Dömötör Zsuzsanna, Ruzsa Gábor, Thuróczy György, Necz Péter P, Nordin Steven, Köteles Ferenc, Szemerszky Renáta
Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Heliyon. 2022 May 14;8(5):e09421. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09421. eCollection 2022 May.
IEI-EMF refers to a self-reported sensitivity characterized by attribution of non-specific physical symptoms to exposure to weak EMFs. The majority of empirical results do not support the existence of a causal relationship between EMF and IEI-EMF. However, this conclusion was drawn from environmental and experimental studies that are not without methodological limitations. In the current study, as part of a complex biopsychosocial approach, an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol was applied for the investigation of the temporal relationship between actual radio frequency (RF) EMF exposure and IEI-EMF, at the individual level. Continuous measurement of autonomic variables by holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors and the ambient RF EMF by personal dosimeters, as well as repeated (8/day) paper-and-pencil assessments of momentary internal states (symptoms, mood, perceived EMF intensity) and situational factors was conducted for 21 days with the participation of three individuals with severe IEI-EMF. Temporal relationships were examined by time series analyses. For two participants, the results did not support the association between the suspected EMF frequency range(s) and symptom reports. Nevertheless, the results revealed a reverse association with respect to another frequency range (GSM900 downlink), which contradicts the IEI-EMF condition. Autonomic activation related findings were inconsistent. For the third participant, the claimed association was partly supported, both for symptom reports and autonomic reactions (UMTS downlink, total RF; RMS values). The findings of this study suggest that IEI-EMF does not have a unitary aetiology. For certain individuals, a biophysical background cannot be excluded, whereas no such underlying factor appears to be at work for others. EMA is a useful method for the investigation of the aetiology of IEI-EMF.
电磁超敏反应（IEI-EMF）是指一种自我报告的敏感性，其特征是将非特异性身体症状归因于暴露于弱电磁场。大多数实证结果并不支持电磁场与电磁超敏反应之间存在因果关系。然而，这一结论是从存在方法学局限性的环境和实验研究中得出的。在本研究中，作为复杂生物心理社会方法的一部分，采用了生态瞬时评估（EMA）方案，在个体层面调查实际射频（RF）电磁场暴露与电磁超敏反应之间的时间关系。由动态心电图（ECG）监测仪连续测量自主神经变量，用个人剂量仪测量环境射频电磁场，同时对三名患有严重电磁超敏反应的个体进行为期21天的重复（每天8次）纸笔评估，以评估瞬时内部状态（症状、情绪、感知到的电磁场强度）和情境因素。通过时间序列分析来研究时间关系。对于两名参与者，结果不支持可疑电磁场频率范围与症状报告之间的关联。然而，结果显示在另一个频率范围（GSM900下行链路）方面存在反向关联，这与电磁超敏反应情况相矛盾。与自主神经激活相关的发现并不一致。对于第三名参与者，在症状报告和自主神经反应（UMTS下行链路、总射频；均方根值）方面，所声称的关联得到了部分支持。本研究结果表明，电磁超敏反应不存在单一病因。对于某些个体，不能排除生物物理背景因素，而对于其他个体则似乎不存在这样的潜在因素。生态瞬时评估是研究电磁超敏反应病因的一种有用方法。
