EMF and hearing

1: Arch Med Res. 2004 Nov-Dec;35(6):517-21. Links
Occupational safety: effects of workplace radiofrequencies on hearing
function.
Oktay MF, Dasdag S, Akdere M, Cureoglu S, Cebe M, Yazicioglu M, Topcu I,
Meric F.
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Dicle University,
Diyarbakir, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The effects of radio frequency (RF) and microwave radiation
on
humans have been the subject of continuous investigation. Clinical
investigations related to occupational RF/microwave exposure have been
reported by
investigators (1). Since one of the major groups occupationally exposed
to RF and
microwave radiation includes those working in radio broadcasting and TV
transmitter stations, this study investigates whether RF affects
auditory systems of
people exposed to RF. METHODS: The study is carried out with people
working in
radio broadcasting stations and living in employee residential houses
close to
the broadcasting stations. All subjects in the control group were
similar in
age, work regime, socioeconomic status, and lack of experience in
working with
RF sources. Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometer (BERA) and Pure Tone
Audiometry (PTA) were used to measure the effects of RF under
investigation on hearing
functions of the subjects. In BERA measurements, I-III, III-V and I-V
interpeak latencies were evaluated. In pure tone audiometric
measurements, 250 Hz, 500
Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz frequencies of hearing
threshold
were measured in subjects of experimental and control groups. Interpeak
latencies and bone conduction hearing thresholds of subjects in the
experimental group
were compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: BERA results
showed
that I-III, I-V and III-V interpeak latencies of people occupationally
exposed
to RF were not higher than subjects in control groups (p>0.05). Results
of
BERA indicated no statistically significant differences between
exposure and
control subjects. In audiometric evaluation, hearing threshold of people
occupationally exposed to RF were found higher than the control group
subjects for
frequencies of 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz in terms of bone and air conduction
of right
and left ear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of traditional
audiometer
indicated that RF promotes sensorineural hearing loss and affects
cochlea parts
related to 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz. These findings may have immediate
implications
and considerations for workplace safety in order to provide an
occupationally
safe environment to employees working in such settings.

PMID: 15631877 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Electromagn Biol Med. 2006;25(1):13-21. Links
Effects of intensive and moderate cellular phone use on hearing
function.
Oktay MF, Dasdag S.
Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School of Dicle University,
Diyarbakir,
Turkey.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of radiation
emitted
by mobile phones on the hearing of users. The study was carried out on
three
groups: 1) 20 men who have used a cellular phone frequently and spoken
approximately 2 h per day for four years; 2) 20 men who have used a
cellular phone for
10-20 min per day for four years; and 3) 20 healthy men who have never
used a
cellular phone (the control group). Brainstem evoked response
audiometric
(BERA) and pure tone audiometric (PTA) methods were used to measure the
effects
of exposure on hearing function of the subjects. In BERA measurements,
I-III,
III-V, and I-V interpeak latencies were evaluated. Interpeak latency of
subjects in two experimental groups was compared to that of subjects in
the control
group. The BERA results showed no differences among the groups (p >
0.05). In
PTA measurements, detection thresholds at 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000
Hz,
4000 Hz, and 8000 Hz frequencies were measured in all three groups. No
differences were observed between moderate mobile phone users (10-20
min. per day) and
control subjects. However, detection thresholds in those who talked
approximately 2 h per day were found to be higher than those in either
moderate users or
control subjects. Differences at 4000 Hz for both bone and air
conduction for
right ears, and 500 Hz, and 4000 Hz bone and air conduction for left
ears were
significant for mean hearing threshold. This study shows that a higher
degree
of hearing loss is associated with long-term exposure to
electromagnetic (EM)
field generated by cellular phones.

PMID: 16595330 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 2005 May;56(5):187-91. Links
[Hearing level and intensive use of mobile phones]
[Article in Spanish]
Garcia Callejo FJ, Garcia Callejo F, Pena Santamaria J, Alonso
Castaneira I,
Sebastian Gil E, Marco Algarra J.
Servicio de ORL, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia.
[hidden email]

INTRODUCTION: Wide studies and substantial controversies build on
utilization
of actual mobile phones and appearance of systemic disorders or even
tumours,
but there is no knowledge about an eventual involvement on early hearing
loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a group of three hundred and
twenty-three healthy
and normoacoustic volunteers who were usual costumers of mobile phones
an
audiometric evaluation was made at the beginnig of its use and three
years later,
inquiring about the periods of time per day and year employed on direct
contacts with phone. A healthy and normoacoustic control group of non
users was
studied too. RESULTS: Cases carried out 24.3 +/- 8.2 active contacts,
reaching 50.4
+/- 27.8 days of mobile phone employment in three years. Audiometric
curve
was similar in cases and controls at the beginning of the study. After
this
follow-up, cases showed an increase on hearing threshold between 1 and
5 dB HL
more than controls in speech tones (p<0.001). Moreover, there was a
trend to
correlate time of phone use to hearing impairment, but this finding did
not result
statistically significative. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent management of mobile
phones in a middle period of time allows to detect a mild hearing loss,
but the
cause of this disorder keeps unclear.

PMID: 15960120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Med Assoc Thai. 2005 Sep;88 Suppl 4:S231-4. Links
The effect of mobile phone to audiologic system.
Kerekhanjanarong V, Supiyaphun P, Naratricoon J, Laungpitackchumpon P.
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn
University,
Bangkok, Thailand.

Mobile phones have come into widespread use. There are a lot of possible
adverse effect to health. Use of mobile phone generate potentially
harmful
radiofrequency electromagnetic field (EMF) particularly for the hearing
aspect. 98
subjects underwent hearing evaluations at Department of Otolaryngology,
Faculty
of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn
University.
31 males and 67females, mean age was 30.48 +/- 9.51 years old, all
subjects
were investigated the hearing level by audiometry, tympanometry,
otoacoustic
emission (OAE) and auditory brain stem evoked response (ABR). The
average of using
time were 32.54 +/- 27.64 months, 57 subjects usually used the right
side and
41 the left side. Average time of use per day was 26.31 +/- 30.91
minutes
(range from 3 to 180 mins). When the authors compared the audiogram,
both pure
tone and speech audiometry, between the dominant and nondominant side,
it
indicated that there is no significant different. When the authors
focused on the 8
subjects that used the mobile phone more than 60 mins per day. It
indicated
that the hearing threshold of the dominant ears was worse than the
nondominant
ears.

PMID: 166230

ammcafeerr wrote -
of right
and left ear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of traditional
audiometer
indicated that RF promotes sensorineural hearing loss and affects
cochlea parts
related to 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz. These findings may have immediate
implications
and considerations for workplace safety in order to provide an
occupationally
safe environment to employees working in such settings.

PMID: 15631877 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


PAULS REPLY -
As you may know I am moderate ES, I endure a lot more than I should !!!!
I have hearing loss in right ear (severe tinitus both ears) reading my notes
I see that I have problems at 4000hz - now is this co-incidence I is this
further proof that my health has been wacked by emf/rf ?




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Something like 50% of the U.S. population suffers from
tinnitus (including myself). It's so obvious to me that
EMF/RF exacerbates the condition. Yet when I tell folks
that at lest some of their tinnitus may be attributed to
EMF, the prospect is categorically denied. Idiots.