350) were collected and analyzed onsite. To account for multiple semen samples per man, linear mixed models with random intercepts were used to investigate the association between mobile phone use and semen parameters. Overall, there was no evidence for a relationship between mobile phone use and semen quality.

Mobile Phones, Wireless Technologies and Cognitive and Behavioural Outcomes in the SCAMP Adolescent Cohort

Introduction: Scientists remain uncertain as to whether children’s developing brains are more vulnerable than those of adults to radiofrequency (RF) waves emitted from mobile phones and other wireless devices. The Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) is a three-year prospective cohort study of adolescents across London, UK which aims to investigate whether children’s use of mobile phones and other wireless devices influences their neurocognitive/behavioural development. Methods: Data on cognitive function, wireless device use and lifestyle are collected at baseline and follow-up via school-based computerised assessments and optional parent/pupil home-based questionnaires. Parents are invited to consent to linkage of their child’s assessment data with routine records (e.g. health and educational records, mobile traffic data), thus allowing for comparisons between self-reported and objective mobile phone use. Biological samples (e.g. urine, saliva) are being collected to provide additional information about potential confounders such as puberty. A RF personal monitoring study is also being conducted in a subset of the cohort to gain an in-depth understanding of children’s personal RF exposure and the relative contribution of each RF source. Pupils are asked to carry a personal exposimeter with integrated GPS tracking for 48 hours, complete a smartphone activity diary and a paper questionnaire, and provide a urine and saliva sample. Results: Baseline data have been collected from 5,504 pupils (53.2% female, mean age 12.0 (SD 0.4); 42.3% White, 20.3% South Asian, 15.9% Black, 11.5% Mixed, 9.9% Other). Preliminary analysis shows that over 80% of participants own a mobile phone. To date, personal monitoring study data have been collected from 40 pupils. Conclusions: SCAMP will improve our understanding of children’s RF exposures and cognitive function and will provide an evidence base to inform public health policy in this area.

Validating self-reported mobile phone use in adults using a newly developed smartphone application

ObjectiveInterpretation of epidemiological studies on health effects from mobile phone use is hindered by uncertainties in the exposure assessment. We used a newly developed smartphone application (app) to validate self-reported...

Measuring mobile phone use: Gender, age and real usage level in relation to the accuracy and validity of self-reported mobile phone use

This article reports the results of a mobile phone use validation survey in which we compared self-reported mobile phone use to network provider data, and examined the observed discrepancies between both data sources in a convenience sample of 466 Flemish mobile phone users (18–65 years). The results showed significant discrepancies between self-reported and behavioral mobile phone use, particularly for the number and duration of mobile calls. Light users tended to overestimate, while heavy users tended to underestimate their mobile phone use. Females were more likely to underestimate their weekly number of calls. Younger adults were more accurate in reporting their weekly number of calls, but less accurate in reporting their weekly number of text messages. The discussion devotes particular attention to potential question wording effects that are likely to have influenced the results.

Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Sleep Quality: A Prospective Cohort Study

BackgroundThere is persistent public concern about sleep disturbances due to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate whether sleep quality is affected by mobile phone use or by other RF-EMF sources in the everyday environment.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study with 955 study participants aged between 30 and 60 years. Sleep quality and daytime sleepiness was assessed by means of standardized questionnaires in May 2008 (baseline) and May 2009 (follow-up). We also asked about mobile and cordless phone use and asked study participants for consent to obtain their mobile phone connection data from the mobile phone operators. Exposure to environmental RF-EMF was computed for each study participant using a previously developed and validated prediction model. In a nested sample of 119 study participants, RF-EMF exposure was measured in the bedroom and data on sleep behavior was collected by means of actigraphy during two weeks. Data were analyzed using multivariable regression models adjusted for relevant confounders.ResultsIn the longitudinal analyses neither operator-recorded nor self-reported mobile phone use was associated with sleep disturbances or daytime sleepiness. Also, exposure to environmental RF-EMF did not affect self-reported sleep quality. The results from the longitudinal analyses were confirmed in the nested sleep study with objectively recorded exposure and measured sleep behavior data.ConclusionsWe did not find evidence for adverse effects on sleep quality from RF-EMF exposure in our everyday environment.

The Heritability and Genetic Correlates of Mobile Phone Use: A Twin Study of Consumer Behavior

There has been almost no overlap between behavior genetics and consumer behavior research, despite each field's importance in understanding society. In particular, both have neglected to study genetic influences on consumer adoption and usage of new technologies -- even technologies as important as the mobile phone, now used by 5.8 out of 7.0 billion people on earth. To start filling this gap, we analyzed self-reported mobile phone use, intelligence, and personality traits in two samples of Australian teenaged twins (mean ages 14.2 and 15.6 years), totaling 1,036 individuals. ACE modeling using Mx software showed substantial heritabilities for how often teens make voice calls (.60 and .34 in samples 1 and 2, respectively) and for how often they send text messages (.53 and. 50). Shared family environment - including neighborhood, social class, parental education, and parental income (i.e., the generosity of calling plans that parents can afford for their teens) -- had much weaker effects. Multivariate modeling based on cross-twin, cross-trait correlations showed negative genetic correlations between talking/texting frequency and intelligence (around -.17), and positive genetic correlations between talking/texting frequency and extraversion (about .20 to .40). Our results have implications for assessing the risks of mobile phone use such as radiofrequency field (RF) exposure and driving accidents, for studying adoption and use of other emerging technologies, for understanding the genetic architecture of the cognitive and personality traits that predict consumer behavior, and for challenging the common assumption that consumer behavior is shaped entirely by culture, media, and family environment.

Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus

Background There is public concern regarding potential health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure, as produced by mobile phones or broadcast transmitters. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms and tinnitus in a prospective cohort study. Methods In 2008, 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey with follow-up after one year (participation rate 82%). A score for somatic complaints (von Zerssen list) and headache (HIT-6) was assessed. Far-field environmental RF-EMF exposure was predicted using a validated prediction model. Regarding near-field exposure, self-reported mobile and cordless phone use as well as mobile phone operator data were collected. In multivariate regression models, we investigated whether exposure at baseline (cohort analysis) or changes in exposure between baseline and follow-up (change analysis) were related to changes in health scores. Results For participants in the top decile of environmental far-field RF-EMF exposure at baseline, in comparison to participants exposed below the median value, the change in the von Zerssen- and HIT-6-scores between baseline and follow-up was − 0.12 (95%-CI: − 1.79 to 1.56) and − 0.37 (95%-CI: − 1.80 to 1.07) units, respectively. Exposure to near-field sources and a change in exposure between baseline and follow-up were not related to non-specific symptoms. Similarly, no association between RF-EMF exposure and tinnitus was observed. Conclusions In this first cohort study using objective and well-validated RF-EMF exposure measures, we did not observe an association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms or tinnitus.