RF Safe

Effect of cell phone RFR on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of NTP's reverberation chamber exposure system

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2152

Rats showed SAR-dependent increases in subcutaneous body temperature at exposures ≥6 W/kg (GSM or CDMA). Exposures ≥10 W/kg (GSM or CDMA) caused excessive body temperature increases leading to mortality, and pregnant rats had a significant increase in resorpt…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of cell phone RFR on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of NTP's reverberation chamber exposure system Wyde ME, Horn TL, Capstick MH, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, Wilson PF, Kissling GE, Stout MD, Kuster N, Melnick RL, Gauger J, Bucher JR, McCormick DL. Effect of cell phone radiofrequency radiation on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of the National Toxicology Program's reverberation chamber exposure system. Bioelectromagnetics. 2018 Apr;39(3):190-199. doi: 10.1002/bem.22116. Abstract Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) causes heating, which can lead to detrimental biological effects. To characterize the effects of RFR exposure on body temperature in relation to animal size and pregnancy, a series of short-term toxicity studies was conducted in a unique RFR exposure system. Young and old B6C3F1 mice and young, old, and pregnant Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) RFR (rats = 900 MHz, mice = 1,900 MHz) at specific absorption rates (SARs) up to 12 W/kg for approximately 9 h a day for 5 days. In general, fewer and less severe increases in body temperature were observed in young than in older rats. SAR-dependent increases in subcutaneous body temperatures were observed at exposures ≥6 W/kg in both modulations. Exposures of ≥10 W/kg GSM or CDMA RFR induced excessive increases in body temperature, leading to mortality. There was also a significant increase in the number of resorptions in pregnant rats at 12 W/kg GSM RFR. In mice, only sporadic increases in body temperature were observed regardless of sex or age when exposed to GSM or CDMA RFR up to 12 W/kg. These results identified SARs at which measurable RFR-mediated thermal effects occur, and were used in the selection of exposures for subsequent toxicology and carcinogenicity studies. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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 typeanimal
Effect directionharm
PopulationYoung and old B6C3F1 mice; young, old, and pregnant Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 12 W/kg · approximately 9 h/day for 5 days
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats showed SAR-dependent increases in subcutaneous body temperature at exposures ≥6 W/kg (GSM or CDMA). Exposures ≥10 W/kg (GSM or CDMA) caused excessive body temperature increases leading to mortality, and pregnant rats had a significant increase in resorptions at 12 W/kg GSM. In mice, only sporadic body temperature increases were observed up to 12 W/kg regardless of sex or age.

Outcomes measured

  • Subcutaneous body temperature
  • Mortality
  • Pregnancy resorptions

Limitations

  • Pilot short-term toxicity studies (5 days)
  • Sample size not reported in provided abstract
  • Body temperature effects emphasized; other endpoints not described in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 12,
    "duration": "approximately 9 h/day for 5 days"
  },
  "population": "Young and old B6C3F1 mice; young, old, and pregnant Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Subcutaneous body temperature",
    "Mortality",
    "Pregnancy resorptions"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats showed SAR-dependent increases in subcutaneous body temperature at exposures ≥6 W/kg (GSM or CDMA). Exposures ≥10 W/kg (GSM or CDMA) caused excessive body temperature increases leading to mortality, and pregnant rats had a significant increase in resorptions at 12 W/kg GSM. In mice, only sporadic body temperature increases were observed up to 12 W/kg regardless of sex or age.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Pilot short-term toxicity studies (5 days)",
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract",
    "Body temperature effects emphasized; other endpoints not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "cell phone",
    "GSM",
    "CDMA",
    "900 MHz",
    "1900 MHz",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "thermal effects",
    "body temperature",
    "rodent",
    "pregnancy",
    "resorptions",
    "mortality",
    "National Toxicology Program",
    "reverberation chamber"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.3,
      "reason": "Study focuses on RF exposure and SAR-related thermal effects relevant to exposure limits discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1002/bem.22116
PubMed: Not supplied

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