Mobile phone carrying locations and risk perception of men: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Mobile phone carrying locations and risk perception of men: A cross-sectional study Zeleke BM, Brzozek C, Bhatt CR, Abramson MJ, Freudenstein F, Croft RJ, Wiedemann PM, Benke G. Mobile phone carrying locations and risk perception of men: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2022 Jun 7;17(6):e0269457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269457. Abstract Little was known about the relationship between carrying mobile phone handsets by men and their risk perception of radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure due to carrying handsets close to the body. This study aimed to determine where men usually carried their handsets and to assess the relationship to risk perception of RF-EMF. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire about mobile phone use, handset carrying locations, and levels of risk perception to RF-EMF. Data were analysed using linear regression models to examine if risk perception differed by mobile phone carrying location. The participants were 356 men, aged 18-72 years. They owned a mobile phone for 2-29 years, with over three quarters (78.7%) having a mobile phone for over 20 years. The most common locations that men kept their handsets when they were 'indoors' were: on a table/desk (54.0%) or in close contact with the body (34.7%). When outside, 54.0% of men kept the handset in the front trouser pocket. While making or receiving calls, 85.0% of men held their mobile phone handset against the head and 15.0% either used earphones or loudspeaker. Men who carried their handset in close contact with the body perceived higher risks from RF-EMF exposure compared to those who kept it away from the body (p<0.01). A substantial proportion of men carried their mobile phone handsets in close proximity to reproductive organs i.e. front pocket of trousers (46.5%). Men who kept their handset with the hand (p < .05), and those who placed it in the T-shirt pocket (p < .05), while the phone was not in use, were more likely to perceive health risks from their behaviour, compared to those who kept it away from the body. However, whether this indicates a causal relationship, remains open. Excerpt In the current study, one in every six men believed that carrying mobile phones would cause infertility. This may not be surprising since a third of the participants also reported feeling heating on body parts near where the mobile phone was carried. This may be worrisome in modern days since smartphones are more prone to heating human tissues in contact as there is a trend in moving toward lower specific absorption rate (SAR) and higher battery capacity smartphones due to their increased uses other than making/receiving calls [6].... Given the ubiquity of mobile phone use and that the majority of men carried their mobile phones in close proximity to reproductive organs (e.g. testes), the relationship between resulting perceived RF-EMF exposures and associated health risks warrants further research. Open access paper: journals.plos.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In a questionnaire study of 356 men, carrying a mobile phone in close contact with the body was associated with higher perceived risks from RF-EMF exposure compared with keeping it away from the body (p<0.01). Keeping the handset in the hand (p<.05) or in a T-shirt pocket (p<.05) while not in use was also associated with higher perceived health risk compared with keeping it away from the body. The authors note that whether this indicates a causal relationship remains open.

Outcomes measured

• Handset carrying locations (indoors/outdoors/while calling)
• Risk perception of RF-EMF exposure/health risks (including infertility belief)
• Self-reported heating sensation near carrying location

Limitations

• Cross-sectional design; causality cannot be determined (explicitly noted)
• Self-administered questionnaire/self-reported behaviors and perceptions

Suggested hubs

• rf-mobile-phones (0.9)
  Study focuses on mobile phone handset carrying locations and perceived RF-EMF risk.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Men aged 18–72 years",
    "sample_size": 356,
    "outcomes": [
        "Handset carrying locations (indoors/outdoors/while calling)",
        "Risk perception of RF-EMF exposure/health risks (including infertility belief)",
        "Self-reported heating sensation near carrying location"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a questionnaire study of 356 men, carrying a mobile phone in close contact with the body was associated with higher perceived risks from RF-EMF exposure compared with keeping it away from the body (p<0.01). Keeping the handset in the hand (p<.05) or in a T-shirt pocket (p<.05) while not in use was also associated with higher perceived health risk compared with keeping it away from the body. The authors note that whether this indicates a causal relationship remains open.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design; causality cannot be determined (explicitly noted)",
        "Self-administered questionnaire/self-reported behaviors and perceptions"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "handset carrying location",
        "risk perception",
        "RF-EMF",
        "men",
        "front trouser pocket",
        "reproductive organs",
        "infertility",
        "heating sensation",
        "questionnaire",
        "linear regression"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study focuses on mobile phone handset carrying locations and perceived RF-EMF risk."
        }
    ]
}

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