Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study

Environmental Health

Po-Chang Huang¹  How-Ran Guo¹  Tain-Junn Cheng¹  Ya-Yun Cheng¹  Chien-Yuan Huang¹  Jui-chin Chiang¹  Ya-Ting Chuang²  Ti Hsu³ 

[1] Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University;Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital;Occupational Safety, Health, and Medicine Research Center, National Cheng Kung University;

关键词: Blood pressure;    Cell phone;    Heart rate;    Heart rate variability;    Hypersensitivity;    Idiopathic environmental intolerance;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12940-022-00843-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background The biological association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) has not been established. To assess the physiological changes and symptoms associated with exposure to EMF, we conducted a randomized crossover provocation study. Methods We recruited 58 individuals with IEI-EMF (IEI-EMF group) and 92 individuals without IEI-EMF (control group). In a controlled environment, all participants received EMF signals mimicking those from mobile phone base stations in a randomized sequence under the blinded condition. During the course, participants reported their symptoms and whether they perceived EMF, and we monitored their physiological parameters, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability. Results The IEI-EMF and control groups reported similar frequencies of symptoms during both the provocation and sham sessions. No participant could accurately identify the provocation. In both groups, physiological parameters were similar between the two sessions. The control group, but not the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure. Conclusions No symptoms or changes in physiological parameters were found to be associated with short-term exposure to EMF, and no participant could accurately detect the presence of EMF. Moreover, the participants in the control group, but not those in the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF.

【 授权许可】

Unknown