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Neurological abnormalities associated with Mobile phone use.

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Hocking B, Westerman R · 2000

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This case documents permanent nerve damage in areas closest to mobile phone placement, suggesting prolonged phone use may cause measurable neurological harm.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers documented a case of permanent nerve damage in a patient who used a mobile phone extensively. The patient developed lasting abnormal sensations in the scalp, reduced sensation, and measurable nerve damage to the cervical and trigeminal nerves. Medical examination ruled out other potential causes, suggesting a connection between prolonged mobile phone use and neurological damage.

Why This Matters

This case study represents an important early documentation of potential neurological damage from mobile phone use. While case reports like this cannot prove causation, they serve as crucial warning signals that deserve serious attention. The fact that the patient developed permanent nerve damage with measurable abnormalities on clinical testing makes this more than just subjective symptoms. The affected nerves - the trigeminal and cervical nerves - are precisely those closest to where people hold their phones during calls. What makes this particularly concerning is that mobile phones today emit similar radiofrequency radiation to devices from 2000, meaning millions of people continue to expose these same nerve pathways daily. This case underscores why many health experts recommend using speaker phone or wired headsets to keep devices away from your head during calls.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

We report finding a neurological abnormality in a patient after prolonged use of a mobile phone.

He had permanent unilateral dysaesthesiae of the scalp, slight loss of sensation, and abnormalities ...

The implications regarding health effects of mobile phones and radio-frequency radiation is discusse...

Cite This Study
Hocking B, Westerman R (2000). Neurological abnormalities associated with Mobile phone use. Occup Med 50: 366-368, 2000.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2000_neurological_abnormalities_associated_with_2200,
  author = {Hocking B and Westerman R},
  title = {Neurological abnormalities associated with Mobile phone use.},
  year = {2000},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10975136/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers documented a case of permanent nerve damage in a patient who used a mobile phone extensively. The patient developed lasting abnormal sensations in the scalp, reduced sensation, and measurable nerve damage to the cervical and trigeminal nerves. Medical examination ruled out other potential causes, suggesting a connection between prolonged mobile phone use and neurological damage.