Alterations in TSH and Thyroid Hormones following Mobile Phone Use
Oman Medical Journal 2009, Volume 24, Issue 4, October 2009
By:
Seyed Mortavazi 1, Asadollah Habib 2, Amir Ganj-Karami 3,
Razieh Samimi-Doost, Atefe Pour-Abedi 3, Ali Babaie 3
1 Department of Radiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz,
Iran
2 Department of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,
3 Department of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
ARTICLE INFO
Article history
Received : 05 Aug 2009
Accepted: 07 Sep 2009
Keywords
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)
TSH
T3
T4
ABSTRACT
Objectives: In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has lead to a public debate about possible detrimental effects on human health.
In spite of years of research, there is still a great controversy regarding the possibility of induction of any significant physiological effects in humans by microwave radiations emitted by mobile phones.
This study aims to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields induced by the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile phones on the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones in humans.
Methods: 77 healthy university students participated in this study.
The levels of T3, T4 and TSH were measured by using appropriate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Human, Germany).
Results: The average levels of T3, T4 and TSH in students who moderately used mobile phones were 1.25±0.27 ng/ml, 7.76±1.73 μg/dl and 4.25±2.12 μu/l respectively.
The levels in the students who severely used mobile phones were 1.18±0.30, 7.75±1.14 and 3.75±2.05 respectively.
In non-users, the levels were 1.15±0.27, 8.42±2.72 and 2.70±1.75, respectively.
The difference among the levels of TSH in these 3 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion: As far as the study is concerned, this is the first human study to assess the associations between mobile phone use and alterations in the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones.
Based on the findings, a higher than normal TSH level, low mean T4 and normal T3 concentrations in mobile users were observed.
It seems that minor degrees of thyroid dysfunction with a compensatory rise in TSH may occur following excessive use of mobile phones.
It may be concluded that possible deleterious effects of mobile microwaves on hypothalamic pituitary-thyroid axis affects the levels of these hormones.
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