A Decision Support System for Managing Health Symptoms of Living Near Mobile Phone Base Stations

Abstract

Category: Epidemiology, Public Health, Machine Learning Tags: radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, mobile phone base stations, health symptoms, machine learning, SVM, public health, RF-EMF exposure DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2310-1667 URL: jbpe.sums.ac.ir Overview The rapid increase in the number of Mobile Phone Base Stations (MPBS) worldwide has given rise to significant global concerns about potential adverse health effects stemming from exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF). This study investigates the use of machine learning models as a proactive means for healthcare professionals and policymakers to address and manage concerns related to RF-EMF exposure—especially among individuals living near MPBS. Objective This research aimed to explore whether machine learning models could accurately predict health symptoms that are associated with living near mobile phone base stations, thereby enabling more effective management of these risks. Material and Methods - Analytical study using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. - Included 11 predictors relevant to participants' living conditions. - Total of 699 adult participants. - Model performance measured by sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and Area Under Curve (AUC). Findings - SVM-based model accuracies for: - Headache: 85.3% - Sleep disturbance: 82% - Dizziness: 84% - Vertigo: 82.4% - Fatigue: 65.1% - Corresponding AUC values: 0.99, 0.98, 0.92, 0.89, and 0.81, respectively. - SVM model consistently outperformed RF and previously developed models, especially for fatigue sensitivity (70% SVM vs. 8% MLPNN vs. 11.1% RF). Key predictors identified were: distance from the base station, age, and duration of residence. Conclusion Machine learning methods—most notably SVM—show considerable promise for the management and prediction of health symptoms in individuals living near or considering residing near mobile phone base stations. There is a connection between proximity to mobile base stations and increased prevalence of headaches, sleep disturbances, dizziness, irritability, concentration issues, and neuropsychiatric risks, reaffirming concerns about health risks from electromagnetic field exposure. Health Effects Linked to EMF Exposure Effect: harm - Studies cited support that people living closer to base stations (

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Machine learning models, especially SVM, predicted health symptoms associated with living near mobile phone base stations with high accuracy and AUC values. Key predictors included distance from base station, age, and duration of residence. There is a connection between proximity to base stations and increased prevalence of various symptoms.

Outcomes measured

• headache
• sleep disturbance
• dizziness
• vertigo
• fatigue
• irritability
• concentration issues
• neuropsychiatric risks

Limitations

• Cross-sectional design limits causal inference
• Exposure metrics limited to proximity and living conditions, no direct EMF measurement
• Potential confounding factors not detailed

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0.7)
  Study focuses on health effects related to mobile phone base stations, relevant to 5G infrastructure policy.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone base station",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "699 adult participants living near mobile phone base stations",
    "sample_size": 699,
    "outcomes": [
        "headache",
        "sleep disturbance",
        "dizziness",
        "vertigo",
        "fatigue",
        "irritability",
        "concentration issues",
        "neuropsychiatric risks"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Machine learning models, especially SVM, predicted health symptoms associated with living near mobile phone base stations with high accuracy and AUC values. Key predictors included distance from base station, age, and duration of residence. There is a connection between proximity to base stations and increased prevalence of various symptoms.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design limits causal inference",
        "Exposure metrics limited to proximity and living conditions, no direct EMF measurement",
        "Potential confounding factors not detailed"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "mobile phone base stations",
        "health symptoms",
        "machine learning",
        "SVM",
        "public health",
        "RF-EMF exposure"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "5g-policy",
            "weight": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study focuses on health effects related to mobile phone base stations, relevant to 5G infrastructure policy."
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.