gms | German Medical Science

Though continuous and manifold exposition of the human population to electromagnetic fields, there is great uncertainty about the health risks of high frequency electromagnetic fields used by mobile telephone communication (HF-EMF).

Due to contradictory study results carcinogenic effects or the induction of psycho-vegetative symptoms are discussed greatly controversial. Owing to these circumstances the German Commission for Radiation Protection has specified thresholds in the year 2003 according to recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) from the year 1998. Provided that these thresholds of HF-EMFs are observed no health risks are assumed for healthy people. However, there are only a few studies inquiring the particular hazards for cochlear implant patients arising from the vicinity between inductive metal implant and brain on the one hand and the proximity between electronic parts of the cochlear implant and mobile phones on the other hand.

By means of a review of the current literature we analyzed health risks for cochlear implant patients resulting from mobile telephone utilization. We found that HF-EMFs are harmless provided that corresponding legal thresholds are observed. Consequently we found no restrictions for cochlear implant patients in the utilization of mobile telephone communication up to date.