Effects of evening exposure to 3G mobile phone EMF on health and night sleep EEG architecture

Authors: Lowden A, Nagai R, Åkerstedt T, Hansson Mild K, Hillert L

Year: 2019 Jan 15

Category: Sleep Research, Electromagnetic Field Studies

Journal: J Sleep Res

DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12813

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30648318

Abstract

Overview

This study focuses on the effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) from 3G mobile phones on sleep quality and brain activity measured by EEG in young adults.

Findings

  • An exposure to 1,930-1,990 MHz UMTS 3G signalling standard with a specific absorption rate of 1.6 W kg-1 over 3 hours in the evening.
  • 18 subjects aged 18-19 years participated over two nights with both active and sham exposures.
  • No significant changes noted in sleep stages or self-reported health symptoms post-exposure.
  • However, a decrease in slow spindle range activity (11.0-12.75 Hz) was observed, which might indicate subtle influences on brain's electroencephalogram architecture.

Conclusion

While no drastic changes in sleep architecture or self-reported health were found, the noted alterations in EEG spindle activity suggest a potential subtle impact of nighttime exposure to 3G EMF. This contributes to ongoing discourse on the negligible yet existent effects of electromagnetic fields on human health.

EMF sleep EEG 3G mobile phone radiofrequency health risk spindle activity
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