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Mobile and cordless telephones, serum transthyretin and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: a cross-sectional study. Environmental Health 2009, 8:19. Conclusions: In this hypothesis-generating descriptive study time since first use of mobile telephones and DECT combined was significantly associated with higher TTR levels
Viernes 24 de abril de 2009 · 884 lecturas
Mobile and cordless telephones, serum transthyretin and the
blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: a cross-sectional study Environmental Health 2009, 8:19 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-8-19
Fredrik Soderqvist (fredrik.soderqvist@orebroll.se)
Michael Carlberg (michael.carlberg@orebroll.se)
Lennart Hardell (lennart.hardell@orebroll.se)
Abstract
Background: Whether low-intensity radiofrequency radiation damages the blood-brain
barrier has long been debated, but little or no consideration has been given to the bloodcerebrospinal
fluid barrier. In this cross-sectional study we tested whether long-term and/or
short-term use of wireless telephones was associated with changes in the serum transthyretin
level, indicating altered transthyretin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid, possibly
reflecting an effect of radiation.
Methods: One thousand subjects, 500 of each sex aged 18-65 years, were randomly recruited
using the population registry. Data on wireless telephone use were assessed by a postal
questionnaire and blood samples were analyzed for serum transthyretin concentrations
determined by standard immunonephelometric techniques on a BN Prospec® instrument.
Results: The response rate was 31.4%. Logistic regression of dichotomized TTR serum
levels with a cut-point of 0.31 g/l on wireless telephone use yielded increased odds ratios that
were statistically not significant. Linear regression of time since first use overall and on the
day that blood was withdrawn gave different results for males and females: for men
significantly higher serum concentrations of TTR were seen the longer an analogue telephone
or a mobile and cordless desktop telephone combined had been used, and in contrast,
significantly lower serum levels were seen the longer an UMTS telephone had been used.
Adjustment for fractions of use of the different telephone types did not modify the effect for
cumulative use or years since first use for mobile telephone and DECT, combined. For
women, linear regression gave a significant association for short-term use of mobile and
cordless telephones combined, indicating that the sooner blood was withdrawn after the most
recent telephone call, the higher the expected transthyretin concentration.
Conclusions: In this hypothesis-generating descriptive study time since first use of mobile
telephones and DECT combined was significantly associated with higher TTR levels
regardless of how much each telephone type had been used. Regarding short-term use,
significantly higher TTR concentrations were seen in women the sooner blood was withdrawn
after the most recent telephone call on that day.
