1. QUALIFEX Health related quality of life and radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure: Prospective cohort study 27.11.2007 Patrizia Frei, MSc Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland

2. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 2 The electromagnetic Spectrum Static EMF Low frequency EMF Radio frequency EMF Infra- red LightUVIonizing Radiation Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Optical Radiation Non-ionizing Radiation (NIS)  Radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) Basics (1)

3. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 3 Basics (2)  Radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF): —Radio transmitters —Television transmitters —Tetrapol (radio communication for authorities) —Mobile phones (GSM and UMTS) —Mobile phone base stations (GSM and UMTS) —Cordless phones (DECT) —Wireless LAN  Non-specific symptoms that are frequently attributed to RF EMF: —headache —dizziness —tiredness —discomfort —itching skin —sleep disorder

4. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 4 QUALIFEX: Study Overview Exposimeter Study: Measurements with exposimeter Diary Questionnaire on exposure 200 participants Main Study: Questionnaire on expo- sure and health Follow-up after one year 2000 participants Sleep Study: Measurement with Actimeter Sleep diary 120 participants Year 1 (2007) Years 2, 3 & 4 (2008 until 2010) Exposure assessment method

5. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 5 QUALIFEX: Study Overview Exposimeter Study: Measurements with exposimeter Diary Questionnaire on exposure 200 participants Main Study: Questionnaire on expo- sure and health Follow-up after one year 2000 participants Sleep Study: Measurement with Actimeter Sleep diary 120 participants Year 1 (2007) Years 2, 3 & 4 (2008 until 2010) Exposure assessment method

6. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 6 Study area Exposimeter Exposimeter study

7. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 7 Exposimeter study: Statistical methods  Summary statistics: —Median and interquartile range  Statistical analysis: —Significance test of group difference: Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test —Level of significance: * 0.01 < p < 0.05 ** 0.001 < p < 0.01 *** p < 0.001

8. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 8 Preliminary results (1): example of a daily exposure pattern bedroom train call with cordless phone station tram train WLAN office lunch break

9. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 9 Preliminary results (2): Results from the first 140 study participants > Median exposure over one week: 0.20 V/m (interquartile range: 0.15-0.27 V/m) > Contributions of the different sources to the total exposure

10. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 10 Preliminary results (3): Comparison of different groups 1. Living close to mobile phone base stations or a radio/TV transmitter (fixed transmitter) 2. Owning a cordless phone 3. Owning a mobile phone 4. Owning WLAN

11. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 11 1.Living close to a fixed transmitter nTotal exposure (V/m) Exposure to fixed transmitter (V/m) People living close to a fixed transmitter (highly exposed group) 360.240.18 Unselected volunteers (reference group) 1040.200.08 Wilcoxon rank-sum testp=0.004p<0.0001 *** * **

12. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 12 2.Owning a cordless phone nTotal exposure (V/m) Exposure to cordl. phone (V/m) Persons owning a cordless phone1060.210.09 Persons not owning a cordl. phone300.190.04 Wilcoxon rank-sum testp=0.127p<0.0001 *** *

13. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 13 3.Owning a mobile phone nTotal exposure (V/m) Exposure to mobile phone (V/m) Persons owning a mobile phone1190.200.10 Persons not owning a mob. phone170.170.06 Wilcoxon rank-sum testp=0.013p=0.003 ** ***

14. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 14 4.Owning WLAN nTotal exposure (V/m) Exposure to WLAN (V/m) Persons owning WLAN410.200.03 Persons not owning WLAN920.200.02 Wilcoxon rank-sum testp=0.826p<0.001 *** **

15. ISEE CEEC Conference, Czech Republic, Nov 26 th -29 th 15 Conclusions and Outlook  In our sample of 140 persons, the main contributions to the total exposure is due to mobile phones, cordless phones and mobile phone base stations  In terms of total exposure, there are significant differences between persons living close to transmitters and those not, and between people owning a mobile phone and those not  Further multivariable analyses are needed to investigate combined effects of all predictors (multiple linear regression model)