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Brain & Nervous System

Cognitive function and symptoms in adults and adolescents in relation to rf radiation from UMTS base stations.

No Effects Found

Riddervold IS, Pedersen GF, Andersen NT, Pedersen AD, Andersen JB, Zachariae R, Mølhave L, Sigsgaard T, Kjaergaard SK. · 2008

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UMTS base station radiation showed no immediate cognitive effects in controlled testing, though headache reports increased slightly.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Danish researchers tested whether 45-minute exposures to UMTS cell tower radiation (2140 MHz) affected cognitive performance and symptoms in 40 teenagers and 40 adults. They found no significant differences in cognitive test performance between real and sham exposures, though participants reported slightly more headaches during radiation exposure, which may have been due to baseline differences rather than the radiation itself.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.14 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.14 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 2140 MHz Duration: 45 min

Study Details

There is widespread public concern about the potential adverse health effects of mobile phones in general and their associated base stations in particular. This study was designed to investigate the acute effects of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) mobile phone base stations on human cognitive function and symptoms.

Forty adolescents (15-16 years) and 40 adults (25-40 years) were exposed to four conditions: (1) sha...

No statistically significant differences between the UMTS and sham conditions were found for perform...

In conclusion, the primary hypothesis that UMTS radiation reduces general performance in the TMB test was not confirmed. However, we suggest that the hypothesis of subjective symptoms and EMF exposure needs further research.

Cite This Study
Riddervold IS, Pedersen GF, Andersen NT, Pedersen AD, Andersen JB, Zachariae R, Mølhave L, Sigsgaard T, Kjaergaard SK. (2008). Cognitive function and symptoms in adults and adolescents in relation to rf radiation from UMTS base stations. Bioelectromagnetics. 29(4):257-267, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{is_2008_cognitive_function_and_symptoms_3332,
  author = {Riddervold IS and Pedersen GF and Andersen NT and Pedersen AD and Andersen JB and Zachariae R and Mølhave L and Sigsgaard T and Kjaergaard SK.},
  title = {Cognitive function and symptoms in adults and adolescents in relation to rf radiation from UMTS base stations.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18163423/},
}
PubMed: 18163423

Cited By (55 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 2008 Danish study found no significant effects on cognitive performance from 45-minute exposures to UMTS cell tower radiation at 2140 MHz. Both teenagers and adults showed no differences in cognitive test performance between real and sham exposures during controlled laboratory testing.
Danish researchers found participants reported slightly more headaches during UMTS radiation exposure compared to sham exposure. However, this increase may have been due to baseline differences between test conditions rather than the 2140 MHz radiation itself, requiring further research.
The 2008 study found no significant differences between teenagers and adults in their cognitive responses to UMTS 2140 MHz radiation. Both age groups showed similar performance on cognitive tests, with no statistically significant effects from the 45-minute exposures.
Researchers used the Trail Making Test (TMB) as the primary cognitive assessment, along with additional cognitive tasks. They found no significant changes in performance on any cognitive tests during 45-minute exposures to 2140 MHz UMTS radiation.
The Danish researchers concluded that subjective symptoms from EMF exposure need further research, despite finding no cognitive performance effects. They observed some symptom reporting during UMTS exposure that warrants additional investigation to understand potential non-cognitive health impacts.