Are media warnings about the adverse health effects of modern life self-fulfilling? An experimental study on idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF)

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Abstract

Objective

Medically unsubstantiated ‘intolerances’ to foods, chemicals and environmental toxins are common and are frequently discussed in the media. Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) is one such condition and is characterized by symptoms that are attributed to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). In this experiment, we tested whether media reports promote the development of this condition.

Methods

Participants (N = 147) were randomly assigned to watch a television report about the adverse health effects of WiFi (n = 76) or a control film (n = 71). After watching their film, participants received a sham exposure to a WiFi signal (15 min). The principal outcome measure was symptom reports following the sham exposure. Secondary outcomes included worries about the health effects of EMF, attributing symptoms to the sham exposure and increases in perceived sensitivity to EMF.

Results

82 (54%) of the 147 participants reported symptoms which they attributed to the sham exposure. The experimental film increased: EMF related worries (β = 0.19; P = .019); post sham exposure symptoms among participants with high pre-existing anxiety (β = 0.22; P = .008); the likelihood of symptoms being attributed to the sham exposure among people with high anxiety (β = .31; P = .001); and the likelihood of people who attributed their symptoms to the sham exposure believing themselves to be sensitive to EMF (β = 0.16; P = .049).

Conclusion

Media reports about the adverse effects of supposedly hazardous substances can increase the likelihood of experiencing symptoms following sham exposure and developing an apparent sensitivity to it. Greater engagement between journalists and scientists is required to counter these negative effects.

Introduction

Mass media reports concerning the possible health effects of weak electromagnetic fields (EMF) often focus on the issue of ‘idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields’ (IEI-EMF). People with IEI-EMF typically suffer from a diverse range of nonspecific physical symptoms (e.g., headache, dizziness, burning skin, tingling; [1]) that they attribute to their exposure to the EMF emitted by, for example, mobile phones, mobile phone base stations, power lines and WiFi [2], [3]. IEI-EMF is often associated with occupational and social impairments [4], [5]. In its more extreme form, IEI-EMF can result in people withdrawing almost entirely from modern society in order to avoid electrical devices. People with severe forms of IEI-EMF are regularly featured in news reports on the issue [6].

Less commonly featured is the strong body of evidence from experimental studies which have tested whether exposure to EMF triggers symptoms [7]. Double-blind provocation studies have shown that people with IEI-EMF are unable to detect the presence of EMF and that their symptoms are as likely to be triggered by sham exposure to EMF as by real exposure [8], [9], [10]. A number of studies have demonstrated that these symptoms can be related to the so-called nocebo effect [11], [12], [13]. Given this, it has been suggested that psychological mechanisms play an important role in the etiology of the condition [14]. According to this theory, anxiety about EMF coupled with an expectation that symptoms will develop following exposure to an electromagnetic stimulus might initially cause people's symptoms to occur via a nocebo effect. Expectations and worry may also increase the likelihood of symptoms being attributed to the electromagnetic stimulus and of a person deciding that they are sensitive to EMF. There is some evidence that these effects may be more likely among people with pre-existing negative affect or somatization, and among people who are prone to somatosensory amplification [13], [14], [15]. The frequent reports carried by the mass media presumably also contribute to the development of IEI-EMF [16], although this supposition has yet to be experimentally tested. In line with this hypothesis is the finding from epidemiological studies that media reports in the aftermath of disasters (e.g., nuclear accidents, terrorist attacks) have significantly increased symptom reports and health care utilization [17], [18], [19]. Therefore, it is timely to test such associations for IEI-EMF as well, in an experimental setting.

In this study, we tested whether watching a real television report from the UK which promoted a link between exposure to WiFi and symptoms would increase: concern about EMF; the likelihood of participants developing symptoms following a sham exposure to a “new type of WiFi signal;” the likelihood of symptoms being attributed to the exposure; and the likelihood of a participant believing themselves to be sensitive to EMF as a result. We also tested whether effects on worry, symptoms or attributions were strongest in people with pre-existing anxiety or somatization, or who were predisposed to somatosensory amplification. Finally, we tested whether increases in perceived sensitivity to EMF were most evident among people who attributed symptoms to the sham exposure.

Section snippets

Study design

We used a between-groups experiment. Participants were randomly assigned after enrollment into the study to watch either a television report about the adverse health effects of WiFi or a control condition involving a report of the same length but relating to the security of mobile phone data transmission. Randomization was performed by using a computerized random number generator. After watching the report, all participants received the same 15 minute sham exposure to a WiFi signal. Testing took

Results

We enrolled 150 participants. Two were excluded from our final analysis due to equipment failure and one was excluded due to implausibly rapid responses to our questionnaire. Table 1, Table 2 show the personal characteristics for the 147 participants included in the analyses and their mean scores on our questionnaires.

Discussion

Mass media reports concerning the possible adverse health effects of modern technologies are common [16]. Our study demonstrated that these reports not only elevate levels of concern among the public, they can also increase the likelihood of someone reporting symptoms following exposure to an innocuous substance and increase the likelihood of them attributing their symptoms to that substance. In line with previous reports [13], [31], these effects were strongest in people with higher

Conflict of interest statement

G. James Rubin (GJR) has received payment from the Church of England for expert testimony relating to the installation of WiFi equipment on Church property. Other than this all authors have completed the Unified Competing Interest form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare that (1) GJR and Michael Witthöft (MW) had no support from any that might have an interest in the submitted work for the submitted work; (2) GJR and MW have had

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a fellowship within the Postdoctoral Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) awarded to MW and by a grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG, WI 3666/2-1). The funders played no role in study design; the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; writing the report; or in the decision to publish. The authors are fully independent of the funders.

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