ELF exposure from mobile and cordless phones for the epidemiological MOBI-Kids study

Abstract

- ELF exposure from mobile and cordless phones for the epidemiological MOBI-Kids study Calderón C, Ichikawa H, Taki M, Wake K, Addison D, Mee T, Maslanyj M, Kromhout H, Lee AK, Sim MR, Wiart J, Cardis E. ELF exposure from mobile and cordless phones for the epidemiological MOBI-Kids study. Environ Int. 2017 Jan 23. pii: S0160-4120(17)30047-8. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.005. Abstract This paper describes measurements and computational modelling carried out in the MOBI-Kids case-control study to assess the extremely low frequency (ELF) exposure of the brain from use of mobile and cordless phones. Four different communication systems were investigated: Global System for Mobile (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) and Wi-Fi Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The magnetic fields produced by the phones during transmission were measured under controlled laboratory conditions, and an equivalent loop was fitted to the data to produce three-dimensional extrapolations of the field. Computational modelling was then used to calculate the induced current density and electric field strength in the brain resulting from exposure to these magnetic fields. Human voxel phantoms of four different ages were used: 8, 11, 14 and adult. The results indicate that the current densities induced in the brain during DECT calls are likely to be an order of magnitude lower than those generated during GSM calls but over twice that during UMTS calls. The average current density during Wi-Fi VoIP calls was found to be lower than for UMTS by 30%, but the variability across the samples investigated was high. Spectral contributions were important to consider in relation to current density, particularly for DECT phones. This study suggests that the spatial distribution of the ELF induced current densities in brain tissues is determined by the physical characteristics of the phone (in particular battery position) while the amplitude is mainly dependent on communication system, thus providing a feasible basis for assessing ELF exposure in the epidemiological study. The number of phantoms was not large enough to provide definitive evidence of an increase of induced current density with age, but the data that are available suggest that, if present, the effect is likely to be very small. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Also see: saferemr.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The study found that induced current densities in the brain vary by communication system, with DECT calls producing current densities an order of magnitude lower than GSM calls, and Wi-Fi VoIP calls producing lower current densities than UMTS calls by about 30%. The spatial distribution of induced current densities depends on phone physical characteristics, while amplitude depends on communication system. Age-related differences in induced current density were small or inconclusive due to limited sample size.

Outcomes measured

• induced current density in brain tissues
• electric field strength in brain tissues

Limitations

• Limited number of human voxel phantoms used, insufficient to definitively assess age-related differences in induced current density
• Study focused on exposure assessment and modeling, not on health outcomes

{
    "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "mobile phone, cordless phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "induced current density in brain tissues",
        "electric field strength in brain tissues"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The study found that induced current densities in the brain vary by communication system, with DECT calls producing current densities an order of magnitude lower than GSM calls, and Wi-Fi VoIP calls producing lower current densities than UMTS calls by about 30%. The spatial distribution of induced current densities depends on phone physical characteristics, while amplitude depends on communication system. Age-related differences in induced current density were small or inconclusive due to limited sample size.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Limited number of human voxel phantoms used, insufficient to definitively assess age-related differences in induced current density",
        "Study focused on exposure assessment and modeling, not on health outcomes"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF exposure",
        "mobile phone",
        "cordless phone",
        "induced current density",
        "brain",
        "computational modelling",
        "MOBI-Kids"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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