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Electromagnetic interference of analog cellular telephones with pacemakers.

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Barbaro V, Bartolini P, Donato A, Militello C · 1996

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Analog cell phones caused dangerous interference in 40% of tested pacemakers, demonstrating real risks for people with implanted medical devices.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

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...

Cite This Study
Barbaro V, Bartolini P, Donato A, Militello C (1996). Electromagnetic interference of analog cellular telephones with pacemakers. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 19(10):1410-1418, 1996.
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},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1996.tb03153.x

Cited By (87 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, analog cell phones caused significant interference in 40% of pacemakers tested (10 out of 25 models) in this 1996 study. The interference included dangerous pulse inhibition where pacemakers skipped beats, particularly during incoming calls and ringing when the phone antenna was close to the device.
Cell phone interference can cause pacemakers to skip multiple beats. In the worst case documented in this study, a pacemaker skipped three nonconsecutive beats before resuming normal pacing. This occurred when analog cell phone antennas were positioned close to the pacemaker during incoming calls.
When analog cell phones ring near pacemakers, they can cause pulse inhibition, desensitizing, and sensitizing effects. The interference was strongest at the moment of incoming calls and continued throughout the ringing period, with some pacemakers experiencing dangerous beat-skipping episodes that persisted while the signal remained active.
Yes, antenna position significantly affects interference risk. This study found that electromagnetic interference was strongest when the analog cell phone antenna was in close proximity to the pacemaker head. The closer the antenna, the more severe the pacemaker malfunctions became during calls.
Yes, cell phones can interfere with pacemakers even when calls don't connect successfully. This study observed pulse inhibition in pacemakers when the analog cellular telephone connection failed to establish, demonstrating that the electromagnetic field emission alone can cause dangerous pacemaker malfunctions.