Association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields assessed by dosimetry and acute symptoms in children and adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study

Background: The increase in numbers of mobile phone users was
accompanied by some concern that exposure to radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) might adversely affect acute health
especially in children and adolescents. The authors investigated
this potential association using personal dosimeters. Methods: A
24-hour exposure profile of 1484 children and 1508 adolescents was
generated in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany
between 2006 and 2008 (participation 52%). Personal interview data
on socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported exposure and
potential confounders were collected. Acute symptoms were assessed
twice during the study day using a symptom diary. Results: Only few
of the large number of investigated associations were found to be
statistically significant. At noon, adolescents with a measured
exposure in the highest quartile during morning hours reported a
statistically significant higher intensity of headache (Odd Ratio:
1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 2.19). At bedtime, adolescents
with a measured exposure in the highest quartile during afternoon
hours reported a statistically significant higher intensity of
irritation in the evening (4(th) quartile 1.79; 1.23, 2.61), while
children reported a statistically significant higher intensity of
concentration problems (4(th) quartile 1.55; 1.02, 2.33).
Conclusions: We observed few statistically significant results
which are not consistent over the two time points. Furthermore,
when the 10% of the participants with the highest exposure are
taken into consideration the significant results of the main
analysis could not be confirmed. Based on the pattern of these
results, we assume that the few observed significant associations
are not causal but rather occurred by chance.