Department of Otolaryngology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010 Feb;39(1):5-11.
There is general concern regarding the possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phones. This study aimed to assess the effects of chronic exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) mobile phones on auditory functions.
A retrospective, cross-sectional, randomized, case control study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. One hundred twelve subjects who were long-term mobile phone users (more than 1 year) and 50 controls who had never used a mobile phone underwent a battery of audiologic investigations including pure-tone audiometry (both speech and high frequency), tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, auditory brain responses, and middle latency responses. Changes in the various parameters were studied in the mobile phone- and non-mobile phone-using ears of subjects and corresponding ears of the controls to ascertain the effects of electromagnetic exposure.
There was no significant difference between users and controls for any of the audiologic parameters. However, trends for audiologic abnormalities were seen within the users. High-frequency loss and absent distortion product otoacoustic emissions were observed with an increase in the duration of mobile phone use, excessive use of mobile phones, and age more than 30 years. Additionally, users with some complaints during mobile phone use demonstrated absent distortion product otoacoustic emissions and abnormalities in auditory brainstem response.
Long-term and intensive mobile phone use may cause inner ear damage. A large sample size would be required to reach definitive conclusions.
人们普遍担心长期暴露于移动电话发出的射频电磁辐射可能对健康造成危害。本研究旨在评估长期接触 GSM 移动电话发射的电磁波对听觉功能的影响。
这是一项在三级医院进行的回顾性、横断面、随机、病例对照研究。112 名长期使用手机（超过 1 年）的受试者和 50 名从未使用过手机的对照者接受了一系列听力学检查，包括纯音听阈（言语和高频）、鼓室图、畸变产物耳声发射、听觉脑干反应和中潜伏期反应。研究人员比较了受试者和对照组中使用手机和不使用手机的耳朵以及对应的耳朵的各项参数的变化，以确定电磁辐射暴露的影响。
在任何听力学参数方面，使用者和对照组之间均无显著差异。然而，使用者中存在听力异常的趋势。高频听力损失和畸变产物耳声发射缺失随着手机使用时间的延长、过度使用手机以及年龄超过 30 岁而增加。此外，在使用手机时有一些抱怨的使用者存在畸变产物耳声发射缺失和听觉脑干反应异常。
长期和高强度的手机使用可能会对内耳造成损害。需要更大的样本量才能得出明确的结论。
