The association between real-life markers of phone use and cognitive performance, health-related quality of life and sleep

Marloes Eeftens; Sophie Pujol; Aaron Klaiber; Gilles Chopard; Andrin Riss; Florian Smayra; Benjamin Flückiger; Thomas Gehin; Kadiatou Diallo; Joe Wiart; Taghrid Mazloum; Frédéric Mauny; Martin Röösli

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116011

The association between real-life markers of phone use and cognitive performance, health-related quality of life and sleep

Environ Res. 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 1):116011. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116011. Epub 2023 Apr 29.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: marloes.eeftens@swisstph.ch.
² CHU de Besançon, Unité de Méthodologie en Recherche Clinique, Épidémiologie et Santé Publique, INSERM CIC, 1431, Besançon, France; Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS / Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
³ Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
⁴ Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, Service de Neurologie, CHU de Besançon, France.
⁵ Chair C2M, LTCI Télecom ParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, 46 Rue Barrault, 75013, Paris, France.

PMID: 37127107
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116011

Abstract

Introduction: The real-life short-term implications of electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on cognitive performance and health-related quality of life have not been well studied. The SPUTNIC study (Study Panel on Upcoming Technologies to study Non-Ionizing radiation and Cognition) aimed to investigate possible correlations between mobile phone radiation and human health, including cognition, health-related quality of life and sleep.

Methods: Adult participants tracked various daily markers of RF-EMF exposures (cordless calls, mobile calls, and mobile screen time 4 h prior to each assessment) as well as three health outcomes over ten study days: 1) cognitive performance, 2) health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and 3) sleep duration and quality. Cognitive performance was measured through six "game-like" tests, assessing verbal and visuo-spatial performance repeatedly. HRQoL was assessed as fatigue, mood and stress on a Likert-scale (1-10). Sleep duration and efficiency was measured using activity trackers. We fitted mixed models with random intercepts per participant on cognitive, HRQoL and sleep scores. Possible time-varying confounders were assessed at daily intervals by questionnaire and used for model adjustment.

Results: A total of 121 participants ultimately took part in the SPUTNIC study, including 63 from Besancon and 58 from Basel. Self-reported wireless phone use and screen time were sporadically associated with visuo-spatial and verbal cognitive performance, compatible with chance findings. We found a small but robust significant increase in stress 0.03 (0.00-0.06; on a 1-10 Likert-scale) in relation to a 10-min increase in mobile phone screen time. Sleep duration and quality were not associated with either cordless or mobile phone calls, or with screen time.

Discussion: The study did not find associations between short-term RF-EMF markers and cognitive performance, HRQoL, or sleep duration and quality. The most consistent finding was increased stress in relation to more screen time, but no association with cordless or mobile phone call time.

Keywords: Mobile phones; Personal exposure; Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields; Smart phones; WiFi.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cognition
Environmental Exposure*
Humans
Quality of Life*
Sleep
Telephone