Radioprotection in prenatal care using a nonwoven fabric with electromagnetic shielding property

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1618

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Radioprotection in prenatal care using a nonwoven fabric with electromagnetic shielding property Sahmelikoglu, AG, Karakas S, Tellioglu AM, Acer, N, Bilgen M. Radioprotection in prenatal care using a nonwoven fabric with electromagnetic shielding property. Erciyes Medical Journal. 41(4):444-449.Dec 2019. Abstract Objective: Electromagnetic shielding fabrics (EMSFs) have been marketed by several manufacturers within the past few years. However, their efficacies in protecting living organisms against the harmful effects of EM noise have yet to be established. The aim of the present study was to accomplish this task with novel in vivo experiments where fetal development and the pathological consequences of wearing protective fabric against EM radiation during pregnancy were investigated. Materials and Methods: Nine pregnant rats were equally divided into three groups. Sham controls were kept unexposed, but the remaining six were subjected to EM radiation at 900 MHz for 1 h daily throughout the pregnancy. However, three of the rats were protected by a nonwoven fabric manufactured locally and characterized previously. After birth, the kidneys of newborns were extracted and evaluated by histopathology. Histometry data were analyzed statistically. Results: EM exposure affected the kidney structure and morphology as revealed by the disruption of glomerular basement membrane continuity, increased Bowman capsule and proximal tubule sizes (from 15.01 +/- 2.56 mu m to 29.94 +/- 4.42 mu m), and thickened cortex and medulla (from 261.13 +/- 4.10 mu m to 284.57 +/- 10.93 pm for cortex and from 594.25 +/- 23.48 pm to 732.61 +/- 20.46 mu m for medulla). However, the effects were significantly attenuated in those kidneys placed behind the fabric. Conclusion: EMSF effectively protects the fetal kidney against EM radiation at 900 MHz during the developmental phase and possibly at other frequencies and for other organs. It is advisable to wear such fabrics during pregnancy when EM pollution is of significant concern. Open access paper: journalagent.com

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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

PopulationPregnant rats and newborn rat kidneys (offspring)

Sample size9

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1 h daily throughout pregnancy

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 900 MHz EM radiation (1 h/day during pregnancy) showed kidney structural/morphological changes in offspring, including disrupted glomerular basement membrane continuity, increased Bowman capsule and proximal tubule sizes, and increased cortex and medulla thickness. These effects were reported as significantly attenuated in offspring kidneys when exposure occurred with shielding by the nonwoven fabric.

Outcomes measured

Fetal/newborn kidney histopathology and morphology (glomerular basement membrane continuity, Bowman capsule size, proximal tubule size, cortex thickness, medulla thickness)
Effect of electromagnetic shielding nonwoven fabric on EM-radiation-associated kidney changes

Limitations

Small sample size (nine pregnant rats total; three groups of three)
Exposure metric beyond frequency and duration not reported (e.g., SAR/power density)
Only one organ outcome assessed (newborn kidneys)
Animal model; generalizability to humans not established

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h daily throughout pregnancy"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant rats and newborn rat kidneys (offspring)",
  "sample_size": 9,
  "outcomes": [
    "Fetal/newborn kidney histopathology and morphology (glomerular basement membrane continuity, Bowman capsule size, proximal tubule size, cortex thickness, medulla thickness)",
    "Effect of electromagnetic shielding nonwoven fabric on EM-radiation-associated kidney changes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 900 MHz EM radiation (1 h/day during pregnancy) showed kidney structural/morphological changes in offspring, including disrupted glomerular basement membrane continuity, increased Bowman capsule and proximal tubule sizes, and increased cortex and medulla thickness. These effects were reported as significantly attenuated in offspring kidneys when exposure occurred with shielding by the nonwoven fabric.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (nine pregnant rats total; three groups of three)",
    "Exposure metric beyond frequency and duration not reported (e.g., SAR/power density)",
    "Only one organ outcome assessed (newborn kidneys)",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans not established"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic shielding fabric",
    "nonwoven fabric",
    "radioprotection",
    "pregnancy",
    "prenatal care",
    "rat",
    "900 MHz",
    "RF exposure",
    "kidney histopathology",
    "fetal development"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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