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

BACKGROUND: The use of technological devices is growing rapidly, and the use of cell phones increases in parallel. Dependence on technological devices is a particular factor in this increased exposure. Many studies have been performed on this electromagnetic field, but no definite conclusions have been drawn. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to investigate exposure to electromagnetic field, cell phone use behaviors, the specific absorption rate (SAR) values, and changes in health occurring after exposure in university students. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 1,019 volunteer students aged 18-24 years at the Nigde Ömer Halisdemir and Recep Tayip Erdogan Universities in 2018-2019. The questions were based on a survey of the literature. RESULTS: The students spent an average 4-8 hours per 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), 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 experienced biological, behavioral, and sleep problems. They also had very little knowledge about specific SAR values, an important criterion concerning cell phones.

Exposure to electromagnetic field, cell phone use behaviors, SAR values, and changes in health following exposure in adolescent university students / Exposição ao campo eletromagnético, comportamentos de uso de telefones celulares, valores SAR mudanças na saúde após exposição em estudantes universitários adolescentes

ABSTRACT Background: The use of technological devices is growing rapidly, and the use of cell phones increases in parallel. Dependence on technological devices is a particular factor in this increased exposure. Many studies have been performed on this electromagnetic field, but no definite conclusions have been drawn. Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate exposure to electromagnetic field, cell phone use behaviors, the specific absorption rate (SAR) values, and changes in health occurring after exposure in university students. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 1,019 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: The students spent an average 4-8 hours per 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), 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 experienced biological, behavioral, and sleep problems. They also had very little knowledge about specific SAR values, an important criterion concerning cell phones.

RESUMO Introdução: O uso de dispositivos tecnológicos está crescendo rapidamente e o uso de telefone celulares aumenta em paralelo. A dependência de dispositivos tecnológicos é um fator nesse aumento de exposição. Diversos estudos sobre o campo eletromagnético foram realizados, mas nenhuma conclusão definitiva foi alcançada. Objetivo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a exposição ao campo eletromagnético, os comportamentos de uso do telefone celular, os valores de absorção específica (specific absorption rate — SAR) dos telefones celulares utilizados e as alterações na saúde ocorridas após a exposição em adolescentes universitários. Métodos: Um questionário foi aplicado a 1.019 alunos voluntários com idades entre 18-24 anos nas universidades Niğde Ömer Halisdemir e Recep Tayip Erdoğan em 2018-2019. As perguntas foram baseadas em um levantamento bibliográfico. Resultados: Os estudantes gastaram em média 4-8 horas por dia em seus celulares, e achados como cefaleia (p=0,002), dificuldade de concentração (p=0,001), cansaço ao acordar pela manhã (p=0,001), hiperatividade (p=0,001), sensação geral de fadiga (p=0,001) e letargia (p=0,001) aumentaram de forma estatisticamente significativa com o tempo de uso. Conclusões: Os participantes exibiram altos níveis de uso de telefone celular e problemas biológicos, comportamentais e de sono. Eles também tinham pouco conhecimento sobre valores específicos de SAR, um critério importante para telefones celulares.