8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Brain & Nervous System

Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly

Bioeffects Seen

Croft RJ, Leung S, McKenzie RJ, Loughran SP, Iskra S, Hamblin DL, Cooper NR. · 2010

View Original Abstract
Share:

Mobile phone radiation altered brain waves in young adults but not teenagers or elderly, suggesting age-specific EMF sensitivity patterns.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Scientists tested how 2G and 3G cell phone signals affect brain waves in 103 people of different ages during 55-minute exposures. Only young adults showed brain wave changes from 2G signals, while teenagers and elderly showed no effects, suggesting age influences brain sensitivity to phone radiation.

Why This Matters

This study adds an important dimension to our understanding of EMF bioeffects by revealing that age matters when it comes to brain wave responses to mobile phone radiation. The finding that only young adults showed alpha wave changes challenges the common assumption that children are universally more vulnerable to EMF exposure. However, we shouldn't interpret this as evidence that mobile phone radiation is harmless to teens or elderly people. The study only measured one specific brain wave pattern over a relatively short exposure period. The SAR levels used (0.7-1.7 W/kg) are within current regulatory limits but represent significant exposure levels that your brain experiences during typical phone calls held against your head. What this research really demonstrates is how much we still don't understand about EMF bioeffects across different populations and exposure scenarios.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.7 and 1.7 W/kg
Electric Field
0.03 V/m
Source/Device
894.6 MHz 2G and 1,900 MHz 3G mobile phones
Exposure Duration
continuous for 55 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0.7 and 1.7 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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: 0.7 and 1.7 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 2x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 894.6 MHz - 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 894.6 MHz - 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present study was conducted to determine whether adolescents and/or the elderly are more sensitive to mobile phone (MP)‐related bioeffects than young adults, and to determine this for both 2nd generation (2G) GSM, and 3rd generation (3G) W‐CDMA exposures.

To test this, resting alpha activity (8–12 Hz band of the electroencephalogram) was assessed because...

Consistent with previous research, the young adults' alpha was greater in the 2G compared to Sham co...

The results provide further support for an effect of 2G exposures on resting alpha activity in young adults, but fail to support a similar enhancement in adolescents or the elderly, or in any age group as a function of 3G exposure.

Cite This Study
Croft RJ, Leung S, McKenzie RJ, Loughran SP, Iskra S, Hamblin DL, Cooper NR. (2010). Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly Bioelectromagnetics. 31(6):434-444, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{rj_2010_effects_of_2g_and_82,
  author = {Croft RJ and Leung S and McKenzie RJ and Loughran SP and Iskra S and Hamblin DL and Cooper NR.},
  title = {Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20583},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20583},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20583

Cited By (93 papers)

View all 93 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2010 study found that 2G cell phone signals altered brain waves in young adults but not in teenagers or elderly people. This suggests your brain's sensitivity to phone radiation changes with age, with young adults showing the strongest response.
Research shows 2G phones can increase alpha brain wave activity in young adults during exposure. However, the same study found no brain wave effects in teenagers or elderly people, indicating age influences how your brain responds to 2G signals.
A study testing 3G phone signals at 1,900 MHz found no measurable effects on brain waves across all age groups tested. Unlike 2G signals, 3G exposure showed no impact on brain activity in teenagers, young adults, or elderly participants.
Research indicates teenagers' brains don't show measurable changes in brain wave activity from cell phone radiation. A 2010 study found no effects from either 2G or 3G signals in adolescents, unlike young adults who showed responses to 2G.
Cell phone exposure can increase alpha brain wave activity, but only in young adults and only from 2G signals. Research shows no brain wave changes in teenagers or elderly people from any phone type, suggesting age-dependent sensitivity differences.