{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]],"date-time":"2026-02-09T04:33:10Z","timestamp":1770611590698,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"Walter de Gruyter GmbH","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2015,1,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title><jats:p>In 1970, a report from the former Soviet Union described the \u201cmicrowave syndrome\u201d among military personnel, working with radio and radar equipment, who showed symptoms that included fatigue, dizziness, headaches, problems with concentration and memory, and sleep disturbances. Similar symptoms were found in the 1980s among Swedes working in front of cathode ray tube monitors, with symptoms such as flushing, burning, and tingling of the skin, especially on the face, but also headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and photosensitivity. The same symptoms are reported in Finns, with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) being attributed to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Of special concern is involuntary exposure to radiofrequency (RF)-EMF from different sources. Most people are unaware of this type of exposure, which has no smell, color, or visibility. There is an increasing concern that wireless use of laptops and iPads in Swedish schools, where some have even abandoned textbooks, will exacerbate the exposure to EMF.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title><jats:p>We have surveyed the literature on different aspects of EHS and potential adverse health effects of RF-EMF. This is exemplified by case reports from two students and one teacher who developed symptoms of EHS in schools using Wi-Fi.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title><jats:p>In population-based surveys, the prevalence of EHS has ranged from 1.5% in Sweden to 13.3% in Taiwan. Provocation studies on EMF have yielded different results, ranging from where people with EHS cannot discriminate between an active RF signal and placebo, to objectively observed changes following exposure in reactions of the pupil, changes in heart rhythm, damage to erythrocytes, and disturbed glucose metabolism in the brain. The two students and the teacher from the case reports showed similar symptoms, while in school environments, as those mentioned above.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion:<\/jats:title><jats:p>Austria is the only country with a written suggestion to guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems. Apart from this, EHS is not recognized as a specific diagnosis in the rest of the world, and no established treatment exists.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title><jats:p>It seems necessary to give an International Classification of Diseases to EHS to get it accepted as EMF-related health problems. The increasing exposure to RF-EMF in schools is of great concern and needs better attention. Longer-term health effects are unknown. Parents, teachers, and school boards have the responsibility to protect children from unnecessary exposure.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1515\/reveh-2015-0012","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,9,15]],"date-time":"2015-09-15T17:00:49Z","timestamp":1442336449000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["Electromagnetic hypersensitivity \u2013 an increasing challenge to the medical profession"],"prefix":"10.1515","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Lena","family":"Hedendahl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Carlberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lennart","family":"Hardell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"374","reference":[{"key":"ref401","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/15368378.2015.1038832","article-title":"International policy and advisory response regarding children s exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields","author":"Redmayne","journal-title":"Electromagn Biol Med"},{"key":"ref321","first-page":"414","article-title":"Electromagnetic hypersensitivity fact or fiction","volume":"12","author":"Genuis","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"ref201","first-page":"332","article-title":"Are some people sensitive to mobile phone signals ? 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reported electromagnetic field sensitivity in a population - based study","author":"Tseng","year":"2011","journal-title":"Taiwan J Formos Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref611","first-page":"735","article-title":"Do airway base station signals have a short impact on health and well - being randomized double - blind provocation study","author":"Wallace","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ Health"},{"key":"ref151","first-page":"105","article-title":"Taking refuge from modernity st century hermits","volume":"21","author":"Boyd","year":"2012","journal-title":"Soc Med"},{"key":"ref551","first-page":"28","article-title":"Prevalence of self - reported hypersensitivity to electric or magnetic fields in a population - based questionnaire survey","author":"Hillert","year":"2002","journal-title":"Work Environ Health"},{"key":"ref381","article-title":"International Agency for Research on Cancer Non ionizing radiation part radiofrequency electromagnetic fields IARC Monographs Volume Available at http monographs iarc fr ENG Monographs vol mono pdf Accessed on","volume":"12","author":"Lyon","year":"2013","journal-title":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"ref361","first-page":"622","article-title":"Feinmesser Hilly Is human saliva an indicator of the adverse health effects of using mobile phones Signal","volume":"18","author":"Hamzany","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref671","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1080\/09553000600840922","article-title":"Mobile phone effects on children s event - 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reported hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields in California","volume":"23","author":"Levallois","year":"2002","journal-title":"Environ Health"},{"key":"ref251","first-page":"1","article-title":"PA Free radicals in electromagnetic hypersensitivity simple and sensitive method for assay of damage to erythrocytes caused by free radicals","author":"\u00d6ckerman","year":"2000","journal-title":"Clin Pract Altern Med"},{"key":"ref371","first-page":"1","article-title":"International Agency for Research on Cancer Non ionizing radiation part static and extremely low frequency ELF electric and magnetic fields IARC Monographs Volume Available at http monographs iarc fr ENG Monographs vol mono pdf Accessed on","volume":"12","author":"Lyon","year":"2002","journal-title":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"ref651","first-page":"305","article-title":"Effects of cell phone radiofrequency signal exposure on brain glucose metabolism","volume":"13","author":"Volkow","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref681","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1016\/S0167-8760(01)00141-6","article-title":"Mild Neurophysiological study of patients with perceived electrical hypersensitivity","author":"Lyskov","year":"2001","journal-title":"Int J Psychophysiol"},{"key":"ref561","first-page":"110","article-title":"Study of self - 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Ionizing Radiation Protection Guidelines for limiting exposure to time - varying electric magnetic and electromagnetic fields up to GHz","author":"ICNIRP","year":"1998","journal-title":"Health Phys"},{"key":"ref271","article-title":"after mobile phone exposure in subjects with mobile phone - related symptoms","volume":"32","author":"Lowden","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sleep Bioelectromagnetics"},{"key":"ref761","first-page":"1","article-title":"International Agency for Research on Cancer Non ionizing radiation part static and extremely low frequency ELF electric and magnetic fields IARC Monographs Volume Available at http monographs iarc fr ENG Monographs vol mono pdf Accessed on","volume":"12","author":"Lyon","year":"2002","journal-title":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"ref21","first-page":"117","article-title":"Electromagnetic hypersensitive symptoms perceived sources and treatments a questionnaire study Pathophysiology","volume":"20","author":"Hagstr\u00f6m","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref141","first-page":"121","article-title":"Electromagnetic hypersensitivity evidence for a novel neurological syndrome","author":"McCarty","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int J"},{"key":"ref181","first-page":"202","article-title":"The prevalence of symptoms attributed to electromagnetic field exposure : a cross - sectional representative survey in Switzerland","author":"Schreier","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref111","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3999(99)00048-3","article-title":"Hypersensitivity to electricity : working definition and additional characterization of the syndrome","author":"Hillert","year":"1999","journal-title":"J Psychosom Res"},{"key":"ref641","first-page":"1","article-title":"PA Free radicals in electromagnetic hypersensitivity simple and sensitive method for assay of damage to erythrocytes caused by free radicals","author":"\u00d6ckerman","year":"2000","journal-title":"Clin Pract Altern Med"},{"key":"ref231","first-page":"218","article-title":"Fetal and neonatal responses following maternal exposure to mobile phones","volume":"29","author":"Rezk","year":"2008","journal-title":"Saudi Med J"},{"key":"ref591","first-page":"332","article-title":"Are some people sensitive to mobile phone signals ? 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