Electromagnetic Waves from Mobile Phones may Affect Rat Brain During Development

2021 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1123

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic Waves from Mobile Phones may Affect Rat Brain During Development Dilek Akakin, Olgu Enis Tok, Damla Anil, Akin Akakin, Serap Sirvanci, Goksel Sener, Feriha Ercan. Electromagnetic Waves from Mobile Phones may Affect Rat Brain During Development. Turk Neurosurg. 2021;31(3):412-421. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.31665-20.2. Abstract Aim: To investigate the effects of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) from mobile phones (MPs) on rat brains of rats by morphological and biochemical analysis. Material and methods: EMW was applied for two hours/day until birth in stand-by fetal and EMW fetal groups and postnatal 60th day in stand-by and EMW groups. The control group was not exposed to MP. On postnatal 60th day, brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured, and western blot analysis was performed to determine glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and GFAP immunohistochemistry were applied. Trigeminal nerves were examined using the transmission electron microscope. Results: In comparison to controls, rats exposed to MP in stand-by or talk modes had significantly increased neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus. Increased MDA levels in the EMW group and decreased GSH levels in the stand-by, EMW fetal and EMW groups were found compared with controls. Increased GFAP content in the EMW group and increased GFAP staining in the EMW fetal and EMW groups compared to controls were observed. EMW group had a significantly decreased number of myelinated axons than control animals. Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that 1800 MHz EMWs (SAR=1.79 W/kg) exposure in the prenatal and early postnatal life may lead to trigeminal nerve damage in addition to oxidative stress-induced neuronal degeneration and astroglial activation in the rat brain. Effects seem to be mode related, being more detrimental in groups exposed to MP during talk mode. Open access paper: turkishneurosurgery.org.tr

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationRats (prenatal and early postnatal exposure)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 1.79 W/kg · 2 hours/day until birth (fetal groups) and until postnatal day 60 (postnatal groups); stand-by or talk modes

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, rats exposed to mobile phone EMWs in stand-by or talk modes showed significantly increased neuronal damage in cortex and hippocampus. The EMW group had increased MDA and increased GFAP content, while GSH levels were decreased in stand-by, EMW fetal, and EMW groups; the EMW group also had fewer myelinated axons than controls. The authors conclude prenatal and early postnatal 1800 MHz exposure (SAR 1.79 W/kg) may lead to trigeminal nerve damage, oxidative stress-related neuronal degeneration, and astroglial activation, with talk mode appearing more detrimental than stand-by.

Outcomes measured

Neuronal damage in cortex and hippocampus (histology)
Brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels
Brain glutathione (GSH) levels
GFAP content (western blot)
GFAP immunohistochemistry staining
Trigeminal nerve ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)
Number of myelinated axons

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure characterization beyond frequency/SAR (e.g., dosimetry details) not provided in abstract
Randomization/blinding not described in abstract
Statistical details and effect sizes not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 1.79,
    "duration": "2 hours/day until birth (fetal groups) and until postnatal day 60 (postnatal groups); stand-by or talk modes"
  },
  "population": "Rats (prenatal and early postnatal exposure)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Neuronal damage in cortex and hippocampus (histology)",
    "Brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels",
    "Brain glutathione (GSH) levels",
    "GFAP content (western blot)",
    "GFAP immunohistochemistry staining",
    "Trigeminal nerve ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)",
    "Number of myelinated axons"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, rats exposed to mobile phone EMWs in stand-by or talk modes showed significantly increased neuronal damage in cortex and hippocampus. The EMW group had increased MDA and increased GFAP content, while GSH levels were decreased in stand-by, EMW fetal, and EMW groups; the EMW group also had fewer myelinated axons than controls. The authors conclude prenatal and early postnatal 1800 MHz exposure (SAR 1.79 W/kg) may lead to trigeminal nerve damage, oxidative stress-related neuronal degeneration, and astroglial activation, with talk mode appearing more detrimental than stand-by.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure characterization beyond frequency/SAR (e.g., dosimetry details) not provided in abstract",
    "Randomization/blinding not described in abstract",
    "Statistical details and effect sizes not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "prenatal exposure",
    "postnatal exposure",
    "mobile phone",
    "1800 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "oxidative stress",
    "MDA",
    "GSH",
    "GFAP",
    "astroglial activation",
    "neuronal damage",
    "trigeminal nerve",
    "myelinated axons",
    "talk mode",
    "stand-by mode"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure source is mobile phones (stand-by and talk modes) at 1800 MHz."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.jtn.31665-20.2
PubMed: Not supplied

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