8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Symptoms & Sensitivity

Syncopal Attacks Arising from Erratic Demand Pacemaker Function in the Vicinity of a Television Transmitter

Bioeffects Seen

George F. D'Cunha, Thomas Nicoud, Albert H. Pemberton, Francis E. Rosenthal, James T. Botticelli · 1973

Share:

Television transmitter RF interference caused repeated pacemaker failures and fainting episodes until titanium shielding resolved the problem.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

A patient with a Medtronic 5842 pacemaker experienced repeated fainting episodes (syncope) caused by radio frequency interference from a nearby television transmitter. The RF signals disrupted the pacemaker's normal function, but switching to a titanium-shielded Medtronic 5942 model solved the problem.

Why This Matters

This 1973 case report demonstrates a critical reality about EMF interference with medical devices that remains relevant today. While we now have better shielding technology, the fundamental issue persists: radio frequency fields can disrupt life-sustaining medical equipment. What makes this case particularly significant is that it involved a television transmitter, not a high-powered industrial source. The science demonstrates that even common broadcast signals can create dangerous interference patterns for sensitive medical devices. Today's EMF environment is exponentially more complex, with WiFi, cell towers, and countless wireless devices creating a dense soup of overlapping frequencies. Patients with older pacemaker models or other implanted devices face similar risks from our increasingly electrified world.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
George F. D'Cunha, Thomas Nicoud, Albert H. Pemberton, Francis E. Rosenthal, James T. Botticelli (1973). Syncopal Attacks Arising from Erratic Demand Pacemaker Function in the Vicinity of a Television Transmitter.
Show BibTeX
@article{syncopal_attacks_arising_from_erratic_demand_pacemaker_function_in_the_vicinity__g4202,
  author = {George F. D'Cunha and Thomas Nicoud and Albert H. Pemberton and Francis E. Rosenthal and James T. Botticelli},
  title = {Syncopal Attacks Arising from Erratic Demand Pacemaker Function in the Vicinity of a Television Transmitter},
  year = {1973},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, this study documented repeated pacemaker failures and fainting episodes in a patient near a TV transmitter. The radio frequency interference disrupted the Medtronic 5842 pacemaker's sensing ability, causing dangerous malfunctions until a shielded model was installed.
Syncope is fainting caused by temporary loss of consciousness. When RF interference disrupts a pacemaker's normal rhythm detection and pacing functions, the heart may not maintain adequate blood flow to the brain, resulting in these dangerous fainting episodes.
The titanium-shielded Medtronic 5942 pacemaker blocked radio frequency signals that were interfering with the device's electronics. This shielding prevented the TV transmitter's RF emissions from disrupting the pacemaker's ability to sense heart rhythms and deliver appropriate pacing.
The researchers specifically recommended warning patients with Medtronic 5842 pacemakers about potential hazards near TV transmitters. These older, unshielded devices are particularly vulnerable to RF interference that can cause life-threatening malfunctions and should avoid high-RF environments.
Modern pacemakers have significantly better shielding than 1970s models, but RF interference remains a documented concern. The FDA continues to monitor electromagnetic interference with implanted devices, and patients should discuss potential RF exposure risks with their cardiologists.