Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms.
Lowden A, Akerstedt T, Ingre M, Wiholm C, Hillert L, Kuster N, Nilsson JP, Arnetz B. · 2011
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at safety-limit levels reduced restorative deep sleep by 12% and altered brain waves for hours after exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 48 people to cell phone radiation (884 MHz) for 3 hours before bedtime, then monitored their brain waves during sleep. The radiation exposure reduced deep sleep (slow-wave sleep) by 12% and increased lighter Stage 2 sleep, while also altering brain wave patterns throughout the night. This suggests that cell phone radiation can disrupt the quality of sleep even after exposure ends.
Why This Matters
This controlled laboratory study adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation affects brain function in measurable ways. The 1.4 W/kg exposure level used here is within current safety limits and comparable to what you might experience during extended phone calls held close to your head. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates biological effects persisting hours after exposure ended. The 12% reduction in deep sleep is concerning because slow-wave sleep is critical for memory consolidation, physical recovery, and overall health. The reality is that many people keep their phones near their beds or use them extensively in the evening, potentially creating chronic sleep disruption patterns that could compound over time.
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):
- 3.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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 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...
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},
}