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Cellular phone interference testing of implantable cardiac defibrillators in vitro.

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Bassen HI, Moore HJ, Ruggera PS · 1998

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Cell phones can interfere with life-saving heart devices at distances up to 6 centimeters, causing dangerous malfunctions.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested how digital cell phones affect implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), medical devices that shock the heart back into rhythm during dangerous arrhythmias. They found that phones using TDMA technology could cause ICDs to malfunction when held within 2-6 centimeters of the device, either preventing necessary pacing or triggering inappropriate high-voltage shocks. The interference stopped immediately when phones were moved away from the ICD.

Why This Matters

This 1998 study reveals a critical safety concern that extends beyond theoretical EMF health effects into immediate, life-threatening device interference. While ICDs save lives by correcting dangerous heart rhythms, this research demonstrates that the very technology we carry daily can disrupt these essential medical devices at close range. The science shows that TDMA phones (common in the late 1990s) created electromagnetic interference within 6 centimeters that could either prevent life-saving therapy or trigger dangerous unnecessary shocks. What makes this particularly significant is that this represents direct, measurable interference with medical equipment, not subtle biological effects that take years to manifest. Though phone technology has evolved since 1998, this study established the foundation for current medical device safety guidelines that recommend keeping phones at least 6 inches from pacemakers and ICDs.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 11 Hz - 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 11 Hz - 50 HzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: TDMA- 11 Hz and 50 Hz

Study Details

An in vitro study was undertaken to investigate the potential for cellular telephones to interfere with representative models of presently used ICDs.

Digital cellular phones (DCPs) generate strong, amplitude modulated fields with pulse repetition rat...

DCPs with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) pulsed amplitude modulation caused the most pronounce...

Cite This Study
Bassen HI, Moore HJ, Ruggera PS (1998). Cellular phone interference testing of implantable cardiac defibrillators in vitro. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 21(9):1709-1715, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{hi_1998_cellular_phone_interference_testing_1884,
  author = {Bassen HI and Moore HJ and Ruggera PS},
  title = {Cellular phone interference testing of implantable cardiac defibrillators in vitro.},
  year = {1998},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1540-8159.1998.tb00268.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1998.tb00268.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1998.tb00268.x

Cited By (58 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, cell phones can interfere with implantable defibrillators when held very close to the device. A 1998 study found that digital phones caused defibrillators to malfunction when placed within 2-6 centimeters, either preventing necessary pacing or triggering inappropriate shocks.
Cell phone radiation can affect implantable heart devices like defibrillators at very close distances. Research shows TDMA digital phones caused the most interference, but only when held within about 2 inches of the implanted device in the chest.
Based on research, you should keep cell phones at least 6 centimeters (about 2.5 inches) away from implantable cardiac devices. A 1998 study found interference occurred when phones were held within 2-6 centimeters of defibrillators, with effects stopping immediately when moved away.
Yes, digital phones caused more interference with heart implants than analog phones in testing. TDMA digital phones produced the most pronounced effects on defibrillators, causing high-voltage firing or pacing inhibition when held very close to the devices.
Phones held very close to defibrillators can cause two main risks: preventing the device from pacing when needed, or triggering inappropriate high-voltage shocks. However, these effects only occurred within 2-6 centimeters and stopped immediately when phones were moved away.