Vicinity to wireless radiation sources and the prevalence of various health problems – a pilot survey

Dear All on my mailing list,

Please, find an accepted abstract for an upcoming conference, http://www.woncaeurope2016.com/ .

Siersma V, Nicolaisdottir DR, Vivian LMH, Johansson O, "Vicinity to wireless radiation sources and the prevalence of various health problems – a pilot survey", 21th WONCA (World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians) Europe Conference 2016, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 15-18, 2016 (abstr.)

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Here is the actual abstract text:

Vicinity to wireless radiation sources and the prevalence of various health problems – a pilot survey

Siersma V1, Nicolaisdottir DR1, Vivian LMH1, Johansson O2

1The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

2The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Background and aim: A rise in exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the general population in the last two decades (e.g. from wi-fi and mobile phone networks) coincides with a rise in prevalence of a broad array of health symptoms; often of allergic/asthmatic/oversensitivity character. Evidence is building up indicating that EMF exposure indeed is the cause of this increase, but possible harmful effects of EMF may present differently in different people and adaptation may occur. The aim of the present pilot study is to survey the possible associations between various common EMF exposure sources and a broad array of symptoms and signs. Moreover, this study will test the usefulness of a questionnaire constructed for the purpose and provide data to design larger future studies.   

Methods: An electronic questionnaire asking into EMF exposure sources and subjective symptoms was posted to special interest websites. For five EMF exposure sources (mobile phone, wi-fi, occupational exposure, energy-saving lightbulbs, mobile phone towers) we assessed the association with each of seventeen health problems (e.g. sleep, cognitive, eye problems) in logistic regression models, adjusted for sex, age, urbanicity and smoking status.  

Results: Sixty people responded. Significant associations were seen for a nearby mobile phone tower (more cognitive, head, eye, body and skin problems) and for constant wi-fi presence (less cognitive, eye, mouth, skin, lung and immune system problems).  

Conclusions: Several significant associations were found in this broad pilot survey of possibly EMF-related health problems. Mobile phone towers seem to be the most problematic of the various EMF exposure sources; this association may well be confounded by attribution bias. The counterintuitive association of fewer symptoms with increased presence of wi-fi may be explained by selection and adaptation since the questionnaire was electronic, and people can shift to cable-based internet at home when they claim wi-fi is affecting them.

With my very best regards
Yours sincerely
Olle

(Olle Johansson, associate professor
The Experimental Dermatology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm
Sweden)