Exposure to electromagnetic field, cell phone use behaviors, SAR values of cell phones used, and changes in health occurring following exposure in adolescent university students


İkinci A., Uzun Şahin C.

Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria, cilt.79, sa.2, ss.139-148, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 79 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1590/0004-282x20200128
  • Dergi Adı: Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.139-148
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Abstract

The use of technological devices is growing rapidly, and the use of cell phones is increasing parallel to that growth. The purpose of this research was to investigate exposure to electromagnetic field, cell phone use behaviors, the specific absorption values (SAR) values of the cell phones used, and changes in health occurring after exposure in adolescent university students.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 1019 volunteer students aged 18-24 years at the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir and Recep Tayip Erdoğan universities in 2018-2019. The questions were based on a survey of the literature.

RESULTS: Adolescent students spent an average 4-8 hours a day on their cell phones, and findings such as headache (p=0.002), concentration deficit (p=0.001), tiredness on waking in the morning (p=0.001), hyperactivity (p=0.001), a general feeling of fatigue (p=0.001), and lethargy (p=0.001) increased in a statistically significant manner with length of use.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants exhibited high levels of cell phone use, and adolescent individuals experienced biological, behavioral, and sleep problems. They also possessed very little knowledge about specific SAR values, an important criterion concerning cell phones.

Key words: Adolescent, Questionnaire, Cell phone, Electromagnetic Field, SAR, University students