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Brain & Nervous System257 citations

Calculation of change in brain temperatures due to exposure to a mobile phone.

Not an original health-effects study

Van Leeuwen GM, Lagendijk JJ, Van Leersum BJ, Zwamborn AP, Hornsleth SN, Kotte AN · 1999

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The study calculated a maximum brain temperature rise of 0.11 degrees C from a mobile phone at maximum power with indefinite exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers evaluated 3D temperature rise in a realistic head model induced by a mobile phone. The power distributions had a maximum averaged SAR over a 10 g volume of approximately 1.6 W kg(-1). Simulations showed a maximum brain temperature rise of 0.11 degrees C for a 0.25 W antenna with indefinite exposure, and the authors noted that temperature rises are far too small to have lasting effects.

Why This Matters

The researchers used an FDTD model for electromagnetic power distribution and a thermal model for bioheat transfer by conduction and blood flow. They verified the simulations by experimentally measuring skin temperature rise. The authors suggested their simulation method could help develop safety standards.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.6 W/kg

Exposure Context

This study used 1.6 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1.6 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit

Study Details

In this study we evaluated for a realistic head model the 3D temperature rise induced by a mobile phone.

This was done numerically with the consecutive use of an FDTD model to predict the absorbed electrom...

Maximum temperature rise is at the skin. The power distributions were characterized by a maximum ave...

Cite This Study
Van Leeuwen GM, Lagendijk JJ, Van Leersum BJ, Zwamborn AP, Hornsleth SN, Kotte AN (1999). Calculation of change in brain temperatures due to exposure to a mobile phone. Phys Med Biol 44(10):2367-2379, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{gm_1999_calculation_of_change_in_1404,
  author = {Van Leeuwen GM and Lagendijk JJ and Van Leersum BJ and Zwamborn AP and Hornsleth SN and Kotte AN},
  title = {Calculation of change in brain temperatures due to exposure to a mobile phone.},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10533916/},
}
PubMed: 10533916

Cited By (257 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study calculated a maximum brain temperature rise of 0.11 degrees C.
The calculation used an antenna with an average emitted power of 0.25 W, the maximum in common mobile phones, and indefinite exposure.
The maximum temperature rise occurred at the skin.
They verified the simulations by experimentally measuring skin temperature rise.
An FDTD model predicted absorbed electromagnetic power distribution, and a thermal model described bioheat transfer by conduction and blood flow.