Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced behavioral changes and their possible basis

2019 · Mixed · Insufficient evidence

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MixedInsufficient evidencePaper 1712

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced behavioral changes and their possible basis Narayanan SN, Jetti R, Kesari KK, Kumar RS, Nayak SB, Bhat PG. Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation- induced behavioral changes and their possible basis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Aug 28. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-06278-5. Abstract The primary objective of mobile phone technology is to achieve communication with any person at any place and time. In the modern era, it is impossible to ignore the usefulness of mobile phone technology in cases of emergency as many lives have been saved. However, the biological effects they may have on humans and other animals have been largely ignored and not been evaluated comprehensively. One of the reasons for this is the speedy uncontrollable growth of this technology which has surpassed our researching ability. Initiated with the first generation, the mobile telephony currently reaches to its fifth generation without being screened extensively for any biological effects that they may have on humans or on other animals. Mounting evidences suggest possible non-thermal biological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on brain and behavior. Behavioral studies have particularly concentrated on the effects of RF-EMR on learning, memory, anxiety, and locomotion. The literature analysis on behavioral effects of RF-EMR demonstrates complex picture with conflicting observations. Nonetheless, numerous reports suggest a possible behavioral effect of RF-EMR. The scientific findings about this issue are presented in the current review. The possible neural and molecular mechanisms for the behavioral effects have been proposed in the light of available evidences from the literature. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusions Mobile phone safety recommendations depend mainly on 'sinusoidal wave' emitted from the cell phone when it is idle. At idle mode, the RF-EMR exposure is negligible, hence, it might not be that detrimental at this level. However, chronic exposure to the 'carrier signal' emitted when phone is in 'ON' mode (when the phone is ringing/call receiving mode) would be responsible for biological effects. Exposure to RF-EMR induces an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant defense system in the brain indicating that the internal environment of each brain cell was getting disturbed by the insult from RFEMR. This therefore does not favor the nerve cells to function appropriately. Whenever the threshold is reached, the cell either stops functioning, functions abnormally, or dies. We call it structural change or morphological change. Most of the time, what happens at the cellular level is indicated at the behavioral level. It is highly difficult to join up biochemical change, morphological change, and then behavior. An imbalance in the biochemical homeostasis would itself alter the behavior which might not be structurally represented and vice versa. This is due to the mechanisms, which prevent or resist the insult from external stressors. Currently, we are not sure about this fact as there are no solid evidences which pin point or demonstrate this innate preventive/restrain mechanisms present in neurons under RF-EMR exposure. Further study in this regard will reveal much clearer picture of body's (especially brain) innate mechanisms which would withstand the potential threat caused by RF-EMR. It is evident from earlier discussions that a possible behavioral effect does exist following RF-EMRexposure in rodents. However, caution should be taken while extrapolating these findings into humans. It is worth noting that an adult uses mobile phone approximately 4 to 5 h per day and this may be even more in teenagers. However, reports that analyze the behavioral, psychological, and health variables following RFEMR exposure in sensitive population like young adults are scanty. Furthermore, it would be interesting to study the effect of RF- EMR exposure in early developmental stage and see what the effects of such exposures are on the critical and sensitive periods of development using animal models. Although the current review focused principally on RFEMR-induced effects on cognition, anxiety, and locomotion, RF-EMR have been attributed to induce other behavioral effects in rodents as well as in humans. After witnessing the uncontrollable growth of this technology, everyone believes that it is high time to evaluate the health risks of continuous and chronic RF-EMR exposure effects on humans and for which further studies are warranted.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHumans and animals discussed; behavioral effects emphasized in rodents

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · chronic exposure (discussed); idle vs ON/ringing/call receiving mode mentioned

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes literature on RF-EMR (mobile phone-related) effects on brain and behavior, noting a complex and conflicting evidence base. It states that numerous reports suggest possible behavioral effects following RF-EMR exposure, particularly in rodents, and discusses proposed neural/molecular mechanisms including oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in the brain; it cautions against extrapolating animal findings to humans.

Outcomes measured

behavioral changes
learning
memory
anxiety
locomotion
cognition
oxidant/antioxidant defense imbalance in brain (oxidative stress)
biochemical homeostasis changes
morphological/structural brain cell changes
psychological and health variables (mentioned as scanty in young adults)

Limitations

Conflicting observations across the reviewed behavioral literature
Mechanistic links between biochemical, morphological, and behavioral changes described as difficult to establish
Authors state there are no solid evidences pinpointing innate preventive/restrain mechanisms in neurons under RF-EMR exposure
Human evidence in sensitive populations (e.g., young adults) described as scanty
Caution advised when extrapolating rodent findings to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "chronic exposure (discussed); idle vs ON/ringing/call receiving mode mentioned"
  },
  "population": "Humans and animals discussed; behavioral effects emphasized in rodents",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "behavioral changes",
    "learning",
    "memory",
    "anxiety",
    "locomotion",
    "cognition",
    "oxidant/antioxidant defense imbalance in brain (oxidative stress)",
    "biochemical homeostasis changes",
    "morphological/structural brain cell changes",
    "psychological and health variables (mentioned as scanty in young adults)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarizes literature on RF-EMR (mobile phone-related) effects on brain and behavior, noting a complex and conflicting evidence base. It states that numerous reports suggest possible behavioral effects following RF-EMR exposure, particularly in rodents, and discusses proposed neural/molecular mechanisms including oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in the brain; it cautions against extrapolating animal findings to humans.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Conflicting observations across the reviewed behavioral literature",
    "Mechanistic links between biochemical, morphological, and behavioral changes described as difficult to establish",
    "Authors state there are no solid evidences pinpointing innate preventive/restrain mechanisms in neurons under RF-EMR exposure",
    "Human evidence in sensitive populations (e.g., young adults) described as scanty",
    "Caution advised when extrapolating rodent findings to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "RF-EMR",
    "mobile phone",
    "behavior",
    "learning",
    "memory",
    "anxiety",
    "locomotion",
    "cognition",
    "oxidative stress",
    "brain"
  ],
  "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: 10.1007/s11356-019-06278-5
PubMed: Not supplied

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