New study shows that electromagnetic fields don’t cause EHS symptoms

Authored By:

This is a human randomised crossover provocation study that investigated whether electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure is associated with physiological changes and symptoms. The study recruited 58 participants with self-reported idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) and 92 participants without IEI-EMF as a control group. In a double-blind controlled environment, participants were exposed to EMF signals mimicking those from a mobile phone base station and a sham exposure in a random sequence. Participants reported whether they could perceive EMF exposure and any symptoms they were experiencing while physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure etc.) were monitored. The IEI-EMF and control groups reported similar frequencies of symptoms during both the provocation and sham sessions. In both groups, physiological parameters were similar between the two sessions and no participant could accurately detect the presence of EMF. The results of this study indicate that radiofrequency EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations did not affect physiological parameters in people with or without IEI-EMF and that symptoms reported by participants were not related to EMF exposure.

Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study

Published In:

IEI-EMF, also referred to as electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), has no clear diagnostic criteria and the science so far has not provided evidence that EMF exposure is the cause. The majority of scientific studies published to date, as well as this study, have found that under controlled laboratory conditions, EHS or IEI-EMF individuals cannot detect the presence of EMF sources any more accurately than non-EHS individuals. Several studies have indicated a nocebo effect (Van Moorselar et al. 2016; Verrender et al. 2018).  

Based on current scientific information, there is no established evidence that EHS symptoms are caused by exposure to EMF. However, ARPANSA acknowledges that the health symptoms experienced by the affected individuals are real and can be a disabling problem and advise those affected to seek medical advice from a qualified medical specialist. ARPANSA will continue to review the research into potential health effects of exposure to EMF to provide accurate and up-to-date advice.

More information on EHS is available in a factsheet by ARPANSA as well as the World Health Organization.