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Brain & Nervous System

Effects of UMTS cellular phones on human hearing: results of the European project EMFnEAR

No Effects Found

Parazzini M, Sibella F, Lutman ME, Mishra S, Moulin A, Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Woznicka E, Politanski P, Zmyslony M, Thuroczy G, Molnár F, Kubinyi G, Tavartkiladze G, Bronyakin S, Uloziene I, Uloza V, Gradauskiene E, Ravazzani P. · 2009

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Results from 134 participants showed no consistent pattern of auditory effects after 20-minute UMTS exposure at maximum phone output.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Participants received 20 minutes of genuine or sham RF exposure at maximum phone output with 69 mW/kg SAR in the cochlea region. Auditory function was measured before and after exposure using hearing thresholds, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory evoked potentials. No consistent pattern of effects was found, and an isolated high-frequency threshold change was not statistically significant after multiple comparison correction. Researchers concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at maximum consumer phone output does not cause measurable immediate auditory effects.

Why This Matters

During exposure, participants heard speech at a typical conversational level through an earphone while the phone delivered genuine or sham RF radiation. The phone was a commercial model controlled by a personal computer to manage the exposure conditions.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.069 W/kg
Electric Field
39.8 V/m
Source/Device
1,947 MHz
Exposure Duration
20 min

Exposure Context

This study used 39.8 V/m for electric fields:

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: 0.069 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 23 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.95 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.95 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The European project EMFnEAR was undertaken to assess potential changes in human auditory function after a short-term exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation produced by UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) mobile phones.

Participants were healthy young adults with no hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was asses...

Results from 134 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system...

It is concluded that UMTS short-term exposure at the maximum output of consumer mobile phones does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.

Cite This Study
Parazzini M, Sibella F, Lutman ME, Mishra S, Moulin A, Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Woznicka E, Politanski P, Zmyslony M, Thuroczy G, Molnár F, Kubinyi G, Tavartkiladze G, Bronyakin S, Uloziene I, Uloza V, Gradauskiene E, Ravazzani P. (2009). Effects of UMTS cellular phones on human hearing: results of the European project EMFnEAR Radiat Res. 172(2):244-251, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2009_effects_of_umts_cellular_2793,
  author = {Parazzini M and Sibella F and Lutman ME and Mishra S and Moulin A and Sliwinska-Kowalska M and Woznicka E and Politanski P and Zmyslony M and Thuroczy G and Molnár F and Kubinyi G and Tavartkiladze G and Bronyakin S and Uloziene I and Uloza V and Gradauskiene E and Ravazzani P. },
  title = {Effects of UMTS cellular phones on human hearing: results of the European project EMFnEAR},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/172/2/244/48215},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The EMFnEAR project used a double-blind design comparing genuine and sham UMTS exposure in 134 healthy young adults.
Tests included hearing threshold level, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions, and auditory evoked potentials.
Participants received 20 minutes of UMTS exposure at maximum phone output with 69 mW/kg SAR in the cochlea region while hearing speech through an earphone.
No consistent pattern of effects was found, and an isolated high-frequency threshold change was not statistically significant after multiple comparison correction.
Researchers concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at maximum consumer phone output does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.