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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Brain & Nervous System

Absence of short-term effects of UMTS exposure on the human auditory system.

No Effects Found

Parazzini M, Lutman ME, Moulin A, Barnel C, Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Zmyslony M, Hernadi I, Stefanics G, Thuroczy G, Ravazzani P. · 2010

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Twenty minutes of 3G radiation at high levels caused no immediate hearing damage in this controlled study.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 73 healthy adults to 3G cell phone radiation (UMTS) at 1.75 W/kg SAR for 20 minutes and tested their hearing function before and after exposure. They found no measurable effects on hearing thresholds, inner ear function, or brain responses to sound. This suggests that short-term exposure to 3G radiation at levels similar to heavy phone use doesn't immediately damage the auditory system.

Exposure Information

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

The study examined exposure from: 1947 MHz Duration: 20-min

Study Details

The aim of this study, which was performed in the framework of the European project EMFnEAR, was to investigate the potential effects of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS, also known as 3G) exposure at a high specific absorption rate (SAR) on the human auditory system

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

Results from 73 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system a...

It is concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at this relatively high SAR does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.

Cite This Study
Parazzini M, Lutman ME, Moulin A, Barnel C, Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Zmyslony M, Hernadi I, Stefanics G, Thuroczy G, Ravazzani P. (2010). Absence of short-term effects of UMTS exposure on the human auditory system. Radiat Res. 173(1):91-97, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2010_absence_of_shortterm_effects_3295,
  author = {Parazzini M and Lutman ME and Moulin A and Barnel C and Sliwinska-Kowalska M and Zmyslony M and Hernadi I and Stefanics G and Thuroczy G and Ravazzani P. },
  title = {Absence of short-term effects of UMTS exposure on the human auditory system.},
  year = {2010},
  
  url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/173/1/91/42968/Absence-of-Short-Term-Effects-of-UMTS-Exposure-on},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2010 study found that 20-minute exposure to 3G UMTS radiation at 1947 MHz (1.75 W/kg SAR) caused no measurable effects on hearing thresholds, inner ear function, or brain responses to sound in 73 healthy adults.
Research shows 20 minutes of 3G exposure at high SAR levels (1.75 W/kg) doesn't cause immediate hearing damage. The study tested 73 participants and found no consistent effects on auditory system function after short-term UMTS exposure.
A controlled study exposed people to 1.75 W/kg SAR from 1947 MHz UMTS radiation for 20 minutes and found no immediate effects on hearing or auditory brain responses, suggesting short-term exposure at this level doesn't damage ears.
No immediate effects were found on inner ear function after 20-minute UMTS exposure at 1947 MHz. Researchers used double-blind testing with 73 participants and detected no measurable changes in auditory system responses compared to sham exposure.
Research found no damage to cochlear hearing from high SAR 3G exposure. The study tested 1947 MHz UMTS radiation at 1.75 W/kg SAR positioned at cochlea level and detected no immediate effects on hearing thresholds or auditory processing.