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EEG Changes Due to Experimentally Induced 3G Mobile Phone Radiation.

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Roggeveen S, van Os J, Viechtbauer W, Lousberg R. · 2015

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Cell phone radiation at typical use levels directly alters brain wave patterns when held at the ear during calls.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 31 healthy women to 3G cell phone radiation for 15 minutes and measured their brain wave activity using EEG. They found significant changes in multiple brain wave patterns (alpha, beta, and gamma waves) when the phone was held at the ear, but no changes when placed on the chest. This demonstrates that cell phone radiation can directly alter brain electrical activity in a location-specific way.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that cell phone radiation doesn't just pass harmlessly through our bodies - it actively changes how our brains function electrically. The SAR level of 0.69 W/kg falls well within the range of typical smartphone use, making these findings directly relevant to your daily phone habits. What makes this research particularly significant is its rigorous design: the same women were tested with both real and sham phones, eliminating individual variation as a confounding factor. The location-dependent effects are especially telling. When the phone was at the ear - exactly where you hold it during calls - brain waves changed significantly across multiple frequency bands. But when placed on the chest, away from the brain, no effects occurred. This isn't coincidence; it's dose-response evidence that proximity matters. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure isn't just about heating tissue, as regulators claim, but about disrupting the electrical signals that govern brain function.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.69 W/kg
Source/Device
3G Mobile Phone

Exposure Context

This study used 0.69 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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.69 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a 15-minute placement of a 3G dialing mobile phone causes direct changes in EEG activity compared to the placement of a sham phone.

Furthermore, it was investigated whether placement of the mobile phone on the ear or the heart would...

Significant radiation effects were found for the alpha, slowbeta, fastbeta, and gamma bands. When an...

Cite This Study
Roggeveen S, van Os J, Viechtbauer W, Lousberg R. (2015). EEG Changes Due to Experimentally Induced 3G Mobile Phone Radiation. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 8;10(6):e0129496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129496.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2015_eeg_changes_due_to_1295,
  author = {Roggeveen S and van Os J and Viechtbauer W and Lousberg R.},
  title = {EEG Changes Due to Experimentally Induced 3G Mobile Phone Radiation.},
  year = {2015},
  
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0129496},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed 31 healthy women to 3G cell phone radiation for 15 minutes and measured their brain wave activity using EEG. They found significant changes in multiple brain wave patterns (alpha, beta, and gamma waves) when the phone was held at the ear, but no changes when placed on the chest. This demonstrates that cell phone radiation can directly alter brain electrical activity in a location-specific way.