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Table 2 Mobile phone consumption characteristics of participating students (n, %)

From: Mobile phone use, school electromagnetic field levels and related symptoms: a cross-sectional survey among 2150 high school students in Izmir

Characteristic

n

% among users (n = 2021)

% among all (n = 2150)

Mobile phone use

 Does not use a mobile phone

129

-

6.0

 Uses a mobile phone

2021

100.0

94.0

Number of calls per day (n = 1915)

  < 1 call

498

26.0

24.4

 1–4 calls

1103

57.6

54.0

 5–9 calls

219

11.4

10.7

  ≥ 10 calls

95

5.0

4.6

Total duration of calls per day

  < 5 min

583

31.1

29.1

 5–9 min

344

18.3

17.2

 10–30 min

715

38.1

35.6

  > 30 min

234

12.5

11.7

Use of earphones during calls

 Yes, always

17

0.9

0.8

 Yes, frequently/ sometimes

346

17.5

16.4

 Yes, rarely

352

17.8

16.7

 No, never

1265

63.9

60.0

Total number of text messages per day

 No text message

59

3.1

2.9

  < 15

386

20.5

19.2

 15–74

456

24.2

22.7

 75–199

435

23.1

21.6

 200+ text messages

548

29.1

27.2

Connecting to the internet via mobile phone

 No

1768

89.2

83.8

 Yes

214

10.8

10.1

Use of promotions

 No

549

28.0

26.2

 Yes

1414

72.0

67.6

Type of tariff plan

 Prepaid

1909

95.3

88.8

 Bill

75

3.7

3.5

 Both types

20

1.0

0.9

SAR value of mobile phone (n = 1573)

  < 0.50

165

10.5

9.7

 0.50- < 0.75

697

44.3

41.0

 0.75- < 1.00

473

30.1

27.8

  ≥ 1.00

238

15.1

14.0

Status and position of mobile phone at night

 Off

303

21.8

19.9

 On, ≥1 m away

538

38.6

35.7

 On, 25-99 cm away

261

18.8

17.2

 On, 0–24 cm away

202

14.5

13.3

 On, distance not specified

88

6.3

5.9

Position of phone during daytime

 On daily clothes or belta

1114

61.6

51.8

 In their bag

295

16.3

13.7

 In the pocket of overcoat or jacket

223

12.3

10.4

 Combinations of the three above

67

3.7

3.2

 In the hand

24

1.3

1.1

 Does not carry; leaves at home or in a furniture at school

86

4.8

4.4

Status of phone while studying

 Off

159

9.2

8.5

 On/silent mode ≥ 1 m away

292

16.8

15.8

 On/silent mode < 1 m away

111

6.4

6.0

 On/silent mode on himself

1174

67.6

63.1

Charges phone in which mode

 Off

295

16.4

15.9

 On

1503

83.6

78.6

Makes calls while charging

 No

864

47.5

45.2

 Yes

954

52.5

49.3

  1. aOnly five students reported carrying on their belt