Effect of short exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on saliva biomarkers: a study on the electrohypersensitive individuals

Abstract

Context: Some individuals are reporting being sensitive to electromagnetic fields. They report some unspecific symptoms like headeache, sleep disruption, heart palpitations, itching, etc. The lack of scientific objective links between EHS symptoms and EMF exposure renders the diagnosis of EHS more complex.

Purpose: Our present work aimed to look for the effect of RF EMF exposure on saliva alpha amylase (AA) and other biological markers such as cortisol and IgA in EHS individuals.

Participants and methods: Ten EHS individuals participated in this double-blind provocation study. They were aged between 35 and 63 yr. Experiment consisted of two sessions (sham and real exposure). No external EMF sources were allowed, and the exposure consisted of a series of EMF signals emitted from a generator (Rhode & Schwarz) and a horn antenna (Schwarzbeck BBHA9120b). Consecutive RF signals were applied: GSM 900, GSM 1800, DECT, and Wi-Fi signals for 5 min each.

Results: Exposure to 4 consecutive radiofrequency signals did not show any significant modification (p > .05) on the saliva AA, cortisol or immunoglobulin A concentrations in the electrohypersensitive individuals.

Conclusions: Our study, under current conditions, do not presently allow us to propose an identification of marker for EHS.

Keywords:

• Electrohypersensitivity
• IEI-EMF
• electromagnetic fields
• radiofrequency
• human
• EHS

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all volunteers for their participation and the ‘Collectif des électrosensibles de France’.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This project was financed by a grant from the French National Research Program for Environmental and Occupational Health of ANSES (Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail) (Project no. 2013-2-02).

Notes on contributors

Soafara Andrianome

Soafara Andrianome is a PhD student in the Department of Experimental Toxicology, INERIS.

Lydia Yahia-Cherif

Lydia Yahia-Cherif is a research engineer at the CENIR, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital.

Brahim Selmaoui

Brahim Selmaoui is a senior research scientist at Peritox laboratory (UMR- I- 01) and director of research in the Department of Experimental Toxicology, INERIS.