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| 8. |
- Ahlbom, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Forskning om elöverkänslighet och andra effekter av elektromagnetiska fält; Åttonde årsrapporten
- 2011
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Årets rapport diskuterar några forskningsområden där resultaten är av stor betydelse och som kan förväntas tilldra sig stor uppmärksamhet. Det första avser möjligheterna att skatta exponering och den relativa betydelsen av olika exponeringskällor. Viktigt arbete har där gjorts inom det Schweiziska nationella forskningsprogrammet. Vi har inkluderat en figur som på ett enkelt sätt sammanfattar viktiga och relevanta resultat avseende exponering i den allmänna miljön. Det framgår att basstationer, egen mobiltelefonanvändning och trådlösa hemtelefoner är de viktigaste källorna till exponering (om man bortser från lokal exponering till huvudet under samtal). Nästa område avser sömn och EEG-undersökningar. Det har där visat sig i ett antal undersökningar att elektromagnetiska fält tycks ha effekt på EEG under sömn. Effekterna är måttliga och kan storleksmässigt jämföras med vad som kan erhållas till exempel vid kaffe- eller alkoholintag. De tycks inte vara kopplade till subjektiv sömnkvalitet. Hur dessa effekter uppstår och vad de kan tänkas ha för betydelse är okänt. Men det är klart att det är angeläget att forskningen inom detta område fortsätter så att vi kan få denna effekt bekräftad om den är reell och ytterligare belyst och förstådd. Vi har också beskrivit en del ytterligare epidemiologisk forskning och framför allt slutrapporten från den så kallade Interphone-studien. Det har funnits förhoppningar om att denna studie skulle kunna ge definitivt besked i frågan om mobiltelefonanvändning och hjärntumörrisk. Men det stod redan efter publiceringen av de nationella rapporterna klart att så knappast skulle bli fallet. Rapporten har gett upphov till omfattande metodologiska diskussioner, vilka också varit orsaken till rapportens stora försening. Vår bedömning är att denna rapport inte ändrar våra tidigare bedömningar av risken för hjärntumör vid mobiltelefonanvändning, baserade bland annat på vad som framkommit i de nationella rapporterna. Däremot har denna rapport och andra rapporter från Interphone bidragit med viktiga metodologiska insikter. Vi diskuterar några ytterligare epidemiologiska undersökningar men inte heller de ändrar någonting i våra bedömningar. Slutligen presenterar vi nya riktlinjer för exponering från ”kraftfrekventa elektromagnetiska fält” från ICNIRP. De är baserade på en uppdaterad kunskapsgenomgång och på omfattande principdiskussioner. Bland annat har man nu bedömt att också fotofosfener (ljusblixtar) ska ingå bland kritiska effekter vilket i viss mån har påverkat gränsvärdena numeriskt. Detta har dock ingen praktisk betydelse för allmänhetens exponering därför att nivåerna ändå ligger flera storleksordningar över vad allmänheten normalt exponeras för. Det finns dock arbetsmiljöer där detta kan ha betydelse. En viktiga händelse under 2011 som redan nu kan förutses är att IARC (WHOs cancerforskningsinstitut) i maj ska ha ett så kallat monografimöte och ta ställning till hur sannolikt det är att radiofrekventa elektromagnetiska fält är cancerframkallande.
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| 9. |
- Ahlbom, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and risk of disease and ill health - Research during the last ten years
- 2012
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The focus of this report is electromagnetic fields of the type that occur in connection with mobile telephony, so called radio frequency (RF) fields and the possibility that exposure to such fields poses a risk of disease or ill health. The purpose is to describe what was known ten years ago, what we have learned during the past decade, and where we stand today. TEN YEARS AGOThe mechanism of interaction between RF fields and the human body was established long ago and is increased temperature of exposed tissue (compare microwave ovens). Methods for measurements of the fields in the air were developed early but the data on distribution of the absorbed energy in the human body was still restricted. Data regarding sources and levels of exposure to the population was limited because systematic measurements had not been conducted. A considerable number of provocation studies on exposure to fields of lower frequencies (related to electric power and computer screens) had already been conducted and had not found any evidence of an association to symptoms (headache, vertigo, dizziness, concentration difficulties, insomnia) but the corresponding information about RF fields and occurrence of symptoms was scarce. Few and methodologically limited epidemiological studies had been conducted on RF field exposure and cancer.WHAT WAS LEARNED DURING THE PAST TEN YEARSExtensive research on various aspects of RF fields has been conducted during the last ten years and the knowledge database has increased considerably. Simulation models have improved our knowledge about how the fields and the energy are distributed in the body. Mobile, so called, exposimeters have been developed for use in epidemiological studies. Many more measurements have been conducted to increase our knowledge about sources and level of exposure to the population. More than 15 provocation studies (single or double blind) have been conducted on symptoms attributed to exposure to RF fields. These studies have not been able to demonstrate that people experience symptoms or sensations more often when the fields are turned on than when they are turned off. One longitudinal study has looked at frequency of symptoms in relation to environmental exposure and this study found no association between exposure and symptoms. A considerable number of studies on cancer, and in particular brain tumor, were presented. As a consequence there exist now very useful data including methodological results that can be used in the interpretation of this research. With a small number of exceptions the available results are all negative and taken together with new methodological understandings the overall interpretation is that these do not provide support for an association between mobile telephony and brain tumor risk. In addition, national cancer statistics are very useful sources of information because mobile phone usage has increased so quickly. Had mobile phone use and brain cancer risk been associated it would have been visible as an increasing trend in national cancer statistics. But brain cancer rates are not increasing. WHERE WE STAND TODAYWe now know much more about measurements and absorption of RF fields and also about sources of exposure to the population and levels of exposure. A considerable number of provocation studies on RF exposure and symptoms have been unable to show any association. Overall, the data on brain tumor and mobile telephony do not support an effect of mobile phone use on tumor risk, in particular when taken together with national cancer trend statistics throughout the world. Research on mobile telephony and health started without a biologically or epidemiologically based hypothesis about possible health risks. Instead the inducement was an unspecific concern related to a new and rapidly spreading technology. Extensive research for more than a decade has not detected anything new regarding interaction mechanisms between radiofrequency fields and the human body and has found no evidence for health risks below current exposure guidelines. While absolute certainty can never be achieved, nothing has appeared to suggest that the since long established interaction mechanism of heating would not suffice as basis for health protection.
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| 10. |
- Aili, Katarina, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Reliability of Actigraphy and Subjective Sleep Measurements in Adults : The Design of Sleep Assessments
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM). - Darien, IL : The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. - 1550-9389 .- 1550-9397. ; 13:1, s. 39-47
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate how many nights of measurement are needed for a reliable measure of sleep in a working population including adult women and men.METHODS: In all, 54 individuals participated in the study. Sleep was assessed for 7 consecutive nights using actigraphy as an objective measure, and the Karolinska sleep diary for a subjective measure of quality. Using intra-class correlation and the Spearman-Brown formula, calculations of how many nights of measurements were required for a reliable measure were performed. Differences in reliability according to whether or not weekend measurements were included were investigated. Further, the correlation between objectively (actigraphy) measured sleep and subjectively measured sleep quality was studied over the different days of the week.RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The results concerning actigraphy sleep measures suggest that data from at least 2 nights are to be recommended when assessing sleep percent and at least 5 nights when assessing sleep efficiency. For actigraphy-measured total sleep time, more than 7 nights are needed. At least 6 nights of measurements are required for a reliable measure of self-reported sleep. Fewer nights (days) are required if measurements include only week nights. Overall, there was a low correlation between the investigated actigraphy sleep parameters and subjective sleep quality, suggesting that the two methods of measurement capture different dimensions of sleep.
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| 11. |
- Aili, Katarina, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep disturbances predict future sickness absence among individuals with lower back or neck-shoulder pain : A 5-year prospective study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - London : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 43:3, s. 315-323
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common causes of sickness absence. Sleep disturbances are often co-occurring with pain, but the relationship between sleep and pain is complex. Little is known about the importance of self-reported sleep, when predicting sickness absence among persons with musculoskeletal pain. This study aims to study the association between self-reported sleep quality and sickness absence 5 years later, among individuals stratified by presence of lower back pain (LBP) and neck and shoulder pain (NSP). Methods: The cohort (n = 2286) in this 5-year prospective study (using data from the MUSIC-Norrtalje study) was stratified by self-reported pain into three groups: no LBP or NSP, solely LBP or NSP, and oncurrent LBP and NSP. Odds ratios (ORs) for the effect of self-reported sleep disturbances at baseline on sickness absence (> 14 consecutive days), 5 years later, were calculated. Results: Within all three pain strata, individuals reporting the most sleep problems showed a significantly higher OR for all-cause sickness absence, 5 years later. The group with the most pronounced sleep problems within the concurrent LBP and NSP stratum had a significantly higher OR (OR 2.00; CI 1.09-3.67) also for long-term sickness absence (> 90days) 5 years later, compared to the group with the best sleep. Conclusions: Sleep disturbances predict sickness absence among individuals regardless of co-existing features of LBP and/or NSP. The clinical evaluation of patients should take possible sleep disturbances into account in the planning of treatments.
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| 13. |
- Arnetz, Bengt B., et al.
(författare)
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The Effects of 884 MHz GSM Wireless Communication Signals on Self-reported Symptoms and Sleep : An Experimental Provocation Study
- 2007
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Ingår i: PIERS online. - 1931-7360. ; 3:7, s. 1148-1150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the current study we assessed possible effects of prolonged (3 hours) exposure to 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on self-reported symptoms, cognitive function, and electroencephalographically (EEG) recorded sleep. The study group consisted of 36 women and 35 men. Twenty-two women and sixteen men reported symptoms they specifically related to mobile phone use (SG). The rest of the participants reported no mobile phone-related symptoms (NG). Potential participants volunteering for the study were evaluated by physicians, including some biochemical assessments, to rule out medical conditions that could interfere with study variables of interest. Once selected, participants spent three different sessions in the laboratory. The habituation session was followed by two subsequent sessions. In these subsequent sessions, subjects were either exposed to sham exposure (sham) or 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals for 3 hours (an average of 1.4 W/kg including periods of DTX and Non-DTX. Exposure directed to the left hemisphere). Data was collected before, during and following the exposure/sham sessions. Data collected included self-reported symptoms, including headache, cognitive function, mood, and electroencephalographic recordings. During actual exposure, as compared to sham exposure, sleep initiated one hour after exposure was affected. There was a prolonged latency to reach the first cycle of deep sleep (stage 3). The amount of stage 4 sleep was also decreased in exposed subjects. NG subjects reported more headaches during exposures vs. sham exposure. Neither group (SG and NG) was able to detect the true exposure status more frequently than by chance alone. The study indicates that during laboratory exposure to 884 MHz wireless signals, components of sleep, believed to be important for recovery from daily wear and tear, are adversely affected. Moreover, participants that otherwise have no self-reported symptoms related to mobile phone use, appear to have more headaches during actual radiofrequency exposure as compared to sham exposure. However, subjects were not able to detect the true exposure status more often than would have been expected by statistical chance alone. Additional self-reported findings, biochemical, performance and electrophysiological data are currently being analyzed. Possible health implications from the findings will also be further explored.
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| 14. |
- Badarin, Kathryn, et al.
(författare)
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Combined exposure to heavy physical workload and low job control and the risk of disability pension : A cohort study of employed men and women in Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 96:7, s. 973-984
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To investigate the separate and combined effects of overall heavy physical workload (PWL) and low decision authority on all-cause disability pension (DP) or musculoskeletal DP.Methods This study uses a sample of 1,804,242 Swedish workers aged 44–63 at the 2009 baseline. Job Exposure Matrices (JEMs) estimated exposure to PWL and decision authority. Mean JEM values were linked to occupational codes, then split into tertiles and combined. DP cases were taken from register data from 2010 to 2019. Cox regression models estimated sex-specific Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The Synergy Index (SI) estimated interaction effects.Results Heavy physical workload and low decision authority were associated with an increased risk of DP. Workers with combined exposure to heavy PWL and low decision authority often had greater risks of all-cause DP or musculoskeletal DP than when adding the effects of the single exposures. The results for the SI were above 1 for all-cause DP (men: SI 1.35 95%CI 1.18–1.55, women: SI 1.19 95%CI 1.05–1.35) and musculoskeletal disorder DP (men: SI 1.35 95%CI 1.08–1.69, women: 1.13 95%CI 0.85–1.49). After adjustment, the estimates for SI remained above 1 but were not statistically significant.Conclusion Heavy physical workload and low decision authority were separately associated with DP. The combination of heavy PWL and low decision authority was often associated with higher risks of DP than would be expected from adding the effects of the single exposures. Increasing decision authority among workers with heavy PWL could help reduce the risk of DP.
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| 15. |
- Badarin, Kathryn, et al.
(författare)
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Physical workload and increased frequency of musculoskeletal pain : a cohort study of employed men and women with baseline occasional pain
- 2021
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 78:8, s. 558-566
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is prevalent among the workforce. This study investigates the long-term association between physical workload (PWL) and increased frequency of MSP among male and female employees with pre-existing occasional MSP.Methods This study uses the Stockholm Public Health cohort survey data from the baseline 2006. The sample includes 5715 employees with baseline occasional MSP (no more than a few days per month). Eight PWL exposures and overall PWL were estimated using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). The JEM was assigned to occupational titles from a national register in 2006. Follow-up survey data on frequent MSP (a few or more times a week) were collected from 2010. Logistic regressions produced sex-specific ORs with 95% CIs and were adjusted for education, health conditions, psychological distress, smoking, BMI, leisure-time physical activity and decision authority.Results Associations were observed between several aspects of heavy PWL and frequent MSP for men (eg, OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.20, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile for heavy lifting) and women (eg, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.29, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the the lowest quartile for physically strenuous work). Small changes were observed in the OR after adjustment, but most of the ORs for PWL exposures among the men were no longer statistically significantly increased.Conclusion A high level of exposure to heavy PWL was associated with increased frequency of MSP 4 years later for men and women with baseline occasional pain.
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| 16. |
- Badarin, Kathryn, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of musculoskeletal pain and strenuous work on self-reported physical work ability : a cohort study of Swedish men and women
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 95:5, s. 939-952
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective We investigated the separate and combined effects of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and strenuous work (heavy physical workload (PWL)/low-decision authority) on poor physical work ability (WA).Methods This study uses baseline data from the 2010 Stockholm Public Health Questionnaire (SPHQ) including 9419 workers with good physical WA. Exposure to PWL and decision authority were estimated using sex-specific job-exposure matrices linked to occupations. Exposures (high/low) were combined with the presence of MSP. Follow-up data on physical WA were taken from the 2014 SPHQ and dichotomised (the responses: moderate, rather poor and very poor indicated poor WA). Logistic regression models calculated sex-specific odds ratios adjusting for age, education and health and lifestyle factors. Interaction between MSP and strenuous work was examined using the synergy index (SI). Analyses were conducted using SPSS.27.Results MSP, heavy PWL and low-decision authority were separately associated with poor WA. MSP was associated with higher odds of poor WA than strenuous work for women, the opposite for men. Combinations of MSP and strenuous work often resulted in higher risks of poor WA than when adding the effects of the single exposures (e.g., MSP and heavy PWL men: AOR 4.04 95% CI 2.00-8.15, women: AOR: 3.25 95% CI 1.81-5.83). The SI was non-significant for both sexes.Conclusion Workers with MSP and strenuous work often had higher risks of poor WA than would be expected from adding the effects of the single exposures. To decrease poor WA in this group, strenuous work should be lowered, and MSP addressed in workplaces.
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| 17. |
- Belyaev, Igor Y, et al.
(författare)
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Microwaves From UMTS/GSM Mobile Phones Induce Long-Lasting Inhibition of 53BP1/gamma-H2AX DNA Repair Foci in Human Lymphocytes
- 2009
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Ingår i: Bioelectromagnetics. - : Wiley. - 0197-8462 .- 1521-186X. ; 30:2, s. 129-141
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have recently described frequency-dependent effects of mobile phone microwaves (MWs) of global system for mobile communication (GSM) on human lymphocytes from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields and healthy persons. Contrary to GSM, universal global telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile phones emit wide-band MW signals. Hypothetically, UMTS MWs may result in higher biological effects compared to GSM signal because of eventual "effective" frequencies within the wideband. Here, we report for the first time that UMTS MWs affect chromatin and inhibit formation of DNA double-strand breaks co-localizing 53BP1/gamma-H2AX DNA repair foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons and confirm that effects of GSM MWs depend oil carrier frequency. Remarkably, the effects of MWs on 53BP1/gamma-H2AX foci persisted up to 72 h following exposure of cells, even longer than the stress response following heat shock. The data are in line with the hypothesis that the type of signal, UMTS MWs, may have higher biological efficiency and possibly larger health risk effects compared to GSM radiation emissions. No significant differences in effects between groups of healthy and hypersensitive subjects were observed, except for the effects of UNITS MWs and GSM-915 MHz MWs on the formation of the DNA repair foci, which were different for hypersensitive (P < 0.02[53BP1)//0.01[gamma-H2AX]) but not for control subjects (P > 0.05). The non-parametric statistics used here did not indicate specificity of the differences revealed between the effects of GSM and UMTS MWs oil cells from hypersensitive subjects and more data are needed to study the nature of these differences, Bioelectromagnetics 30: 129-141, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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| 18. |
- Haanes, Jan Vilis, et al.
(författare)
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"Symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF) - Towards a paradigm shift regarding "idiopathic environmental intolerance" and related phenomena
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 131
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Health conditions characterized by symptoms associated with chemical, physical and biological environmental factors unrelated to objectifiable pathophysiological mechanisms are often labelled by the general term "idiopathic environmental intolerances". More specific, exposure-related terms are also used, e.g. "multiple chemical sensitivities", "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" and "candidiasis hypersensitivity". The prevalence of the conditions varies from a few up to more than 50%, depending on definitions and populations. Based on evolving knowledge within this field, we provide arguments for a paradigm shift from terms focusing on exposure and intolerance/(hyper-)sensitivity towards a term more in line with the perceptual elements that seem to underlie these phenomena. Symptoms caused by established pathophysiologic mechanisms should not be included, e.g. allergic or toxicological conditions, lactose intolerance or infections. We discuss different alternatives for a new term/concept and end up proposing an open and descriptive term, "symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF), including a definition. "Symptoms associated with environmental factors" both is in line with the current knowledge and acknowledge the experiences of the afflicted persons. Thus, the proposed concept is likely to facilitate therapy and communication between health professionals and afflicted persons, and to provide a base for better understanding of such phenomena in healthcare, society and science.
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| 19. |
- Hillert, Lena
(författare)
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Hypersensitivity to electricity : symptoms, risk factors and therapeutic interventions
- 2001
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Persons reporting nonspecific health complaints attributed to activated electrical equipment have been a growing concern in Sweden in the last decades. The aims of this thesis were to investigate possible risk factors (personal and work-related), symptoms, and complaints associated with reported hypersensitivity to electricity (HE) and to test hypotheses concerning possible biological mechanisms and effective treatments. In a survey of an unselected population in Stockholm. County, 1.5% of the respondents reported hypersensitivity to electric or magnetic fields. In selected populations, for example, IT companies, the proportion who reports HE may be substantially higher Reported HE is associated with higher prevalence of complaints with regard to symptoms, other hypersensitivities and traditional allergies and disturbances from different environmental factors, compared to groups not reporting HE. Reported asthma and hay fever were also more common in the HE group. No specific symptom constellation was identified. Persons who report HE seem to be characterized, at least in early stages, by skin complaints. Fatigue was, except for skin complaints in the group that reported HE, the most commonly reported complaint in the HE group and in referents who did not report this syndrome. General but not physical fatigue was associated with the perceived influence of electromagnetic fields. Scores on sleep indices and sleep quality were similar in cases of HE and referents. The hypothesis that fatigue in HE might be due to a decrease in cholinesterase activity wasn't confirmed. Persons who reported HE did not differ from referents with regard to mental well being, personal traits, anxiety or psychosocial work characteristics. Patients who reported ]HE scored within the normal range in questionnaires on symptom dimensions (SCL-90), alexithymia (TAS-20), attributional style (ASQ) and sense of coherence (SOC) according to the evaluation guidelines for these respective instruments. Two interventions were evaluated. In a randomized controlled clinical trial, antioxidant supplementation wasn't shown to reduce symptoms and ill health in HE. Cognitive therapy was offered as part of a multidisciplinary team program. The prognosis of HE seems to be good in most cases, at least in case of early intervention based on a broad approach. Cognitive therapy may farther reduce perceived hypersensitivity to electricity. Clinical studies on HE have revealed that the group of persons reporting this syndrome is very heterogeneous. A multidimensional characterization (including symptom indices, belief, reported triggering factors, temporal aspects and behavior) is proposed to facilitate comparisons between study groups. Individuals who report ]HE seem to be suffering from an increase in ill health and report a wide range of complaints. The nature of associations and interactions between different observations and complaints isn't known. Some observations may represent risk indicators for a vulnerable group, while others may be consequences of long time suffering from ill health. Individually determined response to different kinds of stressors in everyday life is discussed. Medical, psychosocial and environmental factors of possible importance should be considered in the investigation of patients who report ]HE. In case of persisting symptoms, individual recommendations should be given based on this broad evaluation. More research is motivated to increase our knowledge on the background for the reported complaints and ill health.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Hillert, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on headache and other symptoms : an experimental provocation study.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Bioelectromagnetics. - : Wiley. - 1521-186X .- 0197-8462. ; 29:3, s. 185-96:Nov 28 [Epub ahead of print]
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on headache and other symptoms: an experimental provocation study.Hillert L, Akerstedt T, Lowden A, Wiholm C, Kuster N, Ebert S, Boutry C, Moffat SD, Berg M, Arnetz BB.Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. lena.hillert@ki.seFindings from prior studies of possible health and physiological effects from mobile phone use have been inconsistent. Exposure periods in provocation studies have been rather short and personal characteristics of the participants poorly defined. We studied the effect of radiofrequency field (RF) on self-reported symptoms and detection of fields after a prolonged exposure time and with a well defined study group including subjects reporting symptoms attributed to mobile phone use. The design was a double blind, cross-over provocation study testing a 3-h long GSM handset exposure versus sham. The study group was 71 subjects age 18-45, including 38 subjects reporting headache or vertigo in relation to mobile phone use (symptom group) and 33 non-symptomatic subjects. Symptoms were scored on a 7-point Likert scale before, after 1(1/2) and 2(3/4) h of exposure. Subjects reported their belief of actual exposure status. The results showed that headache was more commonly reported after RF exposure than sham, mainly due to an increase in the non-symptom group. Neither group could detect RF exposure better than by chance. A belief that the RF exposure had been active was associated with skin symptoms. The higher prevalence of headache in the non-symptom group towards the end of RF exposure justifies further investigation of possible physiological correlates. The current study indicates a need to better characterize study participants in mobile phone exposure studies and differences between symptom and non-symptom groups. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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| 22. |
- Hillert, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Women with multiple chemical sensitivity have increased harm avoidance and reduced 5-HT(1A) receptor binding potential in the anterior cingulate and amygdala
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 8:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a common condition, characterized by somatic distress upon exposure to odors. As in other idiopathic environmental intolerances, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Contrary to the expectations it was recently found that persons with MCS activate the odor-processing brain regions less than controls, while their activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is increased. The present follow-up study was designed to test the hypotheses that MCS subjects have increased harm avoidance and deviations in the serotonin system, which could render them intolerant to environmental odors. Twelve MCS and 11 control subjects, age 22-44, all working or studying females, were included in a PET study where 5-HT(1A) receptor binding potential (BP) was assessed after bolus injection of [(11)C]WAY100635. Psychological profiles were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Swedish universities Scales of Personality. All MCS and 12 control subjects were also tested for emotional startle modulation in an acoustic startle test. MCS subjects exhibited significantly increased harm avoidance, and anxiety compared to controls. They also had a reduced 5-HT(1A) receptor BP in amygdala (p = 0.029), ACC (p = 0.005) (planned comparisons, significance level 0.05), and insular cortex (p = 0.003; significance level p<0.005 with Bonferroni correction), and showed an inverse correlation between degree of anxiety and the BP in the amygdala (planned comparison). No group by emotional category difference was found in the startle test. Increased harm avoidance and the observed changes in the 5-HT(1A) receptor BP in the regions processing harm avoidance provides a plausible pathophysiological ground for the symptoms described in MCS, and yields valuable information for our general understanding of idiopathic environmental intolerances.
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| 23. |
- Johansson, Amanda, 1975-
(författare)
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Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields : physiological and psychological aspects
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis aims to increase the knowledge on people with symptoms attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) by investigating the effects of EMF exposure and by additional description of the heterogeneous group of people reporting EMF-related symptoms. The effect of mobile phone (MP)-like radio frequency (RF) fields on symptoms, autonomic nervous system (ANS) parameters, short-term memory, and reaction time in persons with MP-related symptoms (MP participants) was investigated in a provocation study. A second provocation study investigated the effect of similar exposure on serum concentration of biomarkers in persons with atopic dermatitis. No effect of exposure was detected in either study. MP participants displayed changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during cognitive tests, but not during rest. This contrasts with earlier findings, participants with symptoms attributed to EMF sources in general (EHS participants) displayed an elevated sympathetic nervous system activity both during cognitive tests and during rest. Proposed differences between subgroups of persons with EMF-related symptoms with respect to symptoms, personality traits and stress were investigated in a questionnaire study. MP participants reported primarily symptoms from the head; EHS participants reported symptoms from many organ systems. Furthermore, EHS participants reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and exhaustion when compared with a reference group. MP participants reported higher levels of anxiety and exhaustion only. In a pilot study, 24-hour and short-term HRV were investigated in EHS participants, to examine whether the previously observed sympathovagal imbalance would still be present. There was a tendency toward increased parasympathetic activity compared with earlier recordings, and a reduction of symptoms. Twenty-four hour and short-term recordings were fairly similar for each participant; however, there were large between-subject differences. The results do not support the hypothesis of effects of MP-like RF exposure on symptoms, ANS activity, CFFT, cognitive function, or biomarkers. However, they do support the hypothesis that persons with different symptom attribution (MP and EHS) may differ also in ANS activity and psychological aspects.
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| 24. |
- Lindholm, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational safety and health challenges of home care personnel
- 2019
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Vision Zero Summit 2019. ; , s. 160-163
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Care personnel often have musculoskeletal disorders and sleep disturbances. In this study, aquestionnaire was utilized to identify occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges andassociations with possible sleep disturbances among home care personnel. The questionnairewas given to 19 workplaces in the Stockholm County in 2017, and 469 employees answered.Preliminary results show that among identified OSH challenges were high psychosocial andphysical workload, and dissatisfaction with the leadership. Lack of satisfaction with the work,dissatisfaction with the leadership, high qualitative demands and pain disorders were significantlyassociated with sleep disturbances. The results support the importance of promoting a goodorganizational work environment in the home care services.
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| 25. |
- Lindholm, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep-Related Problems and Associations with Occupational Factors among Home Care Personnel
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. - : Det Kgl. Bibliotek/Royal Danish Library. - 2245-0157.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent demographic developments in Europe have increased the demand for home care. Working in other people’s home environment is challenging. Home care personnel’s musculoskeletal disorders are common, and care personnel overall often have sleep disturbances. In this study, associations between occupational physical and psychosocial factors and possible sleep-related problems among home care personnel were explored using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 19 workplaces in Stockholm County in 2017–2019, and 665 home care personnel answered. Several factors, including job contentment, physical burden of care, client-related burnout, quantitative demands, and pain, were significantly associated with sleep-related problems. The results highlight the need for implementing measures to improve psychosocial and organizational working conditions in home care service.
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| 26. |
- Lowden, Arne, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of evening exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by 3G mobile phones on health and night sleep EEG architecture
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Sleep Research. - : Wiley. - 0962-1105 .- 1365-2869. ; 28:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies on sleep after exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields have shown mixed results. We investigated the effects of double-blind radiofrequency exposure to 1,930-1,990 MHz, UMTS 3G signalling standard, time-averaged 10 g specific absorption rate of 1.6 W kg(-1) on self-evaluated sleepiness and objective electroencephalogram architecture during sleep. Eighteen subjects aged 18-19 years underwent 3.0 hr of controlled exposure on two consecutive days 19:45-23:00 hours (including 15-min break); active or sham prior to sleep, followed by full-night 7.5 hr polysomnographic recordings in a sleep laboratory. In a cross-over design, the procedure was repeated a week later with the second condition. The results for sleep electroencephalogram architecture showed no change after radiofrequency exposure in sleep stages compared with sham, but power spectrum analyses showed a reduction of activity within the slow spindle range (11.0-12.75 Hz). No differences were found for self-evaluated health symptoms, performance on the Stroop colour word test during exposure or for sleep quality. These results confirm previous findings that radiofrequency post-exposure in the evening has very little influence on electroencephalogram architecture but possible on spindle range activity.
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| 27. |
- Lowden, Arne, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms
- 2011
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Ingår i: Bioelectromagnetics. - : Wiley. - 0197-8462 .- 1521-186X. ; 32:1, s. 4-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several studies show increases in activity for certain frequency bands (10-14 Hz) and visually scored parameters during sleep after exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. A shortened REM latency has also been reported. We investigated the effects of a double-blind radiofrequency exposure (884 MHz, GSM signaling standard including non-DTX and DTX mode, time-averaged 10 g psSAR of 1.4 W/kg) on self-evaluated sleepiness and objective EEG measures during sleep. Forty-eight subjects (mean age 28 years) underwent 3 h of controlled exposure (7:30-10:30 PM; active or sham) prior to sleep, followed by a full-night polysomnographic recording in a sleep laboratory. The results demonstrated that following exposure, time in Stages 3 and 4 sleep (SWS, slow-wave sleep) decreased by 9.5 min (12%) out of a total of 78.6 min, and time in Stage 2 sleep increased by 8.3 min (4%) out of a total of 196.3 min compared to sham. The latency to Stage 3 sleep was also prolonged by 4.8 min after exposure. Power density analysis indicated an enhanced activation in the frequency ranges 0.5-1.5 and 5.75-10.5 Hz during the first 30 min of Stage 2 sleep, with 7.5-11.75 Hz being elevated within the first hour of Stage 2 sleep, and bands 4.75-8.25 Hz elevated during the second hour of Stage 2 sleep. No pronounced power changes were observed in SWS or for the third hour of scored Stage 2 sleep. No differences were found between controls and subjects with prior complaints of mobile phone-related symptoms. The results confirm previous findings that RF exposure increased the EEG alpha range in the sleep EEG, and indicated moderate impairment of SWS. Furthermore, reported differences in sensitivity to mobile phone use were not reflected in sleep parameters.
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| 28. |
- Pitron, Victor, et al.
(författare)
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Electrohypersensitivity is always real
- 2023
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Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Highlights:Electrohypersensitivty (EHS) represents a severely disabling condition.Symptom reports in EHS are unrelated to actual electromagnetic field exposure.A reductionist bio-electromagnetic approach fails to explain EHS.Empirical evidence suggests that nocebo effects strongly contribute to EHS.Spreading the myth about a (non-existing) EHS epidemic causes harm.
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Runeson, Roma, 1951-
(författare)
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Personality, Stress, and Indoor Environmental Symptomatology
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The sick building syndrome (SBS) comprises eye, nose, skin, and throat symptoms, headache and fatigue. Gender, personality aspects, and psychosocial factors at work have lately been at focus in health research. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationships between SBS and personal factors, personality traits, and psychosocial work stress. Two different populations were studied: a cohort of 195 subjects working in suspected “sick buildings” followed 1988-1999, and a random sample of 695 subjects from the Swedish population, 20-65 y. Two personality scales were used; the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and the Sense of Coherence (SOC). Two stress questionnaires were used: the 3-dimensional demands-control-support model (DCS) and the Assessment of Perceived Psychosocial Work Environment (PPWE). SBS and personal factors were assessed by a postal symptoms questionnaire and a symptom score (SC) was calculated. Personality was assessed by means of two verbal personality scales, the KSP and the SOC. Females in problem buildings had more SBS than men, and females had a lower SOC and more anxiety and aggressivity in the KSP. Females and males in the general working population reported differences in psychosocial work environment. Moreover, the associations between personality traits and SBS, and between DCS and SBS, differed between males and females. Over all, the investigated occupants of suspected sick-buildings were within the normal range for both KSP and SOC norms. However, those with symptoms showed prominent personality vulnerability, especially in anxiety, aggressivity, and lower SOC, compared to those that were not reporting symptoms. Female gender, low age, asthma, and a history of atopy were related to SBS in the general working population. A combination of low social support and either passive, strained, or active work situation, as well as a combination of high social support and active work situation, were associated with SBS. In conclusion, measurements of personality and psychosocial work environment could be of value in future studies on environmental syndromes. Moreover, the demans-control-support model can predict SBS, but in a more complex way than indicated by earlier research.
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| 31. |
- Saevarsdottir, S., et al.
(författare)
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Multiomics analysis of rheumatoid arthritis yields sequence variants that have large effects on risk of the seropositive subset
- 2022
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 81:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To find causal genes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its seropositive (RF and/or ACPA positive) and seronegative subsets. Methods We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 31 313 RA cases (68% seropositive) and similar to 1 million controls from Northwestern Europe. We searched for causal genes outside the HLA-locus through effect on coding, mRNA expression in several tissues and/or levels of plasma proteins (SomaScan) and did network analysis (Qiagen). Results We found 25 sequence variants for RA overall, 33 for seropositive and 2 for seronegative RA, altogether 37 sequence variants at 34 non-HLA loci, of which 15 are novel. Genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of these yielded 25 causal genes in seropositive RA and additional two overall. Most encode proteins in the network of interferon-alpha/beta and IL-12/23 that signal through the JAK/STAT-pathway. Highlighting those with largest effect on seropositive RA, a rare missense variant in STAT4 (rs140675301-A) that is independent of reported non-coding STAT4-variants, increases the risk of seropositive RA 2.27-fold (p=2.1x10(-9)), more than the rs2476601-A missense variant in PTPN22 (OR=1.59, p=1.3x10(-160)). STAT4 rs140675301-A replaces hydrophilic glutamic acid with hydrophobic valine (Glu128Val) in a conserved, surface-exposed loop. A stop-mutation (rs76428106-C) in FLT3 increases seropositive RA risk (OR=1.35, p=6.6x10(-11)). Independent missense variants in TYK2 (rs34536443-C, rs12720356-C, rs35018800-A, latter two novel) associate with decreased risk of seropositive RA (ORs=0.63-0.87, p=10(-9)-10(-27)) and decreased plasma levels of interferon-alpha/beta receptor 1 that signals through TYK2/JAK1/STAT4. Conclusion Sequence variants pointing to causal genes in the JAK/STAT pathway have largest effect on seropositive RA, while associations with seronegative RA remain scarce.
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
- Tettamanti, Giorgio, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term effect of mobile phone use on sleep quality : Results from the cohort study of mobile phone use and health (COSMOS)
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (RF-EMF) from mobile phone use on sleep quality has mainly been investigated in cross-sectional studies. The few previous prospective cohort studies found no or inconsistent associations, but had limited statistical power and short follow-up. In this large prospective cohort study, our aim was to estimate the effect of RF-EMF from mobile phone use on different sleep outcomes.Materials and methods: The study included Swedish (n = 21,049) and Finnish (n = 3120) participants enrolled in the Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) with information about operator-recorded mobile phone use at baseline and sleep outcomes both at baseline and at the 4-year follow-up. Sleep disturbance, sleep adequacy, daytime somnolence, sleep latency, and insomnia were assessed using the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) sleep questionnaire.Results: Operator-recorded mobile phone use at baseline was not associated with most of the sleep outcomes. For insomnia, an odds ratio (OR) of 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.51 was observed in the highest decile of mobile phone call-time (> 258 min/week). With weights assigned to call-time to account for the lower RF-EMF exposure from Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS, 3G) than from Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM, 2G) the OR was 1.09 (95% CI 0.89-1.33) in the highest call-time decile.Conclusion: Insomnia was slightly more common among mobile phone users in the highest call-time category, but adjustment for the considerably lower RF-EMF exposure from the UMTS than the GSM network suggests that this association is likely due to other factors associated with mobile phone use than RF-EMF. No association was observed for other sleep outcomes. In conclusion, findings from this study do not support the hypothesis that RF-EMF from mobile phone use has long-term effects on sleep quality.
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| 34. |
- Toledano, Mireille B., et al.
(författare)
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An international prospective cohort study of mobile phone users and health (COSMOS) : Factors affecting validity of self-reported mobile phone use
- 2018
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Ingår i: International journal of hygiene and environmental health. - : Elsevier GmbH - Urban und Fischer. - 1438-4639 .- 1618-131X. ; 221:1, s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates validity of self-reported mobile phone use in a subset of 75 993 adults from the COSMOS cohort study. Agreement between self-reported and operator-derived mobile call frequency and duration for a 3-month period was assessed using Cohen's weighted Kappa (κ). Sensitivity and specificity of both self-reported high (≥10 calls/day or ≥4h/week) and low (≤6 calls/week or <30min/week) mobile phone use were calculated, as compared to operator data. For users of one mobile phone, agreement was fair for call frequency (κ=0.35, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.36) and moderate for call duration (κ=0.50, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.50). Self-reported low call frequency and duration demonstrated high sensitivity (87% and 76% respectively), but for high call frequency and duration sensitivity was lower (38% and 56% respectively), reflecting a tendency for greater underestimation than overestimation. Validity of self-reported mobile phone use was lower in women, younger age groups and those reporting symptoms during/shortly after using a mobile phone. This study highlights the ongoing value of using self-report data to measure mobile phone use. Furthermore, compared to continuous scale estimates used by previous studies, categorical response options used in COSMOS appear to improve validity considerably, most likely by preventing unrealistically high estimates from being reported.
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| 35. |
- Wiholm, Clairy, et al.
(författare)
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Mobile phone exposure and spatial memory.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Bioelectromagnetics. - : Wiley. - 1521-186X .- 0197-8462. ; 30:1, s. 59-65
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Radiofrequency (RF) emission during mobile phone use has been suggested to impair cognitive functions, that is, working memory. This study investigated the effects of a 2 1/2 h RF exposure (884 MHz) on spatial memory and learning, using a double-blind repeated measures design. The exposure was designed to mimic that experienced during a real-life mobile phone conversation. The design maximized the exposure to the left hemisphere. The average exposure was peak spatial specific absorption rate (psSAR10g) of 1.4 W/kg. The primary outcome measure was a "virtual" spatial navigation task modeled after the commonly used and validated Morris Water Maze. The distance traveled on each trial and the amount of improvement across trials (i.e., learning) were used as dependent variables. The participants were daily mobile phone users, with and without symptoms attributed to regular mobile phone use. Results revealed a main effect of RF exposure and a significant RF exposure by group effect on distance traveled during the trials. The symptomatic group improved their performance during RF exposure while there was no such effect in the non-symptomatic group. Until this new finding is further investigated, we can only speculate about the cause.
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