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Intermittent pacemaker dysfunction caused by digital mobile telephones.

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Naegeli B, Osswald S, Deola M, Burkart F · 1996

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Mobile phones caused dangerous pacemaker malfunctions in 18% of patients when held within 4 inches of the device.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested digital mobile phones near 39 patients with implanted pacemakers to see if the phones would interfere with the life-saving devices. They found that 18% of patients experienced pacemaker malfunctions when phones were held within 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) of the device, with some interference causing dangerous pacemaker inhibition. The interference was worse with higher-power phones and more sensitive pacemaker settings.

Why This Matters

This 1996 study provides crucial evidence that mobile phone radiation can directly interfere with critical medical devices. While modern pacemakers have improved shielding, the fundamental physics hasn't changed - radiofrequency radiation can still disrupt sensitive electronic circuits. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable, reproducible interference at distances people routinely use their phones. The 18% interference rate among patients tested isn't a minor technical glitch - it represents potentially life-threatening malfunctions of devices people depend on for survival. This study reminds us that EMF bioeffects aren't just about long-term health risks, but immediate safety concerns for vulnerable populations with medical implants.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

This study was designed to evaluate possible interactions between digital mobile telephones and implanted pacemakers.

In 39 patients with an implanted pacemaker (14 dual-chamber [DDD], 8 atrial-synchronized ventricular...

In 7 (18%) of 39 patients, a reproducible interference was induced during 26 (3.9%) of 672 tests wit...

Digital mobile phones in close proximity to implanted pacemakers may cause intermittent pacemaker dysfunction with inappropriate ventricular tracking and potentially dangerous pacemaker inhibition.

Cite This Study
Naegeli B, Osswald S, Deola M, Burkart F (1996). Intermittent pacemaker dysfunction caused by digital mobile telephones. J Am Coll Cardiol 27(6):1471-1477, 1996.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_1996_intermittent_pacemaker_dysfunction_caused_2455,
  author = {Naegeli B and Osswald S and Deola M and Burkart F},
  title = {Intermittent pacemaker dysfunction caused by digital mobile telephones.},
  year = {1996},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8626960/},
}
PubMed: 8626960

Cited By (97 papers)

View all 97 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, digital mobile phones can cause pacemaker malfunctions when held within 10 centimeters (4 inches) of the device. A 1996 study found that 18% of pacemaker patients experienced device interference, with some cases causing dangerous pacemaker inhibition that could be life-threatening.
Digital phones should be kept more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) away from pacemaker devices. Research by Naegeli and colleagues found no pacemaker interference occurred beyond this distance, while 18% of patients experienced malfunctions when phones were closer than 4 inches.
Yes, higher power digital phones cause more pacemaker interference than lower power devices. The 1996 study found that interference was significantly more likely to occur at higher phone power output levels, with maximal pacemaker sensitivity settings increasing interference rates from 1.8% to 6%.
Pacemakers set to maximal sensitivity are more vulnerable to digital phone interference. Research found that maximal sensitivity settings caused interference in 6% of tests compared to only 1.8% with nominal sensitivity settings, making proper pacemaker programming important for phone users.
Unipolar pacemakers are more susceptible to digital phone interference than bipolar devices. The study found ventricular inhibition occurred only in unipolar pacing mode, with 12.5% positive interference results, while bipolar pacemakers showed no ventricular inhibition from digital phone exposure.