Electromagnetic compatibility study of the in-vitro interaction of wireless phones with cardiac pacemakers.
Schlegel RE, Grant FH, Raman S, Reynolds D · 1998
View Original AbstractWireless phones interfered with pacemakers in 21% of lab tests, confirming the 6-inch separation rule protects against potentially dangerous EMF interference.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested 29 different cardiac pacemaker models with five types of wireless phones to see if the phones interfered with the pacemakers' normal operation. They found that certain combinations caused problems in 21% of tests, with some pacemaker models being particularly vulnerable to interference from specific phone technologies. The study confirmed that keeping phones at least 6 inches away from pacemakers prevents interference, and all devices returned to normal function when the interfering phone was turned off.
Why This Matters
This 1998 study represents crucial early research into EMF interference with medical devices, conducted when wireless phones were becoming ubiquitous. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic fields from phones can disrupt life-saving medical equipment, with interference rates reaching 21% under certain conditions. What this means for you is that the 6-inch separation rule recommended by medical professionals isn't arbitrary - it's based on solid laboratory evidence. The reality is that people with pacemakers face genuine risks from wireless device interference, though the effects are reversible when the EMF source is removed. This research helped establish safety protocols that protect millions of pacemaker users today, showing how EMF science directly translates into life-saving guidelines.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
This large-scale in-vitro investigation of the interaction between hand-held wireless phones and cardiac pacemakers tested 29 pacemaker models with five different phone standards.
The phones were operational and suspended on a grid above a torso simulator filled with a saline bat...
Only a few pacemakers were responsible for a disproportionately large number of interactions. Likewi...
This study may be useful in ongoing efforts to define test protocols, evaluate pacemaker designs, and mitigate interactions, perhaps providing the basis for future certification and screening efforts.
Show BibTeX
@article{re_1998_electromagnetic_compatibility_study_of_2571,
author = {Schlegel RE and Grant FH and Raman S and Reynolds D},
title = {Electromagnetic compatibility study of the in-vitro interaction of wireless phones with cardiac pacemakers.},
year = {1998},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9883349/},
}