RF Safe

The effect of exposure of rats during prenatal period to radiation spreading from mobile phones on renal development.

Renal failure · 2015 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 3052

Rats exposed prenatally to a 900-MHz EMF had mild renal tissue changes (congestion, tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule) and stronger caspase-3 staining in renal tubular cells versus controls. Serum K+ differed significantly between groups (p<…

Study snapshot

PublicationRenal failure · 2015
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) produced by mobile phones on the renal development of prenatal rats. Histopathological changes and apoptosis in the kidneys, together with levels of urea, creatinine and electrolyte in serum were determined. METHODS: A total of 14 Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Pregnant rats were divided into two equal groups: a control group and an EMF-exposed group. The study group was exposed to 900-MHz of EMF during the first 20 days of pregnancy, while the control group was unexposed to EMF. Sections obtained from paraffin blocks were stained for caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. RESULTS: Mild congestion and tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule were observed in the kidney tissues of rats in the exposed group. Apoptosis was evaluated using anti-caspase-3; stronger positive staining was observed in the renal tubular cells in the study group than those of the control group. Although there was a significant difference between the study and control groups in terms of K+ level (p<0.05), no significant difference was observed in the other parameters studied (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the electromagnetic waves propagated from mobile phones have harmful effects on the renal development of prenatal rats.

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
PopulationPregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (prenatal exposure; renal development assessed in offspring)
Sample size14
ExposureRF · 900 MHz · during the first 20 days of pregnancy
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed prenatally to a 900-MHz EMF had mild renal tissue changes (congestion, tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule) and stronger caspase-3 staining in renal tubular cells versus controls. Serum K+ differed significantly between groups (p<0.05), while urea, creatinine, and other measured parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05).

Outcomes measured

  • Kidney histopathology (congestion, tubular defects, Bowman's capsule dilatation)
  • Renal apoptosis (caspase-3 immunostaining)
  • Serum urea
  • Serum creatinine
  • Serum electrolytes (including K+)

Limitations

  • Small sample size (14 rats total)
  • Exposure characterization limited (no SAR reported; described as EMF produced by mobile phones)
  • Most serum parameters showed no significant differences despite reported histological/apoptosis changes
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "during the first 20 days of pregnancy"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (prenatal exposure; renal development assessed in offspring)",
  "sample_size": 14,
  "outcomes": [
    "Kidney histopathology (congestion, tubular defects, Bowman's capsule dilatation)",
    "Renal apoptosis (caspase-3 immunostaining)",
    "Serum urea",
    "Serum creatinine",
    "Serum electrolytes (including K+)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed prenatally to a 900-MHz EMF had mild renal tissue changes (congestion, tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule) and stronger caspase-3 staining in renal tubular cells versus controls. Serum K+ differed significantly between groups (p<0.05), while urea, creatinine, and other measured parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (14 rats total)",
    "Exposure characterization limited (no SAR reported; described as EMF produced by mobile phones)",
    "Most serum parameters showed no significant differences despite reported histological/apoptosis changes"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "prenatal exposure",
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "kidney",
    "renal development",
    "histopathology",
    "apoptosis",
    "caspase-3",
    "electrolytes",
    "potassium"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines 900-MHz EMF produced by mobile phones."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.3109/0886022x.2014.985995
PubMed: 25691088

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