Noise-related sleep disturbances: does gender matter?

Women sleep differently and report differently about sleep disturbances than men. However, it is unclear whether the sleep of women and men is affected differently by traffic noise exposure. We aimed to address gender specific noise effects by using objective and subjective exposure measures as well as objective and subjective outcome data.

Effect of nocturnal road traffic noise exposure and annoyance on objective and subjective sleep quality.

Background: Various epidemiological studies have found an association between noise exposure and sleep quality, but the mediating role of annoyance is unclear for this association.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of both objectively modeled road traffic noise exposure as well as noise annoyance on subjective and objective sleep quality measures.

Methods: 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey in 2008 with follow-up one year later (1122 participants).

Between-country comparison of whole-body SAR from personal exposure data in Urban areas.

In five countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Netherlands), personal radio frequency electromagnetic field measurements were performed in different microenvironments such as homes, public transports, or outdoors using the same exposure meters. From the mean personal field exposure levels (excluding mobile phone exposure), whole-body absorption values in a 1-year-old child and adult male model were calculated using a statistical multipath exposure method and compared for the five countries. All mean absorptions (maximal total absorption of 3.

Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and sleep quality: a prospective cohort study.

Background: There is persistent public concern about sleep disturbances due to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate whether sleep quality is affected by mobile phone use or by other RF-EMF sources in the everyday environment.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study with 955 study participants aged between 30 and 60 years.

Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus.

Background: There is public concern regarding potential health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure, as produced by mobile phones or broadcast transmitters. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms and tinnitus in a prospective cohort study.

Methods: In 2008, 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey with follow-up after one year (participation rate 82%).

Measurement setup and protocol for characterizing and testing radio frequency personal exposure meters.

Body-worn radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) personal exposure meters (PEMs) have been increasingly used for exposure assessment in epidemiological research. However, little research on the measurement accuracy of these devices is available. In this article a novel measurement setup and a measurement protocol are presented for characterizing and testing PEMs.

Compartmental chest wall volume changes during volitional normocapnic hyperpnoea.

During increased ventilation, inspiratory rib cage muscles have been suggested to take over part of diaphragmatic work after the diaphragm fatigues. We investigated the extent to which this proposed change in muscle recruitment is associated with changes in the relative contribution of chest wall compartments to tidal volume (V(T)). Thirteen healthy subjects performed 1 h of fatiguing normocapnic hyperpnoea.

Systematic review on the health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone base stations.

Objective: to review and evaluate the recent literature on the health effects of exposure to mobile phone base station (MPBS) radiation.

Methods: we performed a systematic review of randomized human trials conducted in laboratory settings and of epidemiological studies that investigated the health effects of MPBS radiation in the everyday environment.

Findings: we included in the analysis 17 articles that met our basic quality criteria: 5 randomized human laboratory trials and 12 epidemiological studies.

Chest wall volume changes during inspiratory loaded breathing.

We assessed the effect of inspiratory loaded breathing (ILB) on respiratory muscle strength and investigated the extent to which respiratory muscle fatigue is associated with chest wall volume changes during ILB. Twelve healthy subjects performed ILB at 76 ± 11% of maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (MIP) for 1h. MIP and breathing pattern during 3 min of normocapnic hyperpnea (NH) were measured before and after ILB.

Effects of everyday radiofrequency electromagnetic-field exposure on sleep quality: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between exposure to various sources of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) in the everyday environment and sleep quality, which is a common public health concern. We assessed self-reported sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in a random population sample of 1,375 inhabitants from the area of Basel, Switzerland. Exposure to environmental far-field RF EMFs was predicted for each individual using a prediction model that had been developed and validated previously.

Comparison of personal radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure in different urban areas across Europe.

Background: Only limited data are available on personal radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure in everyday life. Several European countries performed measurement studies in this area of research. However, a comparison between countries regarding typical exposure levels is lacking.

Classification of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for epidemiological research: Evaluation of different exposure assessment methods.

The use of personal exposure meters (exposimeters) has been recommended for measuring personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from environmental far-field sources in everyday life. However, it is unclear to what extent exposimeter readings are affected by measurements taken when personal mobile and cordless phones are used. In addition, the use of exposimeters in large epidemiological studies is limited due to high costs and large effort for study participants.

Conduct of a personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurement study: proposed study protocol.

Background: The development of new wireless communication technologies that emit radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) is ongoing, but little is known about the RF-EMF exposure distribution in the general population. Previous attempts to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF have used different measurement protocols and analysis methods making comparisons between exposure situations across different study populations very difficult. As a result, observed differences in exposure levels between study populations may not reflect real exposure differences but may be in part, or wholly due to methodological differences.

A model for radiofrequency electromagnetic field predictions at outdoor and indoor locations in the context of epidemiological research.

We present a geospatial model to predict the radiofrequency electromagnetic field from fixed site transmitters for use in epidemiological exposure assessment. The proposed model extends an existing model toward the prediction of indoor exposure, that is, at the homes of potential study participants. The model is based on accurate operation parameters of all stationary transmitters of mobile communication base stations, and radio broadcast and television transmitters for an extended urban and suburban region in the Basel area (Switzerland).

A prediction model for personal radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure.

Radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in our daily life are caused by numerous sources such as fixed site transmitters (e.g. mobile phone base stations) or indoor devices (e.

Temporal and spatial variability of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields.

Background: Little is known about the population's exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in industrialized countries.

Objectives: To examine levels of exposure and the importance of different RF-EMF sources and settings in a sample of volunteers living in a Swiss city.

Methods: RF-EMF exposure of 166 volunteers from Basel, Switzerland, was measured with personal exposure meters (exposimeters).

Statistical analysis of personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements with nondetects.

Exposimeters are increasingly applied in bioelectromagnetic research to determine personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. The main advantages of exposimeter measurements are their convenient handling for study participants and the large amount of personal exposure data, which can be obtained for several RF-EMF sources. However, the large proportion of measurements below the detection limit is a challenge for data analysis.