RF Safe

Prenatal Effects of a 1,800-MHz Electromagnetic Field on Rat Livers

2019 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1630

Compared with unexposed controls, prenatal 1,800-MHz EMF exposure (6/12/24 h daily for 20 days) was associated with higher liver malondialdehyde and total oxidant status and lower liver glutathione and total antioxidant status (all p<0.05). Serum Ca2+, alanin…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Prenatal Effects of a 1,800-MHz Electromagnetic Field on Rat Livers Tumkaya L, Yilmaz A, Akyildiz K, Mercantepe T, Yazici ZA, Yilmaz H. Prenatal Effects of a 1,800-MHz Electromagnetic Field on Rat Livers. Cells Tissues Organs. 2019 Dec 4:1-9. doi: 10.1159/000504506. Abstract The use of devices, including mobile phones, generating electromagnetic fields (EMF) is widespread and is progressively increasing. It has also been shown that EMF may have detrimental effects. This is the first study to investigate the postnatal biochemical and histological effects of prenatal exposure of rat livers to 1,800-MHz EMF at different time intervals in uteroplacental life. The 3 EMF groups of rats were exposed to 1,800-MHz EMF for 6, 12, or 24 h daily for 20 days. Unexposed rats served as control group. All rats were subjected to anesthesia, and on postnatal day 60, the livers were excised, and blood was collected for histological and biochemical analyses. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in the exposed groups than the unexposed controls (p < 0.05). In contrast, EMF-exposed groups had lower liver tissue glutathione levels than controls (p < 0.05). Serum Ca2+, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher in EMF-exposed groups than controls (p < 0.05). In addition, liver tissue total oxidant status levels were increased (p < 0.05), and liver tissue total antioxidant status levels were decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Furthermore, in the EMF groups, extensive vacuolation and degeneration of the hepatocytes in the portal area, as well as those surrounding the sinusoids, were evident. Affected hepatocytes had polygonally shaped nuclei and vacuolic cytoplasm imparting eosinophilic staining. Loss of cellular membrane integrity and invaginations, as well as picnotic nuclei, was prominent. This study has shown that intrauterine liver damage caused by 1,800-MHz EMF exposure persists into puberty in rats. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpt Three of the pregnant rats served as untreated controls, while the others were exposed to mobile phone radiation, which was adjusted to talking and Wi-Fi mode, for 6-, 12-, and 24-h/day for 20 consecutive days [Çetin et al., 2014; Meral et al., 2014; Ragy and Ragy, 2015; Schmid and Kuster, 2015; Mugunthan et al., 2016; Bahreyni Toossi et al., 2018; Ertilav et al., 2018]. The emitter of the EMF device (Anritsu MG3670 B type, Japan), which generates 1,800-MHz frequency radiation, was placed centrally under the cage [Bedir et al., 2018]. The SAR (specific absorption rate) value was calculated according to the study by Qin et al. [2012], which was 0.12 W/kg. Eight newborn rats were allocated to each group. The newborn rats were not exposed to EMF. They were reared for 2 months under the aforementioned conditions. Blood was sampled, and livers were removed on the 60th day postpartum as detailed below.

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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
PopulationPregnant rats (prenatal exposure) and offspring assessed postnatally (postnatal day 60)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 0.12 W/kg · 6, 12, or 24 h/day for 20 days (prenatal exposure)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with unexposed controls, prenatal 1,800-MHz EMF exposure (6/12/24 h daily for 20 days) was associated with higher liver malondialdehyde and total oxidant status and lower liver glutathione and total antioxidant status (all p<0.05). Serum Ca2+, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase were higher in exposed groups (p<0.05), and histology showed hepatocyte vacuolation/degeneration and other cellular changes; authors state damage persisted to puberty in rats.

Outcomes measured

  • Liver histology (hepatocyte vacuolation/degeneration, membrane integrity, nuclear changes)
  • Oxidative stress markers in liver tissue (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total oxidant status, total antioxidant status)
  • Serum biochemistry (Ca2+, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase)

Limitations

  • Total sample size not clearly stated in the abstract/metadata (only notes that eight newborn rats were allocated to each group)
  • Exposure characterization limited in abstract (e.g., field strength/modulation details not fully described)
  • Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 0.12,
    "duration": "6, 12, or 24 h/day for 20 days (prenatal exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant rats (prenatal exposure) and offspring assessed postnatally (postnatal day 60)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Liver histology (hepatocyte vacuolation/degeneration, membrane integrity, nuclear changes)",
    "Oxidative stress markers in liver tissue (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total oxidant status, total antioxidant status)",
    "Serum biochemistry (Ca2+, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with unexposed controls, prenatal 1,800-MHz EMF exposure (6/12/24 h daily for 20 days) was associated with higher liver malondialdehyde and total oxidant status and lower liver glutathione and total antioxidant status (all p<0.05). Serum Ca2+, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase were higher in exposed groups (p<0.05), and histology showed hepatocyte vacuolation/degeneration and other cellular changes; authors state damage persisted to puberty in rats.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Total sample size not clearly stated in the abstract/metadata (only notes that eight newborn rats were allocated to each group)",
    "Exposure characterization limited in abstract (e.g., field strength/modulation details not fully described)",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "prenatal exposure",
    "1,800-MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone radiation",
    "rat",
    "liver",
    "oxidative stress",
    "malondialdehyde",
    "glutathione",
    "ALT",
    "AST",
    "histology",
    "SAR 0.12 W/kg"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-emf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure described as mobile phone radiation at 1,800 MHz with SAR reported."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1159/000504506
PubMed: Not supplied

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