PhD thesis defense of Layla Jamal

Layla Jamal succesfully defended her PhD on October 27th at Ineris. The subject of her PhD research is “Effects of the 5th generation radio frequencies of 3.5 GHz on the electrical activity of the brain and on the autonomic nervous system in healthy volunteers ”. Congratulations Dr. Jamal!

Abstract

The fifth generation (5G) of radio frequencies (RF) was implemented worldwide to offer faster connections among other benefits. The band of 3.4 GHz to 3.8 GHz was the first deployed in Europe. Higher frequencies up to 26 GHz will be later introduced. However, the health impacts of 5G networks are under speculation since the published studies tackling this subject are limited and likely don’t represent the current regulatory and safety limits imposed by health organizations.

Accordingly, this project seeks to explore the electrical brain activity along with other parameters of the autonomous nervous system (ANS) of healthy human participants when exposed to a generated 3.5 GHz frequency within the current outdoor exposure levels. For this purpose, 34 young adults were included under strict criteria. They partook into two blinded, and randomised sessions, containing a baseline and a post-exposure period with no RF. Both were separated by either a “genuine” or a “sham” exposure phase. The frequencies were pulse-modulated and antenna-emitted in an electrically shielded and dim-lit room.

Electroencephalograms (EEGs), Electrocardiograms (ECGs), and body temperature were continuously acquired in a resting awake and seated position. In addition, electrodermal activity (EDA) was also recorded during repeated vocal stimuli. Moreover, salivary samples were collected before and after each recording period to assess the levels of biochemical markers related directly or indirectly to stress, namely cortisol, alpha-amylase, and chromogranin-A biomarkers.

According to our data analysis, 3.5 GHz exposure did not reveal any significant differences in the explored ANS parameters. Therefore, according to our study conditions, we conclude that this frequency band do not seem to have an impact on the studied physiological functions. However, longer exposure periods and higher 5G frequencies are still to be evaluated in the future.

Keywords

Radio frequencies; 5G; human; autonomous nervous system; electrical brain activity; electrocardiograms; skin conductance; skin temperature.

Jury members: 

Ms Maie BACHMANN, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia – Reviewer

Mr. István HERNÁDI, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary – Reviewer

Ms. Sabine FRANÇOIS, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France – Examiner

Mr. Said AHMAIDI, Univeristé de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France – Examiner

Mr. Brahim SELMAOUI, Ineris, Verneuil en Halatte, France – PhD supervisor