Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat

2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1858

Compared with sham exposure, heat avoidance was significantly increased (+40%) in the 6 W/kg RF-EMF group. The RF-EMF effect on heat avoidance was abolished after NMDA treatment; in cage control and sham rats, NMDA (vs saline) significantly reduced latency to…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat Nihal S Ouadah, Kelly Blazy, Anne-Sophie Villégier. Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 18;17(20):E7563. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17207563. Abstract The World Health Organization and the French Health Safety Agency (ANSES) recognize that the expressed pain and suffering of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) people are a lived reality requiring daily life adaptations to cope. Mechanisms involving glutamatergic N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors were not explored yet, despite their possible role in hypersensitivity to chemicals. Here, we hypothesized that radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures may affect pain perception under a modulatory role played by the NMDA receptor. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF for four weeks (five times a week, at 0 (sham), 1.5 or 6 W/kg in restraint) or were cage controls (CC). Once a week, they received an NMDA or saline injection before being scored for their preference between two plates in the two-temperatures choice test: 50 °C (thermal nociception) versus 28 °C. Results in the CC and the sham rats indicated that latency to escape from heat was significantly reduced by -45% after NMDA, compared to saline treatment. Heat avoidance was significantly increased by +40% in the 6 W/kg, compared to the sham exposed groups. RF-EMF effect was abolished after NMDA treatment. In conclusion, heat avoidance was higher after high brain-averaged specific absorption rate, affording further support for possible effect of RF-EMF on pain perception. Further studies need to be performed to confirm these data. Open access paper: mdpi.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

PopulationRats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 6 W/kg · 4 weeks (5 times/week)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Thermal sensitivity/thermal nociception (two-temperatures choice test: 50 °C vs 28 °C)
Latency to escape from heat
Heat avoidance
Effect modification by NMDA receptor activation (NMDA vs saline injection)

Limitations

RF-EMF frequency not reported in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure described as brain-averaged SAR but details of dosimetry not provided in abstract
Authors note that further studies are needed to confirm the data

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 6,
    "duration": "4 weeks (5 times/week)"
  },
  "population": "Rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Thermal sensitivity/thermal nociception (two-temperatures choice test: 50 °C vs 28 °C)",
    "Latency to escape from heat",
    "Heat avoidance",
    "Effect modification by NMDA receptor activation (NMDA vs saline injection)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with sham exposure, heat avoidance was significantly increased (+40%) in the 6 W/kg RF-EMF group. The RF-EMF effect on heat avoidance was abolished after NMDA treatment; in cage control and sham rats, NMDA (vs saline) significantly reduced latency to escape from heat (-45%).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "RF-EMF frequency not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure described as brain-averaged SAR but details of dosimetry not provided in abstract",
    "Authors note that further studies are needed to confirm the data"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "thermal sensitivity",
    "pain perception",
    "thermal nociception",
    "NMDA receptor",
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "SAR",
    "rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mechanisms-nmda-glutamate",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Study tests modulation of RF-EMF effects on pain perception via NMDA receptor activation."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3390/ijerph17207563
PubMed: Not supplied

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