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15·11·2005 - Visitas: 1118

HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

MARTIN RÖÖSLIª, MIRJANA MOSER§, MARTIN MEIER§, CHARLOTTE BRAUNFAHRLÄNDER ª

ª INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF

BASEL, SWITZERLAND § SWISS FEDERAL OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BERNE, SWITZERLAND Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine Steinengraben 49 CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland Martin.Roeoesli@unibas.ch

Abstract

Started in June 2001, health questionnaires have been distributed to people who complained about health symptoms, which they associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The objective of the survey was to gain a better knowledge of the anxieties of the afflicted population, to obtain hints of possible problems and of actions that should be taken to solve the problems. The survey was not designed to establish a causal association between exposure to electromagnetic fields and health symptoms. Until March 2002, 342 questionnaires have been sent back. The average age of the responders was 49.5 years, 59 percent were female. Generally, more than one health symptom was named. Sleep disorders (59%), headaches (43%), nervousness/distress (20%), concentration difficulties (18%), and fatigue (16%) were most prevalent. The responders related their symptoms most frequently to exposure to mobile phone base stations (78%), followed by mobile phones (38%), and power lines (28%). 87 percent of the people who consulted a public authority due to their symptoms were unsatisfied with the answers, whereas consultations to self-help groups or building ecologists have mostly fulfilled the expectations. Two third of the afflicted people had taken steps to reduce their symptoms. The most common step was reducing the exposure by avoiding the source (if possible) or by shielding.