Yoon Shin Kim and Sung Ho Choi

Health Subjective Symptoms

using mobile phones among School Children

Institute of Environmental and Industrial Medicine,

College of Medicine, Hanyang University

Presented at International workshop

on Health Effects of EMF and

Bioelectromagnetic Environment

Educational Culture Hall

September 6, 2007

Contents

Backgrounds

Objectives

Materials and Methods

Results

Summary & Discussion

Backgrounds

Mobile phone(MP) use is rapidly increasing worldwide. With the increase in mobile phone use, potential concerns related to mobile phones continue to surface.

The currently available scientific evidence is not sufficient draw firm conclusions on potential health effects related to mobile phones (IEGMP, 2000;Ahlbom et al.,2004).

Special attention is given to potential adverse health effects among children due to potentially increased vulnerability of children to radiofrequency exposures and the expected much longer duration of exposure during their lifetime (Kheifets et al., 2005).

Use of mobile phone in children

Symptoms related mobile phone

Electrosensitivity covers symptoms attributed

by a person who suffers from being in the

vicinity or using electric equipment. It results in

varied degrees of discomfort or poor health

perceived (BBEMG, 2007).

In a previous cross-sectional study among 7800

mobile phone (MP) users in Sweden, about 13%

of the respondents reported at least one

symptom in connection with their MP use. The

most commonly reported symptoms were

warmth sensations on and around the ear,

burning sensations in the skin, and headaches

(Oftedal et al.,2000; Sandstrom et al., 2001).

Observational study about symptoms related mobile phone (Seitz, 2005)

Suspected reasons for subjective symptoms in switzerland

Why do we have to study children? (M.Roosli, 2006)

Increased sensitivity of children?

• deeper penetration relative to head size(more vulnerable areas?)

• developing nervous system (more vulnerable?)

• more conductive brain tissue (larger SAR?)

The lack of data causes conflicting recommendations from decision-makers

WHO/EMF-Net : A brain tumor study in children has a high priority in their research recommendation

Use of mobile phone is very prevalent among children and adolescents

Objectives

The objective of this study is to

assess the use of mobile phone

and investigate the relationship

between mobile phone use and

health related symptoms.

Materials and Methods

Questionnaire study

• Subject : 700 school children (4 schools, Incheon, Suncheon, sixth grade, age 11~12 years)

• Health Questionnaire item : Headache, Dizzness, Problems in concentration, Nervousness, Physical fatigue, Memory loss, Ear burning sensation, Face burning sensation, Dry skin, Face irritation, Eye problems (Jonna Wilen, 2003)

• Statistical analysis : Proc Freq/chisq analysis (SAS version 9)

EEG/ECG test

• Voulnteer : Mobile phone user (8 boys /16 girls) Non user (8 boys /16 girls) →1:1matching

• EEG index : Absolute power, relative power & SEF 90

• ECG index : Low/high frequency, SDNN(Standard deviation of R-R interval), LF/HF ratio, m-RRI(Mean R-R interval), MEF(Median edge frequency)

• Statistical analysis : Proc ttest analysis(SAS version 9)

Sleep quality study

• Subjective record during one month

(Good, Normal, Bad)

• Statistical analysis

: Proc ttest analysis(SAS version 9)

(1) Questionnaire study

- General characteristics -

General characteristics by mobile phone owner and User

Health related index by Mobile phone user

Subjective symptoms by frequency of mobile phone use

(2) EEG & ECG Test

- General characteristics -

EEG results by mobile phone users and nonusers

ECG results by mobile phone users and nonusers

Health related symptoms and sleep quality by mobile phone users and nonusers

(3) Sleep quality Test

Summary & Discussion

Questionnaire study

MP user

MP nonuser

EEG & ECG test

MP user

MP nonuser

There is no significant differenceson subjective symptoms such asdizzness, headache, memory loss,and so on

There is no significant differenceson EEG index such as absolutepower, relative power, SEF90 andECG index such as LF, HF, SDNN,M-RRI, LF/HF

Sleep quality study

MP user

MP nonuser

The reason about no significant difference between MP users and nonusers is that EEG & ECG may affect acutely on radiofrequency electromagnetic field.

So, we will continue to study on studying ability and cognitive test.

There is no significant differenceson subjective record during one month

This preliminary study is first reported on the

percent of mobile phone ownership, pattern of

use and health related symptoms among

elementary school children in Korea.

The further study is needed to understand study ability of school children between MP user and non-user.

If research ethical approval can be obtained, acute effects on cognition and EEGs should be investigated in children exposed to RF fields in the future.

Thank you !!