Washington (ddp). The proximity to mobile radio antennas affects health apparently at most by psychological effects – of which outgoing radiation itself not harms the well-being at least in the short term. British researchers in a study with volunteers that sensitive according to electromagnetic radiation, and a control group without this sensitivity draw this conclusion. None of the two groups could reliably specify whether an antenna positioned in the room was turned on or not, the analysis showed. However, the knowledge, exposed to the radiation to be uneasiness, tension and fear caused in the sensitive subjects already. The symptoms that again and again be associated with mobile phone masts, thus rather on mental as physical effects on, write Stacy Eltiti of the University of Essex in Colchester and her colleagues in the journal “environmental health perspectives» (DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10286). By 158 participants of the study, 44 of which were convinced that the radiation in the vicinity of a mobile phone antenna would make them sick. Typical complaints are this nausea, headache and flu-like symptoms. Actually, these subjects complained during the study of ailments such as anxiety, tension, an increased heartbeat and sweating – but only if, the researchers previously had told them that the transmitter in the laboratory sends out radiation. If however neither the experimenters nor the participants knew whether the antenna was on or off, there was no clear link between radiation and well-being: the expression of complaints depended not on the actual power of the antenna, the researchers report. In addition, only two of the subjects in the sensitive group able to correctly specify, were when the transmitter on and when he was disabled – as well as five participants in the control group. At least short-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation have therefore no impact on the well-being, researchers conclude. It however cannot be ruled out, that there is so far unknown long-term effects. Previous studies on both issues had arrived to contradictory results, could not be reproduced or had experimental shortcomings, they explain. Despite the new findings, complaints, which are often attributed to cell phone antennas, should be taken not to light: because they represent a real reduction in the quality of life for those affected, should be – sought in the future more intensively for the actual causes whether this now psychic nature whether or not, the researchers write.