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The effect of GSM and TETRA mobile handset signals on blood pressure, catechol levels and heart rate variability.

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Barker AT, Jackson PR, Parry H, Coulton LA, Cook GG, Wood SM. · 2007

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This study found no immediate blood pressure changes from mobile phone signals, but doesn't address long-term cardiovascular effects from chronic use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested 120 healthy volunteers to see if GSM and TETRA mobile phone signals caused immediate changes in blood pressure, stress hormones, or heart rhythm. Despite having enough statistical power to detect even tiny blood pressure changes (less than 1 mmHg), they found no effects from the phone signals. The study contradicted earlier research suggesting mobile phones could acutely raise blood pressure.

Why This Matters

This well-designed study with 120 participants represents important negative evidence in the EMF health debate. While the absence of acute cardiovascular effects from mobile phone exposure might seem reassuring, we need to interpret these findings carefully. The study examined immediate, short-term responses during brief exposure sessions, but didn't address the potential for cumulative effects from years of daily phone use. The reality is that most health concerns about mobile phones center on long-term, chronic exposure patterns rather than acute responses. What this means for you is that while your phone likely isn't causing immediate spikes in blood pressure during calls, this single study doesn't address the broader questions about sustained cardiovascular impacts from regular mobile phone use over months and years.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate The effect of GSM and TETRA mobile handset signals on blood pressure, catechol levels and heart rate variability.

To investigate this finding further we carried out a double blind study in 120 healthy volunteers (4...

Despite having the power to detect changes in MAP of less than 1 mmHg none of our measurements showe...

In light of this negative finding from a large study, coupled with two smaller GSM studies which have also proved negative, we are of the view that further studies of acute changes in blood pressure due to GSM and TETRA handsets are not required.

Cite This Study
Barker AT, Jackson PR, Parry H, Coulton LA, Cook GG, Wood SM. (2007). The effect of GSM and TETRA mobile handset signals on blood pressure, catechol levels and heart rate variability. Bioelectromagnetics.28(6):433-438, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{at_2007_the_effect_of_gsm_1880,
  author = {Barker AT and Jackson PR and Parry H and Coulton LA and Cook GG and Wood SM.},
  title = {The effect of GSM and TETRA mobile handset signals on blood pressure, catechol levels and heart rate variability.},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20333},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20333},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20333

Cited By (46 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A large 2007 study of 120 healthy volunteers found no evidence that GSM or TETRA mobile phone signals cause immediate increases in blood pressure. The research was sensitive enough to detect changes smaller than 1 mmHg but found no effects from phone radiation exposure.
Research testing 120 people found no changes in heart rate variability from mobile phone signals. The 2007 study examined both GSM and TETRA phone technologies and detected no immediate effects on heart rhythm patterns during phone use.
A controlled study found no evidence that mobile phone radiation immediately affects cardiovascular health. Researchers measured blood pressure, stress hormones, and heart rhythm in 120 volunteers but detected no harmful effects from GSM or TETRA phone signals.
Testing of 120 healthy volunteers showed no changes in catechol stress hormone levels from mobile phone radiation exposure. The 2007 research examined both GSM and TETRA signals but found no immediate effects on the body's stress response systems.
Current evidence suggests minimal acute blood pressure risks from mobile phone use. A large 2007 study specifically designed to detect even tiny blood pressure changes found no increases from GSM or TETRA phone signals in 120 healthy participants.