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Symptoms & Sensitivity224 citations

Symptoms experienced in connection with mobile phone use.

No Effects Found

Oftedal G, Wilen J, Sandstrom M, Mild KH · 2000

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Nearly one in four mobile phone users in this large study experienced symptoms like headaches and facial burning during phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers surveyed 17,000 mobile phone users across Norway and Sweden to document symptoms people experienced while using their phones. They found that 31% of Norwegian users and 13% of Swedish users reported at least one symptom connected to phone use, with the most common being warmth around the ear, burning facial sensations, and headaches that typically began during calls and lasted up to 2 hours. While nearly half of those experiencing symptoms took steps to reduce them, few sought medical care, suggesting these effects were bothersome but not considered serious health problems by users.

Study Details

Many people in Norway and Sweden reported headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms experienced in connection with the use of a mobile phone (MP). Therefore, we initiated a cross-sectional epidemiological study among 17,000 people, all using an MP in their job.

Thirty-one percent of the respondents in Norway and 13% of those in Sweden had experienced at least ...

These results suggest an awareness of the symptoms, but not necessarily a serious health problem.

Cite This Study
Oftedal G, Wilen J, Sandstrom M, Mild KH (2000). Symptoms experienced in connection with mobile phone use. Occup Med (Lond) 50(4):237-245, 2000.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2000_symptoms_experienced_in_connection_3278,
  author = {Oftedal G and Wilen J and Sandstrom M and Mild KH},
  title = {Symptoms experienced in connection with mobile phone use.},
  year = {2000},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10912374/},
}
PubMed: 10912374

Cited By (224 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 2000 study of 17,000 mobile phone users found that 31% of Norwegian users reported at least one symptom connected to phone use, compared to only 13% of Swedish users. The most common symptoms were warmth around the ear, burning facial sensations, and headaches during calls.
According to research by Oftedal and colleagues, mobile phone symptoms usually begin during or within 30 minutes of a call and last up to 2 hours afterward. The most reported symptoms were ear warmth, facial burning sensations, and headaches that gradually subsided after phone use ended.
The 2000 Nordic study found that relatively few people with mobile phone symptoms consulted physicians or took sick leave, suggesting users didn't view these effects as serious health problems. However, about 45% of those experiencing symptoms took steps to reduce them.
The Oftedal study documented that 31% of Norwegian users versus 13% of Swedish users reported mobile phone symptoms, but researchers didn't identify specific reasons for this difference. Both countries used similar mobile phone technology, suggesting cultural or reporting differences may have influenced results.
Research on 17,000 Nordic mobile phone users found that burning sensations in facial skin were among the most commonly reported symptoms, along with warmth sensations around and behind the ear. These symptoms typically occurred during calls and lasted up to 2 hours afterward.