Endocrine Abstracts

Background: In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has lead to a public debate about possible detrimental effects on human health. In spite of years of research, there is still a great controversy regarding the possibility of induction of any significant physiological effects in humans by microwave radiations emitted by mobile phones. This study is an attempt to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields induced by GSM mobile phones on the TSH and thyroid hormones in humans.

Materials and methods: Seventy seven healthy university students participated in this study. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH were measured by using appropriate ELISA kits (Human, Germany).

Results: The average levels of T3, T4 and TSH in the students who moderately used mobile phones were 1.25±0.27 ng/ml, 7.76±1.73 μg/dl and 4.25±2.12 μu/l respectively. These levels in the students who severely used mobile phones were 1.18±0.30, 7.75±1.14 and 3.75±2.05 respectively. In non-users, these levels were 1.15±0.27, 8.42±2.72 and 2.70±1.75, respectively. The difference among the levels of TSH in these 3 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on our findings; a higher than normal TSH level, low mean T4 and normal T3 concentration in mobile users, it seems that minor degrees of thyroid dysfunction with a compensatory rise in TSH may occur following excessive use of mobile phones. It may be concluded that possible deleterious effects of mobile microwaves on hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis affects the levels of these hormones.