RF Safe

Analgetic effects of non-thermal GSM-1900 radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the land snail Helix pomatia.

International journal of radiation biology · 2012 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4430

In within-snail before/after comparisons, GSM-1900 RF-exposed snails showed reduced sensitivity to thermal pain compared with sham-exposed controls, interpreted as significant analgesia (Mann-Whitney p < 0.001).

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2012
Study typeanimal
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate whether mobile phone radiation might affect snail nociception, employing radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) which, to our knowledge, have hitherto not been studied in a snail model. Exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields has however been shown to significantly affect nociceptive responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we exposed 29 land snails of the strain Helix pomatia to global system for mobile communications (GSM) EMF at 1900 MHz at the non-thermal level 48 mW/kg for 1 hour each and 29 snails were sham controls. The experiments took place during the onset of summer, with all snails being well out of hibernation. Before and after GSM or sham exposure, the snails were subjected to thermal pain by being placed on a hot plate. The reaction time for retraction from the hot plate was measured by two blinded observers. RESULTS: Comparing the reaction pattern of each snail before and after exposure, the GSM-exposed snails were less sensitive to thermal pain as compared to the sham controls, indicating that RF exposure induces a significant analgesia (Mann-Whitney p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study might support earlier findings, describing beneficial effects of EMF exposure upon nociception.

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 directionbenefit
PopulationLand snails (Helix pomatia)
Sample size58
ExposureRF · 1900 MHz · 0.048 W/kg · 1 hour
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In within-snail before/after comparisons, GSM-1900 RF-exposed snails showed reduced sensitivity to thermal pain compared with sham-exposed controls, interpreted as significant analgesia (Mann-Whitney p < 0.001).

Outcomes measured

  • Nociception / thermal pain sensitivity (hot plate retraction reaction time)
  • Analgesia (reduced sensitivity to thermal pain)

Limitations

  • Animal (snail) model; relevance to humans not established in abstract
  • Exposure described as non-thermal; limited exposure characterization beyond frequency and SAR in abstract
  • Seasonal/hibernation status noted; potential contextual influence not further detailed in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone (GSM)",
    "frequency_mhz": 1900,
    "sar_wkg": 0.048,
    "duration": "1 hour"
  },
  "population": "Land snails (Helix pomatia)",
  "sample_size": 58,
  "outcomes": [
    "Nociception / thermal pain sensitivity (hot plate retraction reaction time)",
    "Analgesia (reduced sensitivity to thermal pain)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In within-snail before/after comparisons, GSM-1900 RF-exposed snails showed reduced sensitivity to thermal pain compared with sham-exposed controls, interpreted as significant analgesia (Mann-Whitney p < 0.001).",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal (snail) model; relevance to humans not established in abstract",
    "Exposure described as non-thermal; limited exposure characterization beyond frequency and SAR in abstract",
    "Seasonal/hibernation status noted; potential contextual influence not further detailed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "1900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "non-thermal",
    "SAR 48 mW/kg",
    "Helix pomatia",
    "snail",
    "nociception",
    "thermal pain",
    "hot plate",
    "analgesia"
  ],
  "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: 10.3109/09553002.2012.644257
PubMed: 22124250

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