DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.29265820
title: Greater prevalence of symptoms associated with higher exposures to mobile phone base stations in a hilly, densely populated city in Mizoram, India

description: Members of the scientific community and the general public are raising concerns about the potential health and environmental effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for those living nearby mobile phone base stations (MPBS). This study examined the impact of RF-EMF (900–1900 MHz) on symptoms spanning four health categories: mood-energy, cognitive-sensory, inflammatory, and anatomical issues. A questionnaire identifying health symptoms within these categories, was given to 183 highly exposed and 126 reference residents, matched on demographics. While years of residing near the MPBS influenced the prevalence of some symptoms, proximity to the base station and higher levels of exposure (measured using power density) influenced the prevalence of many of the symptoms. A higher proportion of symptoms was found in residents who were either living within 50 meters of a MPBS or who were exposed to power densities of 5–8 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, for all four health categories. This relationship between exposure level and symptom prevalence was further influenced by age, daily mobile phone use (over 5 h per day), and lifestyle factors, for certain symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that level of exposure (power density) was the only factor contributing to the number of symptoms experienced by residents, for all four health categories. An unexpected finding was that among the more highly exposed residents, the younger individuals (under 40 years) reported more inflammation related issues than older individuals. These results underscore the need to inform policymakers regarding the benefits of adopting a precautionary approach to potential risks associated with RF-EMF exposures from MPBS. Investigating the health effects of man-made electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) created by telecommunications signals from mobile phone base stations is relevant to people living in cities across the world today. The study was conducted in a hilly, highly populated city in Mizoram, India, where many people live close to and in line of sight of the masts on telecommunications towers. A survey was given to residents in their homes, asking about what health symptoms they were experiencing across a range of health categories (mood-energy, cognitive-sensory, inflammatory, and anatomical). At the same time, the level of RF-EMF in their lounge room was measured. The symptoms reported by people living closer to mobile phone base stations (less than 300 m) were compared with those from people living further away (more than 400 m). More people who lived closer to base stations reported health symptoms in all of the health categories investigated. Relatively fewer people who lived further away reported symptoms. Other factors such as age, high mobile phone use (more than 5 h/day) and smoking and drinking also influenced this outcome, for some of the symptoms. The most significant contributor to the number of symptoms reported by residents was the strength of RF-EMF to which they were exposed in their home. A surprising result was that younger people up to 40 years old showed more inflammatory conditions that were related to higher exposures than older people (such as headache, allergy and chest pain). These health effects of RF-EMF should be heeded by those responsible for the installation of mobile phone base stations in cities.