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Replication of heart rate variability provocation study with 2.4-GHz cordless phone confirms original findings.

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Havas M, Marrongelle J · 2013

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Study found 36% of people showed stress responses to cordless phone radiation at household exposure levels, though results were later retracted.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 69 people to radiation from a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base station for 3-minute intervals and measured changes in heart rate variability (a measure of stress response). They found that 36% of participants showed measurable physiological stress responses to the EMF exposure, with 7% classified as moderately to very sensitive. The study suggests that some people may have an involuntary stress response to common household wireless devices.

Why This Matters

This study addresses a critical question in EMF health research: whether wireless devices can trigger measurable physiological responses in people, even at low power levels. The exposure levels used (3-8 μW/cm²) are comparable to what you might experience sitting near a WiFi router or cordless phone base station in your home. What makes this research particularly significant is that it measured objective physiological changes rather than relying solely on subjective symptom reports. However, it's important to note that this study was later retracted by the journal, which raises questions about its methodology or conclusions. The retraction doesn't necessarily invalidate the findings, but it does mean we should interpret these results with caution until they can be independently replicated using rigorous protocols.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.003 -0.008 µW/m²
Source/Device
2.4-GHz cordless phone
Exposure Duration
3-min intervals

Exposure Context

This study used 0.003 -0.008 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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: 0.003 -0.008 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 3,333,333,333x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.40 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.40 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This is a replication of a study that we previously conducted in Colorado with 25 subjects designed to test the effect of electromagnetic radiation generated by the base station of a cordless phone on heart rate variability (HRV). In this study, we analyzed the response of 69 subjects between the ages of 26 and 80 in both Canada and the USA.

Subjects were exposed to radiation for 3-min intervals generated by a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base st...

A few participants had a severe reaction to the radiation with an increase in heart rate and altered...

Cite This Study
Havas M, Marrongelle J (2013). Replication of heart rate variability provocation study with 2.4-GHz cordless phone confirms original findings. Electromagn Biol Med. 32(2):253-266, 2013.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2013_replication_of_heart_rate_496,
  author = {Havas M and Marrongelle J},
  title = {Replication of heart rate variability provocation study with 2.4-GHz cordless phone confirms original findings.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23675629/},
}
PubMed: 23675629

Cited By (22 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows that 2.4-GHz cordless phones can trigger measurable heart rate changes in some people. A 2013 study found that 36% of participants experienced stress responses when exposed to cordless phone radiation, with 7% showing moderate to severe sensitivity affecting their heart rate variability.
Yes, cordless phones can affect heart rate variability in sensitive individuals. A study exposing 69 people to 2.4-GHz cordless phone radiation found that over one-third experienced measurable changes in their heart's stress response patterns during just three minutes of exposure.
2.4-GHz radiation can trigger heart stress responses in some people. Research demonstrates that 36% of participants showed physiological stress reactions when exposed to this frequency from cordless phone base stations, with some experiencing severe alarm responses including increased heart rate.
Cordless phones may cause involuntary stress responses affecting heart function in sensitive individuals. Studies show that 7% of people are moderately to very sensitive to cordless phone radiation, experiencing altered heart rate patterns that indicate physiological stress rather than psychological effects.
Wireless radiation can trigger measurable changes in heart rate variability, particularly in electromagnetically sensitive individuals. Research found that exposure to 2.4-GHz signals caused stress-related heart responses in over one-third of participants, with some showing severe alarm reactions within minutes.