Electromagnetic interference of analog cellular telephones with pacemakers.
Barbaro V, Bartolini P, Donato A, Militello C · 1996
View Original AbstractAnalog cell phones caused dangerous interference in 40% of tested pacemakers, demonstrating real risks for people with implanted medical devices.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested whether analog cellular phones could interfere with pacemakers by using a realistic human body simulator and 25 different pacemaker models. They found that 40% of the pacemakers (10 out of 25) experienced significant interference when exposed to the electromagnetic fields from analog cell phones, including dangerous pulse inhibition where the pacemaker skipped beats. The interference was strongest when the phone's antenna was close to the pacemaker, particularly during incoming calls and ringing.
Why This Matters
This 1996 study represents crucial early evidence of how electromagnetic fields from wireless devices can interfere with critical medical implants. While analog cellular technology has largely been replaced, the fundamental physics hasn't changed - radiofrequency radiation can still disrupt sensitive electronic medical devices. The finding that 40% of tested pacemakers experienced interference is particularly significant because pacemaker patients depend on these devices for life-sustaining heart rhythm regulation. What makes this research especially relevant today is that modern smartphones emit similar types of electromagnetic fields, often at higher power levels, and the number of people with implanted medical devices continues to grow. The study's demonstration that interference occurred not just during calls but also during routine network handoffs between cell towers shows how pervasive this exposure can be for vulnerable populations.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of this study was to verify whether there is a public health risk from the interference of analog cellular telephones with pacemakers.
We used a human trunk simulator to reproduce an actual implant, and two cellular telephones working ...
Results showed that the electromagnetic field radiated from the analog cellular telephones interfere...
Show BibTeX
@article{v_1996_electromagnetic_interference_of_analog_1876,
author = {Barbaro V and Bartolini P and Donato A and Militello C},
title = {Electromagnetic interference of analog cellular telephones with pacemakers.},
year = {1996},
doi = {10.1111/j.1540-8159.1996.tb03153.x},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1996.tb03153.x},
}