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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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A study of 69 subjects found that 7% showed moderate-to-very sensitive heart rate variability responses to radiation from a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base station.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This study replicated earlier research by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) responses in 69 subjects between the ages of 26 and 80 in both Canada and the USA. Subjects were exposed for 3-minute intervals to radiation generated by a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base station at 3-8 μW/cm². Based on HRV analyses, 7% of subjects were classified as "moderately to very" sensitive, 29% as "little to moderately" sensitive, and 30% as "not to little" sensitive.

Why This Matters

A few participants had a severe reaction to the radiation, with an increase in heart rate and altered HRV that the researchers described as indicative of an alarm response to stress. The researchers stated that these results are not psychosomatic and are not due to electromagnetic interference. Of the 39 participants who claimed to experience some electrical hypersensitivity, 36% said they also reacted to a cordless phone and experienced heart symptoms. Of those who reported reacting to a cordless phone and experiencing heart symptoms, 64% were classified as having some degree of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) based on their HRV response. Twenty-five percent of subjects' self-reported sensitivity matched what the HRV analysis found, while 32% overestimated their sensitivity and 42% did not know whether they were electrically sensitive. The researchers noted that the protocol may underestimate reactions in people who have a delayed autonomic nervous system response, and may under-diagnose those with adrenal exhaustion. The researchers suggested that orthostatic HRV testing combined with provocation testing may provide a diagnostic tool for some sufferers of EHS when exposed to electromagnetic emitting devices.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.003 -0.008 mW/cm²
Source/Device
2.4-GHz cordless phone
Exposure Duration
3-min intervals

Exposure Context

This study used 0.003 -0.008 mW/cm² 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 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 333 times 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

Subjects were exposed for 3-minute intervals to radiation generated by a 2.4-GHz cordless phone base station at 3-8 μW/cm².
The researchers analyzed 69 subjects between the ages of 26 and 80 from both Canada and the USA.
Twenty-five percent of subjects' self-reported sensitivity matched the HRV analysis, while 32% overestimated their sensitivity and 42% did not know whether they were electrically sensitive.
The researchers documented a delayed response to radiation as a novel finding.
Based on the HRV analyses of the 69 subjects, 7% were classified as "moderately to very" sensitive.