The effects of GSM cellphone radiation on rabbit's retina

2017 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2204

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effects of GSM cellphone radiation on rabbit's retina Mohammad R. Talebnejad, Ali Sadeghi-Sarvestani, M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh, Seyed Mohammad J. Mortazavi, Mohammad R. Khalili. The effects of microwave radiation on rabbit's retina. Journal of Current Ophthalmology, Available online 9 October 2017. Abstract Purpose Mobile cell phones are used extensively these days, and their microwave (MW) radiation has been shown to affect the eye. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of MW radiation on rabbit retina. Methods This experimental study (concluded in 2015) was conducted on 40 adult white New Zealand rabbits. A Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cell phone simulator was used for MW irradiation. The rabbits were randomized into five groups (8 in each) and treated as follows: Group 1: no irradiation (sham); Group 2: irradiation at 10 cm for 1 day; Group 3: irradiation at 30 cm for 1 day; Group 4: irradiation at 10 cm for 3 days; and Group 5: irradiation at 30 cm for 3 days. Scotopic and photopic electroretinography (ERG) responses were obtained at baseline and 7 days after the last exposure. Then all the rabbits were euthanized, and their eyes were enucleated and sent for pathology examination. Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests were used to evaluate intergroup differences in ERG parameters and histological findings, respectively. Results ERG responses obtained 7 days after irradiation did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups (P > 0.1, for all tested parameters). There were statistically non-significant trends toward greater changes in the MW irradiated eyes. In pathological examination, retina was normal with no sign of degeneration or infiltration. Ciliary body congestion was observed in greater fraction of those who received higher MW doses. (P = 0.005). Conclusions Histopathologically, cell phone simulated MW irradiation had no significant detrimental effect on the retina. However, ciliary body congestion was observed in greater fraction of those who received higher MW doses. Although there was no significant difference between post-treatment mean ERG values, there were statistically non-significant trends toward greater changes in the MW irradiated eyes. sciencedirect.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

Population40 adult white New Zealand rabbits

Sample size40

ExposureRF · 1 day or 3 days (exposure groups), outcomes assessed 7 days after last exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

ERG responses 7 days after irradiation showed no statistically significant differences between groups (P>0.1 for all tested parameters), though non-significant trends toward greater changes were noted in irradiated eyes. Pathology found normal retina without degeneration or infiltration; ciliary body congestion occurred in a greater fraction of higher-dose groups (P=0.005).

Outcomes measured

Scotopic electroretinography (ERG) parameters
Photopic electroretinography (ERG) parameters
Retinal histopathology (degeneration/infiltration)
Ciliary body congestion (pathology)

Limitations

Frequency and SAR/dosimetry details not reported in the abstract
Short follow-up (ERG measured 7 days after last exposure)
Animal model; generalizability to humans is uncertain

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 day or 3 days (exposure groups), outcomes assessed 7 days after last exposure"
  },
  "population": "40 adult white New Zealand rabbits",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "Scotopic electroretinography (ERG) parameters",
    "Photopic electroretinography (ERG) parameters",
    "Retinal histopathology (degeneration/infiltration)",
    "Ciliary body congestion (pathology)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "ERG responses 7 days after irradiation showed no statistically significant differences between groups (P>0.1 for all tested parameters), though non-significant trends toward greater changes were noted in irradiated eyes. Pathology found normal retina without degeneration or infiltration; ciliary body congestion occurred in a greater fraction of higher-dose groups (P=0.005).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency and SAR/dosimetry details not reported in the abstract",
    "Short follow-up (ERG measured 7 days after last exposure)",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans is uncertain"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "cell phone simulator",
    "microwave radiation",
    "rabbit",
    "retina",
    "electroretinography",
    "histopathology",
    "ciliary body congestion"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Uses a GSM cell phone simulator to expose animals to mobile-phone-like RF/microwave radiation."
    }
  ]
}

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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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