Effects of exposure to 2100 MHz GSM-like RF EMF on auditory system of rats

2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1411

ABR recordings did not differ significantly between exposed and control groups. Histopathology showed increased degeneration signs in the exposed group (p=0.007), and immunohistochemistry showed an increased apoptotic index in the exposed group (p=0.002).

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of exposure to 2100 MHz GSM-like RF EMF on auditory system of rats Çeliker M, Özgür A, Tümkaya L, Terzi S, Yılmaz M, Kalkan Y, Erdoğan E. Effects of exposure to 2100MHz GSM-like radiofrequency electromagnetic field on auditory system of rats. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Nov 5. pii: S1808- 8694(16)30222-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2016.10.004. Abstract INTRODUCTION: The use of mobile phones has become widespread in recent years. Although beneficial from the communication viewpoint, the electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by mobile phones may cause unwanted biological changes in the human body. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of 2100MHz Global System for Mobile communication (GSM-like) electromagnetic field (EMF), generated by an EMF generator, on the auditory system of rats by using electrophysiological, histopathologic and immunohistochemical methods. METHODS: Fourteen adult Wistar albino rats were included in the study. The rats were divided randomly into two groups of seven rats each. The study group was exposed continuously for 30days to a 2100MHz EMF with a signal level (power) of 5.4dBm (3.47mW) to simulate the talk mode on a mobile phone. The control group was not exposed to the aforementioned EMF. After 30days, the Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) of both groups were recorded and the rats were sacrificed. The cochlear nuclei were evaluated by histopathologic and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The ABR records of the two groups did not differ significantly. The histopathologic analysis showed increased degeneration signs in the study group (p=0.007). In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased apoptotic index in the study group compared to that in the control group (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The results support that long-term exposure to a GSM-like 2100MHz EMF causes an increase in neuronal degeneration and apoptosis in the auditory system. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 directionmixed

PopulationAdult Wistar albino rats

Sample size14

ExposureRF · 2100 MHz · continuous exposure for 30 days; signal level 5.4 dBm (3.47 mW)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR)
Histopathologic degeneration signs in cochlear nuclei
Immunohistochemical apoptotic index in cochlear nuclei

Limitations

Small sample size (n=14; 7 per group)
Exposure metric reported as signal level/power; SAR not reported
Animal study; applicability to humans not established in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 2100,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "continuous exposure for 30 days; signal level 5.4 dBm (3.47 mW)"
  },
  "population": "Adult Wistar albino rats",
  "sample_size": 14,
  "outcomes": [
    "Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR)",
    "Histopathologic degeneration signs in cochlear nuclei",
    "Immunohistochemical apoptotic index in cochlear nuclei"
  ],
  "main_findings": "ABR recordings did not differ significantly between exposed and control groups. Histopathology showed increased degeneration signs in the exposed group (p=0.007), and immunohistochemistry showed an increased apoptotic index in the exposed group (p=0.002).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=14; 7 per group)",
    "Exposure metric reported as signal level/power; SAR not reported",
    "Animal study; applicability to humans not established in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "2100 MHz",
    "GSM-like",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic field",
    "RF EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "rats",
    "auditory system",
    "auditory brainstem response",
    "cochlear nuclei",
    "histopathology",
    "immunohistochemistry",
    "apoptosis",
    "neuronal degeneration"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates GSM-like 2100 MHz exposure simulating mobile phone talk mode."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2016.10.004
PubMed: Not supplied

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