No influence of acute RF exposure (GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS) on mouse retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2014 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4569

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2014

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Possible non-thermal effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on retinal ganglion cells were studied in vitro under conditions of constant temperature. Isolated mouse retinae were exposed to GSM-900, GSM-1800, and universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) RF-EMF applying specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0 (sham), 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg. Temperature was kept constant within ±0.5 to 1 °C for GSM-900 and ±0.5 °C for GSM-1800 and UMTS. Responses of retinal ganglion cells to light stimuli of three intensities (0.5, 16, and 445 lx) were recorded before, during, and up to 35 min after exposure. Experiments were performed under double-blind conditions. Changes in light responses during and after exposure were determined for each condition (RF-EMF; SAR value; light intensity) with respect to the responses before exposure, respectively. Changes were calculated using the Euclidian distance of the n-dimensional response vectors, respectively. Some changes already occurred during sham (0 W/kg) exposure, reflecting the intrinsic variability in retinal ganglion cell responses. Comparison of the distance values from sham exposure with those from actual exposure yielded no significant differences. In addition, linear regression analysis of the distance values versus SAR values yielded no consistent dependence of light response changes. From these results we conclude that RF-EMF exposure at three mobile phone frequencies (GSM-900, GSM-1800, UMTS) and SARs up to 20 W/kg has no acute effects on retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions.

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationIsolated mouse retinae (retinal ganglion cells)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 20 W/kg · acute; recorded before, during, and up to 35 min after exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Isolated mouse retinae exposed in vitro to GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS RF-EMF at SARs 0 (sham), 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg under constant temperature showed no significant differences in response changes compared with sham. Linear regression of response-change metrics versus SAR showed no consistent dependence, leading the authors to conclude no acute effects up to 20 W/kg under constant temperature conditions.

Outcomes measured

Retinal ganglion cell responses to light stimuli (0.5, 16, 445 lx)
Changes in light responses quantified via Euclidian distance of n-dimensional response vectors

Limitations

In vitro preparation (isolated mouse retinae), limiting generalizability to in vivo effects
Acute exposure only; effects beyond ~35 minutes post-exposure not assessed
Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
Outcome limited to retinal ganglion cell light-response metrics under controlled temperature conditions

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 20,
    "duration": "acute; recorded before, during, and up to 35 min after exposure"
  },
  "population": "Isolated mouse retinae (retinal ganglion cells)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Retinal ganglion cell responses to light stimuli (0.5, 16, 445 lx)",
    "Changes in light responses quantified via Euclidian distance of n-dimensional response vectors"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Isolated mouse retinae exposed in vitro to GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS RF-EMF at SARs 0 (sham), 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg under constant temperature showed no significant differences in response changes compared with sham. Linear regression of response-change metrics versus SAR showed no consistent dependence, leading the authors to conclude no acute effects up to 20 W/kg under constant temperature conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro preparation (isolated mouse retinae), limiting generalizability to in vivo effects",
    "Acute exposure only; effects beyond ~35 minutes post-exposure not assessed",
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Outcome limited to retinal ganglion cell light-response metrics under controlled temperature conditions"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "GSM-900",
    "GSM-1800",
    "UMTS",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "retina",
    "retinal ganglion cells",
    "in vitro",
    "double-blind",
    "non-thermal effects",
    "temperature control"
  ],
  "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: 10.1002/bem.21811
PubMed: 24115076

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