Effects of mobile GSM radiotelephone exposure on the auditory brainstem response (ABR).
Kellenyi, L, Thuroczy, G, Faludy, B, Lenard, L · 1999
View Original AbstractJust 15 minutes of GSM phone radiation altered brain activity and caused 20-decibel hearing loss in high frequencies.
Plain English Summary
Hungarian researchers exposed human subjects to GSM cell phone radiation for 15 minutes and measured their auditory brainstem response (ABR), which reflects how well the brain processes sound signals. They found that radiation exposure increased brain activity in the auditory processing centers and caused a 20-decibel hearing loss in high frequencies from 2-10 kHz on the exposed side. This suggests that even brief cell phone use can temporarily alter brain function and hearing ability.
Why This Matters
This early study provides compelling evidence that GSM radiation can directly affect brain function within minutes of exposure. The auditory brainstem response measures electrical activity in the brain's sound processing centers, making this a direct neurological effect rather than just a peripheral hearing issue. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable changes in both brain activity and hearing sensitivity after just 15 minutes of exposure - roughly equivalent to a typical phone call. The 20-decibel hearing loss in high frequencies is substantial and concerning, as these frequencies are critical for understanding speech and detecting environmental sounds. While this 1999 study predates smartphones and their much higher usage patterns, it establishes a clear biological basis for concern about RF radiation's effects on the nervous system. The reality is that today's users often exceed 15 minutes of daily phone use by orders of magnitude, raising questions about cumulative effects that this study couldn't address.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 2 KHz to 10 KHz Duration: 15 min
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate Effects of mobile GSM radiotelephone exposure on the auditory brainstem response (ABR).
A 15-min exposure to GSM phone radiation caused an increase in auditory brainstem response in the ex...
Show BibTeX
@article{kellenyi_1999_effects_of_mobile_gsm_2265,
author = {Kellenyi and L and Thuroczy and G and Faludy and B and Lenard and L},
title = {Effects of mobile GSM radiotelephone exposure on the auditory brainstem response (ABR).},
year = {1999},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10746254/},
}