Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?
RIS ID
127335
Abstract
To test whether exposure to the emissions from a digital mobile phone handset prior to sleep alters the secretion of melatonin. Materials and methods: In a double-blind cross-over design, 55 adult volunteers were both actively exposed or shamexposed (in random order on successive Sunday nights) to mobile phone emissions for 30 min (0.25 W average power). Urine collection occurred immediately prior to retiring to bed and on rising the next morning. Melatonin output was estimated from principal metabolite concentrations (6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) via radioimmunoassay), urine volumes and creatinine concentrations. Results: Total melatonin metabolite output (concentration6urine volume) was unchanged between the two exposure conditions (active 14.1+1.1 mg; sham 14.6+1.3 mg). The pre- and post-bedtime outputs considered separately were also not significantly different, although the pre-bedtime value was less for active versus sham exposure. When melatonin metabolite output was estimated from the ratio of aMT6s to creatinine concentrations, the pre-bedtime value was significantly less (p¼0.037) for active compared to sham. Examination of individual responses is suggestive of a small group of ‘responders’. Conclusions: Total nighttime melatonin output is unchanged by mobile phone handset emissions, but there could be an effect on melatonin onset time.
Publication Details
Wood, A. W., Loughran, S. P. & Stough, C. (2006). Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 82 (2), 69-76.