Impact of Chronic Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Neurophysiological Development in the Preterm Neonate

Overview

The massive use of highly technological devices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units may expose preterm neonates to electromagnetic fields, especially radiofrequencies, at low doses but continuously and chronically. Strikingly, the effect of long-term exposure to radiofrequencies on the neurophysiological development of preterm neonates has never been studied so far. The only studies on the impact of chronic exposure to radiofrequencies have been conducted in animals or adult humans, whereas preterm infants may be particularly vulnerable due to increased penetration of radiofrequency waves into the brain during a crucial period of neurodevelopment. The present project will aim at 1) quantifying individual levels of chronic exposure (during 6 weeks) to which preterm neonates are subjected during their stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 2) following the evolution of the thermal environment and of the clinical parameters of the neonates after birth, 3) identifying potential alterations of neurophysiological activity (sleep, cerebral hemodynamics, autonomic nervous activity) which will be correlated to actual levels of chronic RF-EMF (radiofrequency electromagnetic fields) exposure.

Preterm infants are potentially exposed to chronic, low levels of electromagnetic fields, especially radiofrequencies, while hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. Moreover, they may be particularly vulnerable due to increased penetration of radiofrequency waves into the brain during a crucial period of neurodevelopment. This study will aim at evaluating the influence of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on the neurophysiological development in preterm neonates. The first part of this study will be devoted to the measurement of environmental electromagnetic fields in order to map their distribution in the paediatric department. From birth and during 6 weeks, the investigators will perform, for each child, a continuous measurement of radiofrequencies at the incubator level. Infants' clinical data (medical history, nutrition, morphology...) and the evolution of the thermal environment in incubators (air and body temperatures) will also be continually monitored. At 3 and 6 weeks of life, the investigators will investigate sleep (EEG, EOG), cerebral hemodynamics (near-infrared spectroscopy), autonomic nervous system activity (ECG, heart rate variability) and various cardiorespiratory parameters (SpO2, apnoea, bradycardia) thanks to a night-time polysomnography. The impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields will be evaluated by analyses of the relationship between exposure levels and the various parameters extracted from the neurophysiological investigation phase.