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Resting blood pressure increase during exposure to a radio-frequency electromagnetic field.

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Braune, S, Wrocklage, C, Raczek, J, Gailus, T, Lucking, CH · 1998

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Cell phone radiation at 2 watts increased resting blood pressure in healthy adults within 35 minutes of exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

German researchers exposed 10 healthy volunteers to GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 35 minutes while continuously monitoring their blood pressure and heart rate. They found that resting blood pressure increased during exposure to the phone's electromagnetic field compared to a placebo condition. This suggests that even short-term exposure to cell phone radiation can affect cardiovascular function in healthy individuals.

Why This Matters

This study provides important evidence that cell phone radiation can produce measurable cardiovascular effects in real-time. The researchers used GSM 900 MHz at 2 watts - similar to older cell phones but higher than many modern smartphones that typically operate at 0.6-1.6 watts. What makes this research particularly significant is the controlled, single-blind design and the fact that effects were observed in healthy young adults during relatively brief exposure periods. The finding that blood pressure increased during active EMF exposure suggests our cardiovascular system responds to radiofrequency fields even when we're not consciously aware of the exposure. This adds to the growing body of evidence that EMF exposure produces biological effects at levels well below current safety standards, which focus only on heating effects rather than the subtle physiological changes documented here.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: GSM 900 MHz Duration: 35 Minutes

Study Details

Seven healthy men and three women volunteers aged between 26 and 36 years underwent a single-blind placebo-controlled protocol to investigate the influence of the EMF of a mobile telephone (GSM 900 MHz, 2 Watt, 217 Hz frame repetition rate) on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), capillary perfusion (CP), and subjective well-being.

The telephone was fixed in a typical position on the right-hand side of the head and operated by rem...

Phases I and III of the Valsalva manoeuvre are characterised by passive changes of BP induced by cha...

Cite This Study
Braune, S, Wrocklage, C, Raczek, J, Gailus, T, Lucking, CH (1998). Resting blood pressure increase during exposure to a radio-frequency electromagnetic field. Lancet 351(9119):1857-1858, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{braune_1998_resting_blood_pressure_increase_1924,
  author = {Braune and S and Wrocklage and C and Raczek and J and Gailus and T and Lucking and CH},
  title = {Resting blood pressure increase during exposure to a radio-frequency electromagnetic field.},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(98)24025-6/fulltext},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, German researchers found that 35 minutes of GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation exposure increased resting blood pressure in 10 healthy volunteers. This 1998 study demonstrated that even short-term exposure to cell phone electromagnetic fields can affect cardiovascular function in healthy individuals.
A 1998 study found blood pressure increases during 35 minutes of GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation exposure. The researchers continuously monitored blood pressure and heart rate throughout the exposure period, showing cardiovascular effects can occur within this relatively short timeframe.
Yes, German researchers demonstrated that 35 minutes of GSM 900 MHz radiation exposure affected cardiovascular function in 10 healthy volunteers. The study found increased resting blood pressure during cell phone radiation exposure compared to placebo conditions, indicating healthy individuals aren't immune to these effects.
During GSM 900 MHz cell phone exposure, researchers observed increased resting blood pressure in healthy volunteers. The 1998 German study monitored blood pressure and heart rate continuously for 35 minutes, finding significant cardiovascular changes during electromagnetic field exposure compared to placebo conditions.
Yes, a 1998 German study by Braune and colleagues found that GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation affected cardiovascular function. Ten healthy volunteers showed increased resting blood pressure during 35 minutes of electromagnetic field exposure, demonstrating measurable heart-related effects from cell phone radiation.