Table 4 The literatures in the meta-analysis
Reference | Survey year | Method | Country/region | IEI-EMF definition | Case/population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schröttner et al., 2008 [19] | 1994 | NA | Austria | NA | 4/200 |
NA | Telephone survey | Persons were classified as EHS if they reported adverse health effects from EMF sources. | 16/526 | ||
Hillert et al., 2002 [15] | 1997 | Mailed questionnaire | Sweden/Stockholm | The respondents were asked to check all factors for which they were hypersensitive or allergic such as electric or magnetic fields. | 167/10605 |
Levallois et al., 2002 [12] | 1998 | Telephone survey | USA/California | “Allergic or very sensitive to getting near electrical appliances, computers or power lines.” | 68/2072 |
Schroeder et al., 2002 [32] | 2001 | Telephone survey | Germany | Questionnaire: “Are you worried about the electromagnetic fields emanating from mobile phone systems, cell phones or cordless phones, or are you even affected by these fields in your health?” | 120/2000 |
Korpinen et al., 2009 [30] | 2002 | Telephone survey | Finland | Self- reported physical symptoms associated with using mobile phones and other electrical devices. | 44/6111 |
Blettner et al., 2009 [25] | 2004 | Mailed questionnaire | Germany | Whether the participants believe that their health is adversely affected by mobile phone base stations. | 3095/30047 |
Schreier et al., 2006 [13] | 2004 | Telephone survey | Switzerland | Persons were classified as EHS individuals if they reported adverse health effects from an EMF source at the time of the interview or anytime in the past. | 107/2048 |
Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH (INFAS), 2006 [23] | 2003 | Telephone survey | Germany | Questionnaire: “Degree of anxiety and impairment due to electromagnetic fields of mobile radio, referring to different sources of electromagnetic fields, types of impairment.” | 200/2500 |
2004 | 225/2500 | ||||
2005 | 250/2502 | ||||
2006 | 225 /2500 | ||||
Lauff & Wachenfeld, 2014 [22] | 2009 | 250/2500 | |||
2013 | 181/2500 | ||||
Tseng et al., 2011 [14] | 2007 | Telephone survey | Taiwan | “While being near EMF sources such as mobile phone, electrical devices, or computer, will you feel allergic or sensitive?” | 170/1278 |
Röösli et al., 2010 [28] | 2008 | Web-based questionnaire | Switzerland | “Are you electrohypersensitive?” | 96/1122 |
2009 | 86/1122 | ||||
van Dongen et al., 2014 [29] | 2009–2010 | Web-based questionn | Netherlands/Amsterdam | “Do you believe you are sensitive to electromagnetic fields?” | 72/1009 |
Nordin et al., 2013 [27] | 2010 | Mailed questionnaire | Sweden/Västerbotten | The responders self-reported of having been diagnosed as IEI-EMF by a physician. | 15/3406 |
Baliatsas et al., 2014 [31] | 2011 | Mailed questionnaire | Netherlands | “I am sensitive to mobile phone base stations and devices related to communication systems”; “I am sensitive to electrical devices.” | 202/5789 |
Eltiti et al., 2007 [26] | NA | Mailed questionnaire | United Kingdom | “Are you sensitive to EMFs?” | 145/3625 |
Current | 2012–2013 | Telephone survey | Taiwan | “While being near EMF sources such as mobile phone, electrical devices, or computer, will you feel allergic or sensitive?” | 155/3303 |