Baz istasyonlarının olası sağlık etkilerine ilişkin bir güncelleme/An update on the possible health effects of mobile phone base stations

Amac: Bu derlemenin amaci baz istasyonlarinin insan sagligina etkilerini inceleyen uluslararasi ve guncel bilimsel yayinlari derleyerek bu konudaki bilimsel bilgi gereksinimini karsilamaya katkida bulunmaktir. Yontem: 27 Eylul 2012 tarihine dek PubMed ve Google Scholar arama motorunda “baz istasyonu”, “saglik etkileri” anahtar sozcukleri kullanilarak bulunan yayinlar ve bu yayinlarin kaynakcalarindan yararlanilarak elde edilen calismalar icinden toplam 22 orijinal arastirma makalesini derlemeye dahil edilmistir. Bulgular: Arastirmalarin 15’inde farkli saglik gostergeleri ile elektromanyetik alan (EMA) arasinda iliski saptandigi gorulmektedir. Calismalarin dordunde herhangi bir iliski saptanmamis, ucunde ise kurulan hipotez tam dogrulanmamistir. Arastirmalarin 11’i baz istasyonu kaynakli EMA’nin akut, sekizi kronik, ucu de hem akut hem kronik saglik etkilerini incelemistir. Alti arastirmada EMA olcumu yapilmamis, siddetinin dolayli gostergesi olarak mesafe kullanilmistir. Bir calismada olcum yapilmis ancak saglik verileri mesafe uzerinden degerlendirilmistir. Arastirmalarin 12 tanesi bir kurum ya da kurulustan finansal destek almistir. Calismalardan iki tanesinin finansmaninin yarisi cep telefonu firmalari tarafindan yapilmistir. Calismalarin alti tanesi deneysel arastirma tipindedir ve uc calismada doz-yanit iliskisi bulunmaktadir. Sonuc ve Oneriler: Arastirmalar baz istasyonun saglik riski tasiyabilecegine iliskin isaretler gostermektedir. Uyku bozuklugu, depresif semptomlar, bas agrisi, bas donmesi, konsantrasyon guclugu, en sik tespit edilen semptomlardir. Bu alanda yapilacak ileriye donuk izlem calismalarina ihtiyac bulunmaktadir. Baz istasyonlariyla ilgili sinir degerler akut etkiler goz onunde bulundurularak yapilmistir. Uzun erimde baz istasyonu antenlerinin isima acisi icinde kalan kisilerde, maruz kalinan sure, baz istasyonuna olan mesafe, yayilan elektromanyetik alanin siddeti ve kisisel vucut direncleri ile iliskili olarak baz istasyonlarina bagli saglik etkilerinin gelisme olasiligi goz onunde bulundurularak toplumun sagligini koruyacak yaklasimlar benimsenmelidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Baz istasyonu, elektromanyetik alan, saglik etkisi An update on the possible health effects of mobile phone base stations Objective : This study reviews the up-to-date international literature on the health impacts of mobile phone base stations. Methods: A literature search was conducted up to September 27, 2012 in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords "base station" and "health".The references in the articles found were also used and a total of 22 original research papers were identified and included in this review. Results: Among the studies found, 15 have detected an association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and different health indicators. Four of the studies have not found any association and the hypothesis was not totally confirmed. Eleven of the studies have investigated the acute, 8 the chronic and three both the acute and chronic effects of base stations on health. EMF measurements were not conducted in six of the studies and distance to base stations was used as a proxy instead. One of the studies measured EMF but used distance to investigate the health impacts. Twelve of the studies had received financial support from funds or institutions. Half of the funding of two studies was from cellular phone companies. Six of the studies were experimental and three of these found a dose-response relationship. Conclusions : Studies are showing signs of possible health risks due to base stations. Sleep disorders, depressive symptoms, headache, dizziness, concentration difficulties are the most frequently identified symptoms. There is need for prospective studies in this field. The international limit values regarding base stations are based on acute effects. In the long run, people living in the radiation angle of the phone masts may develop health problems depending on the time exposed, distance to base stations, the level of the EMF and their somatic resistance. In view of these possibilities, a protective approach towards community health should be adopted. Key Words : Base station, phone mast, electromagnetic field, health impacts/effects