Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?

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Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/5516

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Title: Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?
Author(s): Wood, Andrew W.; Loughran, Sarah P.; Stough, Con
Abstract: Purpose: 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 sham-exposed (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 (concentration X urine volume) was unchanged between the two exposure conditions (active 14.1±1.1 μg; sham 14.6±1.3 μg). 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 (p = 0.037) 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 type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Brain Sciences Institute
Source: International Journal of Radiation Biology, Vol. 82, no. 2 (2006), pp. 69-76
Publication year: 2006
Keyword(s): aMT6s; Cell phone; Melatonin; Mobile phone; Radiofrequency; Sulphatoxymelatonin
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISSN: 0955-3002
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09553000600599775
Peer reviewed