What is adverse effect of Wireless Local Area Network, using 2.45 GHz, on the reproductive system?

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2054

Compared with controls, exposed rats had significantly different serum IL-6 and CRP (p<0.05), while serum IL-10 and IL-32 and testis tissue IL-6/IL-10/IL-32 were not significantly different (p>0.05). Histopathology showed significant differences in necrosis a…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

What is adverse effect of Wireless Local Area Network, using 2.45 GHz, on the reproductive system? Bilgici B, Gun S, Avci B, Akar A, Engiz BK. What is adverse effect of Wireless Local Area Network, using 2.45 GHz, on the reproductive system? Int J Radiat Biol. 2018 Jul 20:1-25. Abstract PURPOSE: To investigate the inflammatory effect and testicular damage on rats exposed to low level of electromagnetic fields (EMF) at 2.45 GHz microwave radiation. METHODS: Twenty two Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 was the control group and not exposed to EMF. Group 2 was exposed to low level EMF (average E-field 3.68± 0.36 V/m, whole body average SAR, 0.0233W/kg, in 10g tissue) at 2.45 GHz for 1 hour/day for 30 consecutive days. At the end of the study, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-32 (IL-32), C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in rat serum and IL-6, IL-10, IL-32 were measured in rat testis tissue. Furthermore, testicular tissues were evaluated histopathologically in terms of spermatogenesis and coagulation necrosis. RESULTS: Serum IL-6 and CRP levels were found to be significantly different in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in serum IL-10, IL-32 levels and testis tissue IL-6, IL-10, IL-32 levels compared to the control group (p > 0.05). On the other hand, histopathological evaluation of testicular tissue revealed a significant difference in necrosis and spermatogenesis when compared with the control group (p < 0.05) Conclusions: It may be concluded that low level EMF at 2.45 GHz increases inflammation and testicular damage and negative impact on male reproductive system function. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpt: In this study, Microwave system with monopole antenna (2004X-RF, Everest Co., Adapazari, Turkey) was used to produce the low level EMF at 2.45 GHz. Microwave radiation generator can radiate at 2.45 GHz frequency, with a range of 0-1 Watt output power, and produce continuous or pulsed (modulated at 217 Hz) radiation. My note: This study did not test Wi-Fi.

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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

PopulationWistar rats (male; testicular outcomes assessed)

Sample size22

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 0.0233 W/kg · 1 hour/day for 30 consecutive days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Serum IL-6
Serum IL-10
Serum IL-32
Serum C-reactive protein (CRP)
Testis tissue IL-6
Testis tissue IL-10
Testis tissue IL-32
Histopathology: spermatogenesis
Histopathology: coagulation necrosis/testicular necrosis

Limitations

Animal study; applicability to humans not established in abstract
Exposure described as low-level 2.45 GHz microwave radiation; abstract does not specify that it was a Wi‑Fi (WLAN) device
Small sample size (n=22)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 0.0233,
    "duration": "1 hour/day for 30 consecutive days"
  },
  "population": "Wistar rats (male; testicular outcomes assessed)",
  "sample_size": 22,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum IL-6",
    "Serum IL-10",
    "Serum IL-32",
    "Serum C-reactive protein (CRP)",
    "Testis tissue IL-6",
    "Testis tissue IL-10",
    "Testis tissue IL-32",
    "Histopathology: spermatogenesis",
    "Histopathology: coagulation necrosis/testicular necrosis"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, exposed rats had significantly different serum IL-6 and CRP (p<0.05), while serum IL-10 and IL-32 and testis tissue IL-6/IL-10/IL-32 were not significantly different (p>0.05). Histopathology showed significant differences in necrosis and spermatogenesis versus controls (p<0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study; applicability to humans not established in abstract",
    "Exposure described as low-level 2.45 GHz microwave radiation; abstract does not specify that it was a Wi‑Fi (WLAN) device",
    "Small sample size (n=22)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "2.45 GHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "EMF",
    "SAR",
    "rats",
    "testis",
    "spermatogenesis",
    "necrosis",
    "inflammation",
    "IL-6",
    "CRP"
  ],
  "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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