Prevalence of Ringing Delusion among Mobile Phone Users

Neeraj Kumar, Raees A. Khan

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Lucknow, India.

DOI: 10.4236/etsn.2012.14006                

Abstract

The exponential application of mobile technology has led to a concern about implications of electromagnetic radiation on human health. As we are aware that mobile phone radiates EMR when users communicate to others and that time subscribers of the device are regularly exposed nearby 40% - 50% of total mobile irradiation. We analyzed the risk of "Ringing Delusion" among normal users, moderate users and heavy users when compared to low users. Although the "Ringing Delusion" has not been added in medical terminology but we found frequently such kind of symptoms among mobile phone users. "Ringing Delusion" may be considered as an imagination of ringing voice from cellular phone. The risk was also compared between urban and rural, male and female and adult and children population. The information was gathered through well designed questionnaires for cellular user’s demographic and social characteristics, adopted safety measures and calling duration. Prevalence of “Ringing Delusion” among rural users was higher than the urban users. A trend for the risk was also observed in male users in comparison to female. Study may support innovators to re-examine health effects of mobile phones.

Keywords

Extensive User; Mobile Phone; Ringing Delusion; Survey Study; Questionnaire; Sensitivity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	N. Kumar, V. P. Sharma, N. Mathur, M. Y. Khan and R. A. Khan, “Prevalence of Headache among Extensive and Normal Cellular Phone Users,” Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 110, No. S2, 2009, p. 228.
[2]	J. C. Lin, “Health Aspects of Wireless Communication: Cell Phone Testing and Fundamental Scientific Research,” ACM SIGMOBILE Mobile Computing and Communications Review, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2002, pp. 9-12.
[3]	C. Krause, L. Sillanmaki, M. Koivisto, A. Haggqvist, C. Saarela, A. Revonsuo, M. Laine and H. Hamalainen, “Effects of Electromagnetic Field Emitted by Cellular Phones on the EEG during a Memory Task,” NeuroReport, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2000, pp. 761-764. doi:10.1097/00001756-200003200-00021
[4]	C. Krause, L. Sillanmaki, M. Koivisto, A. Haggqvist, C. Saarela, A. Revonsuo, M. Laine and H. Hamalainen, “Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by Cellular Phones on the Electroencephalogram during a Visual Working Memory Task,” International Journal of Radiation Biology, Vol. 76, No. 12, 2000, pp. 1659-1667. doi:10.1080/09553000050201154
[5]	N. Edelstyn and A. Oldershaw, “The Acute Effects of Exposure to the Electromagnetic Field Emitted by Mobile Phones on Human Attention,” NeuroReport, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2001, pp. 119-121. doi:10.1097/00001756-200201210-00028
[6]	T. M. C. Lee, S. M. Y. Ho, L. Y. H. Tsang, S. Y. C. Yang, L. S. W. Li and C. C. H. Chan, “Effect on Human Attention of Exposure to the Electromagnetic Field Emitted by Mobile Phones,” NeuroReport, Vol. 12, No. 4, 2001, pp. 729-731. doi:10.1097/00001756-200103260-00023
[7]	J. W. Smythe and B. Costall, “Mobile Phone Use Facilitates Memory in Male, but Not Female, Subjects,” NeuroReport, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2003, pp. 243-246. doi:10.1097/00001756-200302100-00017
[8]	I. Trosic and I. Busljeta, “Erythropoietic Dynamic Equilibrium in Rats Maintained after Microwave Irradiation,” Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 57, No. 3, 2006, pp. 247-251. doi:10.1016/j.etp.2005.08.002
[9]	B. D. Gorlitz, M. Muller, S. Ebert, H. Hecker, N. Kuster and C. Dasenbrock, “Effects of 1-Week and 6-Week Exposure to GSM/DCS Radiofrequency Radiation on Micronucleus Formation in B6C3F1,” Radiation Research, Vol. 164, No. 4, 2005, pp. 431-439. doi:10.1667/RR3440.1
[10]	H. Lai and N. P. Singh, “Interaction of Microwaves and a Temporally Incoherent Magnetic Field on Single and Double DNA Strand Breaks in Rat Brain Cells,” Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2005, pp. 23-29.
[11]	E. Diem, C. Schwarz, F. Adlkofer, O. Jahn and H. Rudiger, “Non-Thermal DNA Breakage by Mobile-Phone Radiation (1800MHz) in Human Fibroblasts,” Mutation Research, Vol. 583, No. 2, 2005, pp. 178-183.
[12]	M. Mashevich, D. Folkman, A. Kesar, A. Barbul, R. Korenstein, E. Jerby and L. Avivi, “Exposure of Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes to Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Cellular Phones Leads to Chromosomal Instability,” Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2003, pp. 82-90. doi:10.1002/bem.10086
[13]	R. R. Tice, G. G. Hook, M. Donner, D. I. McRee and A. W. Guy, “Genotoxicity of Radiofrequency Signals. I. Investigation of DNA Damage and Micronuclei Induction in Cultured Human Blood Cells,” Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2002, pp. 113-126. doi:10.1002/bem.104
[14]	L. Hardell, M. Carlberg and K. Mild, “Case-Control Study of the Association between the Use of Cellular and Cordless Telephones and Malignant Brain Tumors Diagnosed during 2000-2003,” Environmental Research, Vol. 100, No. 2, 2005, pp. 232-241.
[15]	S. Lonn, A. Ahlbom, P. Hall and M. Feychting, “Long- Term Mobile Phone Use and Brain Tumor Risk,” American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 161, No. 6, 2005, pp. 526-535. doi:10.1093/aje/kwi091
[16]	S. Lonn, A. Ahlbom, P. Hall and M. Feychting, “Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Acoustic Neuroma,” Epidemiology, Vol. 15, No. 6, 2004, pp. 653-659.
[17]	H. C. Christensen, J. Schüz, M. Kosteljanetz, H. S. Poul- sen, J. Thomsen and J. Johansen, “Cellular Telephone Use and Risk of Acoustic Neuroma,” American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 159, No. 3, 2004, pp. 277-283. doi:10.1093/aje/kwh032
[18]	L. Hardell, A. Hallquist, M. K. Hansson, M. Carlberg, A. Pahlson and A. Lilja, “Cellular and Cordless Telephones and the Risk for Brain Tumours,” European Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2002, pp. 377-386. doi:10.1097/00008469-200208000-00010
[19]	A. Auvinen, M. Hietanen, R. Luukkonen and R. S. Kos- kela, “Brain Tumors and Salivary Gland Cancers among Cellular Telephone Users,” Epidemiology, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2002, pp. 356-359. doi:10.1097/00001648-200205000-00018
[20]	J. E. Muscat, M. G. Malkin, S. Thompson, R. E. Shore, S. D. Stellman, D. McRee, A. I. Neugut and E. L. Wynder, “Handheld Cellular Telephone Use and Risk of Brain Cancer,” The Journal of American Medical Association, Vol. 284, No. 23, 2000, pp. 3001-3007. doi:10.1001/jama.284.23.3001
[21]	M. Lantow, J. Schuderer, C. Hartwig and M. Simko, “Free Radical Release and HSP70 Expression in Two Human Immune-Relevant Cell Lines after Exposure to 1800 MHz RFR,” Radiation Research, Vol. 165, No. 1, 2006, pp. 88-94. doi:10.1667/RR3476.1
[22]	M. Simko, C. Hartwig, M. Lantow, M. Lupke, M. O. Matts- son, Q. Rahman and J. Rollwitz, “Hsp70 Expression and Free Radical Release after Exposure to Non-Thermal Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Ultrafine Particles in Human Mono Mac 6 cells,” Toxicology Letters, Vol. 161, No. 1, 2006, pp. 73-82. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2005.08.005
[23]	W. Hamann, S. Abou-Sherif, S. Thompson and S. Hall, “Pulsed Radiofrequency Applied to Dorsal Root Ganglia Causes a Selective Increase in ATF3 in Small Neurons,” European. Journal of Pain, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2006, pp. 171- 176. doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2005.03.001
[24]	I. Sukhotina, J. R. Streckert, A. K. Bitz, V. W. Hansen and A. Lerchl, “1800 MHz Electromagnetic Field Effects on Melatonin Release from Isolated Pineal Glands,” Journal of Pineal Research, Vol. 40, No. 1, 2006, pp. 86- 91. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2005.00284.x
[25]	F. Ozguner, Y. Bardak and S. Comlekci, “Protective Effects of Melatonin and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester against Retinal Oxidative Stress in Long-Term Use of Mobile Phone—A Comparative Study,” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Vol. 282, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 83-88. doi:10.1007/s11010-006-1267-0
[26]	R. Sarimov, L. O. G. Malmgren, E. Markova, B. R. R. Persson and I. Y. Belyaev, “Nonthermal GSM Microwaves Affect Chromatin Conformation in Human Lymphocytes Similar to Heat Shock,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 32, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1600-1608. doi:10.1109/TPS.2004.832613
[27]	A. Di Carlo, N. White, F. Guo, P. Garrett and T. Litovitz, “Chronic Electromagnetic Field Exposure Decreases HSP70 Levels and Lowers Cytoprotection,” Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Vol. 84, No. 3, 2002, pp. 447-454. doi:10.1002/jcb.10036
[28]	R. Russo, E. Fox, C. Cinel, A. Boldini, M. A. Defeyter, D. Mirshekar-Syahkal and A. Mehta, “Does Acute Expowsure to Mobile Phones Affect Human Attention?” Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2005, pp. 215-220.
[29]	C. Haarala, M. Bergman, M. Laine, A. Revonsuo, M. Koivisto and H. Hamalainen, “Electromagnetic Field Emitted by 902 MHz Mobile Phones Shows No Effects on Children’s Cognitive Function,” Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 7, No. S7, 2005, pp. S144-S150. doi:10.1002/bem.20142
[30]	T. Janssen, P. von Boege, J. Mikusch-Buchberg and J. Raczek, “Investigation of Potential Effects of Cellular Phones on Human Auditory Function by Means of Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Children’s Cognitive Function, Vol. 117, No. 3, 2005, pp. 1241-1247. doi:10.1121/1.1854331
[31]	I. Uloziene, V. Uloza, E. Gradauskiene and V. Saferis, “Assessment of Potential Effects of the Electromagnetic Fields of Mobile Phones on Hearing,” BMC Public Health, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2005, p. 39. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-5-39
[32]	P. M. Monnery, E. I. Srouji and J. Bartlett, “Is Cochlear Outer Hair Cell Function Affected by Mobile Telephone Radiation?” Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, Vol. 29, No. 6, 2004, pp. 747-749. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2273.2004.00877.x
[33]	O. Celik and S. Hascalik, “Effect of Electromagnetic Field Emitted by Cellular Phones on Fetal Heart Rate Patterns,” European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Vol. 112, No. 1, 2004, pp. 55-56.