Table 3 Observational studies on IEI-EMF

Bergdahl et al., 1998 (Sweden) [68].

Cross-sectional

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General, VDU-specific

N = 28, m.a = 45.5, f.g = 50%.

Report of symptoms assumed to be caused by VDU and/or other EMF sources.

N.R/E.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Hocking, 1998 (Australia) [69].

Cross-sectional

Voluntary participation after description of the study in a medical journal.

General

N = 0 (people identified with IEI-EMF)

Self-reported electrosensitivity.

N.R/E.

Subjective report

Hillert et al., 1999 (Sweden) [70].

Case–control

Subjects selected from an older occupational health survey & IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 62, a.r = 20 ≤ .

Self-reported hypersensitivity to EMF.

N.R/E.

Subjective report, medical examination (referred IEI-EMF subjects).

Stockenius et al., 2000 (Switzerland) [71].

Cross-sectional

Voluntary participation of male subjects (mostly university students) after description of the study through advertisements.

General

N.R.

Self-reported electrosensitivity to named sources (ranked from “very insensitive” to “very sensitive”).

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Bergdahl et al., 2001 (Sweden) [72].

Cross-sectional

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 44, m.a = 47, f.g = 57%.

Report of symptoms assumed to be caused by “abnormal sensitivity to EMF”.

N.R/E.

Subjective report, medical interview & examination.

Hillert et al., 2001 (Sweden) [73].

Cross-sectional

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 14, m.a = 46, f.g = 64.3%.

Self-reported hypersensitivity to EMF including disabling fatigue attributed to EMF exposure.

Medical condition that could account for the reported symptomatology.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Lyskov et al., 2001 (Sweden) [74].

Case–control

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 20, m.a = 47, f.g = 55%.

Report of a combined pattern of skin, general and ocular symptoms & attribution to EMF exposure.

Chronic diseases, acute illness the last 6 months, undergoing hormonal, hypotensive or sedative therapy.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Hillert et al., 2002 (Sweden) [6].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 10605).

General

N = 167, a.r = 19-80, f.g = 62.8%

Self-reported hypersensitivity to named EMF sources.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Levallois et al., 2002 (USA) [8].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 2072).

General

N = 68, m.a = 43.4, f.g = 58.8%.

Report of being allergic or very sensitive when being near electrical devices, computers and/or powerlines.

N.R/E.

Subjective report

Stenberg et al., 2002 (Sweden) [75].

Cross-sectional

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General, VDT-specific.

General sensitivity: N = 50, m.a = 49, f.g = 62%. VDT specific: N = 200, m.a = 50, f.g = 78.5%.

General: Experience of symptoms attributed to EMF sources in general within 24 hours after being exposed. VDT-specific: Experience of (mainly skin) symptoms attributed to VDT, TV screens & fluorescent light within 24 hours after being exposed. For all subjects, the possible association between exposure & symptoms could not be ruled out.

Lack of medical records or examination, diagnosed medical condition, no symptom attribution to EMF within 24 hours after being exposed.

Subjective report, medical records & examination.

Sandström et al., 2003 (Sweden) [76].

Case control

IEI-EMF subjects registered to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 14, m.a = 48.9, f.g = 64.3%.

Individual perception that exposure to VDT, FTL, TV and/or other EMF sources causes symptoms within 24 h, the possible exposure-outcome association could not be ruled out.

Symptoms indicating autonomic nervous dysregulation, undergoing hormonal or hypotensive therapy, having arrhythmia due to frequent non-sinus beats or severe cardiac conduction disturbances.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Bergdahl et al., 2004 (Sweden) [77].

Case–control

IEI-EMF subjects referred and registered to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 250, m.a = 49.1, f.g = 75.2%.

Individual perception that exposure to VDT, TV and/or other EMF sources causes symptoms within 24 h.

N.R/E.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Röösli et al., 2004 (Switzerland) [4].

Cross-sectional

The survey was described to various local institutions and organizations which informed & encouraged IEI-EMF subjects to participate.

General

N = 394, m.a = 51, f.g = 57%.

Report of symptoms (open question) attributed to EMF exposure.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Bergdahl et al., 2005 (Sweden) [78].

IEI-EMF subjects referred to a health care service/institution.

General

N = 33, m.a = 47, f.g = 51.5%.

Report of symptoms assumed to be caused by sensitivity to EMF.

N.R/E.

Subjective report, psychological examination.

* Carlsson et al., 2005 (Sweden) [7].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 13381), based on Östergren et al. (report) [46].

General

N = 2748 (“some annoyance” by EMF), N = 354 (“much annoyance” by EMF), a.r = 18 ≤ .

Individual experience the past 2 weeks of “some” or “much” physiologic “annoyance” attributed to FTL, and/or VDU and/or other electrical equipment.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Eriksson et al., 2006 (Sweden) [79].

Cross-sectional

Random sample from general population (N = 2154).

General

N = 46, a.r = 18-64, f.g =76%.

For the past 3 months, report of 5 symptoms on a weekly basis and 5 on a monthly basis: These symptoms could be: fatigue, feeling heavy-headed, headache, concentration difficulties, itching, burning or irritation of the eyes, dry eyes, dry facial skin, flushed facial skin, itching/stinging/tight or burning sensation in facial skin & cold hands or feet.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Schreier et al., 2006 (Switzerland) [10].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 2048).

General

N = 107, a.r = 14<, f.g = 54.5%.

Report of adverse health effects (open question) attributed to EMF at the time of the interview or anytime in the past.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Schüz et al., 2006 (Germany) [80].

Cross-sectional

Voluntary participation from EMF self-help & action groups, internet & media advertisements, invitation letters.

General

N = 107, f.g = 54%.

Self-reported hypersensitivity to EMF.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Eltiti et al., 2007 (UK) [53].

Three cross-sectional investigations.

Investigation 1&3: IEI-EMF subjects through local self-help & action groups or personal contact. Investigation 2: Random selection from the general population (N = 3633) .

General

Investigation 1: N = 50, m.a = 52.5, f.g = 66%. Investigation 2: N = 698. Investigation 3: N = 88, m.a = 48.7, f.g = 53.4%.

Investigation 1: Self-reported sensitivity to EMF, attribution of symptoms to EMF. Investigation 2 &3: Self-reported sensitivity to EMF.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Landgrebe et al., 2007 (Germany) [81].

Case–control

Voluntary participation after description of the study in a local newspaper.

General

N = 23, m.a = 41.3, f.g = 74%.

Report of severe symptoms that limited daily functioning, attribution of these symptoms to named EMF sources & age between 18–64 y.o.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Hardell et al., 2008 (Sweden) [82].

Case–control

Voluntary participation.

General

N = 13 female subjects, m.a = 53.

Report of symptoms attributed to EMF.

Severe medical condition.

Subjective report, medical examination.

Lidmark et al., 2008 (Sweden) [83].

Cross-sectional, plus qualitative data

Voluntary participation of members of an IEI-EMF self-help group.

General

N.R.

Report of symptoms attributed to EMF

N.R/E.

Subjective report, medical & psychiatric examination.

Schröttner et al., 2008 (Austria) [9].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 526).

General

N = 16, a.r = 15-80, f.g = 50%.

Report of disturbance/adverse health effects (open question) attributed to named EMF sources, looking for medical help because of symptom severity.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.

Dahmen et al., 2009 (Germany) [84].

Case–control

Sample selected from EMF self-help groups, an internet-based survey on EMF and health & local advertisements.

General

N = 132, m.a = 51.5, f.g = 68.2%.

A symptom score of at least 14 points on the “Regensburger EMF complaint list” [85], attribution of health symptoms to named EMF sources & age between 18–56 y.o

Acute psychiatric disorder (after psychiatric examination).

Subjective report.

Johansson et al., 2010 (Sweden) [23].

Case–control

Voluntary participation after description of the study in newspaper advertisements.

General, MP-specific, VDT-specific

MP-specific sensitivity group: N = 45, m.a = 45.7, f.g = 62%. General sensitivity group: N = 71, m.a = 51.6 f.g = 82%.

Report of symptoms attributed to: 1. MP use only, 2. VDT use only or 3several types of electrical equipment.

N.R/E.

Mohler et al., 2010 (Switzerland) [86].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 1212).

General

N = 253.

Self-reported electrohypersensitivity or report of adverse health effects attributed to EMF.

Consumption of sleeping pills, night shift workers, severe disability.

Subjective report.

Nordin et al., 2010 (Sweden) [87].

Cross-sectional

Voluntary participation of IEI subjects after description of the study in a local and a national newspaper.

General

N = 2, a.r = 18-69.

Report of being intolerant to EMF.

Pregnancy.

Subjective report.

Röösli et al., 2010 (Switzerland) [88].

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected sample from general population (N = 1122).

General

N = 130, a.r = 30-60, f.g = 72.3%.

Self-reported hypersensitivity to EMF.

N.R/E.

Subjective report.