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Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms.

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Lowden A, Akerstedt T, Ingre M, Wiholm C, Hillert L, Kuster N, Nilsson JP, Arnetz B. · 2011

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Radiofrequency exposure reduced slow-wave sleep by 9.5 minutes and altered EEG brain-wave activity compared to sham exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated the effects of a double-blind radiofrequency exposure on sleepiness and EEG measures during sleep. Forty-eight subjects with a mean age of 28 years underwent three hours of controlled exposure prior to sleep, followed by a full-night polysomnographic recording in a sleep laboratory. Following exposure, slow-wave sleep decreased by 9.5 minutes and the latency to Stage 3 sleep was prolonged by 4.8 minutes compared to sham. No differences were found between subjects who had previously reported mobile phone-related symptoms and those who had not.

Why This Matters

Stage 2 sleep increased by 8.3 minutes compared to sham, while slow-wave sleep decreased by 9.5 minutes. The researchers noted that the results confirm previous findings that radiofrequency exposure increased the EEG alpha range in the sleep EEG, and indicated moderate impairment of slow-wave sleep. Reported differences in sensitivity to mobile phone use were not reflected in sleep parameters.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.4 W/kg
Source/Device
884 MHz
Exposure Duration
continuous for 3 hr

Exposure Context

This study used 1.4 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1.4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 884 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 884 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

We investigated the effects of a double‐blind radiofrequency exposure (884 MHz, GSM signaling standard including non‐DTX and DTX mode, time‐averaged 10 g psSAR of 1.4 W/kg) on self‐evaluated sleepiness and objective EEG measures during sleep.

Forty‐eight subjects (mean age 28 years) underwent 3 h of controlled exposure (7:30–10:30 PM; active...

The results demonstrated that following exposure, time in Stages 3 and 4 sleep (SWS, slow‐wave sleep...

Cite This Study
Lowden A, Akerstedt T, Ingre M, Wiholm C, Hillert L, Kuster N, Nilsson JP, Arnetz B. (2011). Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms. Bioelectromagnetics. 32(1):4-14, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2011_sleep_after_mobile_phone_131,
  author = {Lowden A and Akerstedt T and Ingre M and Wiholm C and Hillert L and Kuster N and Nilsson JP and Arnetz B. },
  title = {Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms.},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20609},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20609},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20609

Cited By (85 papers)

View all 85 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used a double-blind radiofrequency exposure following the GSM signaling standard, with a time-averaged 10 g psSAR of 1.4 W/kg.
Slow-wave sleep decreased by 9.5 minutes, or 12%, compared to sham exposure, and the time to reach Stage 3 sleep was prolonged by 4.8 minutes.
Reported differences in sensitivity to mobile phone use were not reflected in sleep parameters, and no differences were found between controls and subjects with prior complaints of mobile phone-related symptoms.
Power density analysis indicated enhanced activation in the frequency ranges 0.5 to 1.5 and 5.75 to 10.5 Hz during the first 30 minutes of Stage 2 sleep.
Forty-eight subjects underwent three hours of controlled exposure prior to sleep, followed by a full-night polysomnographic recording in a sleep laboratory.