The aim of this study, which was performed in the framework of the European project EMFnEAR, was to investigate the potential effects of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS, also known as 3G) exposure at a high specific absorption rate (SAR) on the human auditory system. Participants were healthy young adults with no hearing or ear disorders. Auditory function was assessed immediately before and after exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation, and only the exposed ear was tested. Tests for the assessment of auditory function were hearing threshold level (HTL), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (CAS effect on TEOAE), and auditory evoked potentials (AEP). The exposure consisted of speech at a typical conversational level delivered via an earphone to one ear, plus genuine or sham RF-radiation exposure obtained by an exposure system based on a patch antenna and controlled by software. Results from 73 participants did not show any consistent pattern of effects on the auditory system after a 20-min UMTS exposure at 1947 MHz at a maximum SAR over 1 g of 1.75 W/kg at a position equivalent to the cochlea. Analysis entailed a double-blind comparison of genuine and sham exposure. It is concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at this relatively high SAR does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1667/RR1870.1 | DOI Listing |
Bioelectromagnetics
December 2024
National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy.
In our previous studies, we demonstrated that 20 h pre-exposure of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells to 1950 MHz, UMTS signal, at specific absorption rate of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg, was able to reduce the oxidative DNA damage induced by a subsequent treatment with menadione in the alkaline comet assay while not inducing genotoxicity per se.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxicol In Vitro
October 2024
Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:
Environ Res
June 2024
Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:
Several human studies indicate that mobile phone specific electromagnetic fields may cause cancer in humans but the underlying molecular mechanisms are currently not known. Studies concerning chromosomal damage (which is causally related to cancer induction) are controversial and those addressing this issue in mobile phone users are based on the use of questionnaires to assess the exposure. We realized the first human intervention trial in which chromosomal damage and acute toxic effects were studied under controlled conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutagenesis
August 2023
Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Environ Monit Assess
June 2023
Department of Physics, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In the twenty-first century, wireless communication tools have become indispensable in our daily lives, particularly during a pandemic, playing a crucial role. However, it is important to recognize that prolonged and excessive exposure to radiofrequency (RF) waves, which serve as carriers for these wireless communication systems, can have detrimental health effects. The aim of this study is to assess the spatial distribution and compare the levels of RF radiation emitted by the GSM900, GSM1800, UMTS, LTE2.
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