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RF-EMF Risk Perception & Trust in Radiation Protection Authorities: Comparative Study on Precautionary Information in Germany & Greece
This randomized experimental study (N=2,169) tested how different precautionary information formats about RF-EMF (with emphasis on 5G) affect public risk perception and trust in radiation protection authorities in Germany and Greece. Simple precautionary tips generally did not increase risk perception or reduce trust, while a conceptual explanation of the precaution/prevention distinction increased perceived risk compared with simpler information. Precautionary messages improved self-efficacy and perceived message consistency, and responses differed by country and gender.
Electrohypersensitivity: what is belief and what is known?
This article addresses electrohypersensitivity (EHS) in the context of public health and EMF-related health concerns. It focuses on distinguishing beliefs about EMF effects from what is currently supported by scientific evidence. The provided text notes ongoing debate and concern and calls for critical assessment of both beliefs and empirical findings.
What is the effect of alarmist media and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on salivary cortisol and non-specific symptoms?
This randomized study tested whether viewing alarmist media and participating in an open-label RF-EMF provocation trial influenced non-specific symptoms and salivary cortisol. Participants who believed they were being exposed reported more symptoms than those who believed they were not exposed. The study did not find a replicated effect of alarmist media or open-label RF-EMF exposure on salivary cortisol, suggesting reported symptoms were more related to perception than cortisol-measured stress.
Chicken or egg? Attribution hypothesis and nocebo hypothesis to explain somatization associated to perceived RF-EMF exposure
This longitudinal cohort study examined the temporal relationship between somatization and perceived RF-EMF exposure, comparing the attribution hypothesis with the nocebo hypothesis. Using AMIGO questionnaire data from 2011 and 2015, regression analyses suggested the attribution hypothesis more often explained symptom reporting linked to perceived base station RF-EMF exposure and perceived electricity exposure than the nocebo hypothesis. The authors state this contrasts with prior literature and note that a nocebo effect is not fully excluded.
Efficient design of electromagnetic field exposure maps with multi-method evolutionary ensembles
This engineering/methods study proposes an evolutionary computation approach (PCRO-SL) to optimize the selection of measurement points for constructing RF-EMF exposure maps. Tested on real measurements in Meco (Madrid, Spain), it reports good agreement with a reference exposure map while reducing required sampling density. The authors provide practical point-selection rules (e.g., line-of-sight within 250 m and directional sampling within 500 m) intended to maintain representativeness and avoid interpolation artifacts.
Could electrohypersensitivity be a specific form of high sensory processing sensitivity?
This cross-sectional questionnaire study (n=100) examined whether electrohypersensitivity (EHS) overlaps with high sensory processing sensitivity (HSPS). A higher proportion of HSPS was observed among those reporting EHS symptoms, alongside significant differences in anxiety/depression symptomatology and EMF-related risk perception and avoidance strategies. The authors interpret the results as supporting an association between EHS and HSPS, while noting that this does not establish whether EM radiation directly causes EHS symptoms.