Effect of 900MHz electromagnetic fields emitted from cellular phones on fracture healing: an experimental study on rats.

Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica · 2013 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4580

Compared with controls, rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF had significantly lower radiological, histological, and manual biomechanical fracture-healing scores (p=0.020, p=0.006, p=0.032).

Study snapshot

PublicationActa orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at 900 MHz frequencies on bone fracture healing. METHODS: The study included 30 adult male Wistar albino rats (average weight: 256 g) divided into two equal groups. Transverse fracture was created manually by pressing a finger on the right tibias of all rats and fractures were fixed intramedullary using a K-wire. Rats in Group 1 were exposed to EMF at 900 MHz frequency 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Group 2, the control group, was kept under the same experimental conditions without EMF exposure. Radiological, mechanical and histological examination of tibial fracture healing was performed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between radiological, histological and manual biomechanical scores of the study and control groups (p=0.020, p=0.006 and p=0.032, respectively). All scores were lower in the study group than the control group. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrate that EMF at 900 MHz of frequency emitted from cellular phones has a significantly negative effect on bone fracture healing in a rat tibia model.

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

PopulationAdult male Wistar albino rats with experimentally induced right tibial transverse fractures fixed with intramedullary K-wire

Sample size30

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 84% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF had significantly lower radiological, histological, and manual biomechanical fracture-healing scores (p=0.020, p=0.006, p=0.032).

Outcomes measured

Radiological scores of tibial fracture healing
Histological scores of tibial fracture healing
Manual biomechanical (mechanical) scores of tibial fracture healing

Limitations

No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in abstract
Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
Exposure described as EMF at 900 MHz but specific device/setup details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Adult male Wistar albino rats with experimentally induced right tibial transverse fractures fixed with intramedullary K-wire",
  "sample_size": 30,
  "outcomes": [
    "Radiological scores of tibial fracture healing",
    "Histological scores of tibial fracture healing",
    "Manual biomechanical (mechanical) scores of tibial fracture healing"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF had significantly lower radiological, histological, and manual biomechanical fracture-healing scores (p=0.020, p=0.006, p=0.032).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in abstract",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Exposure described as EMF at 900 MHz but specific device/setup details not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.84,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "cellular phone",
    "fracture healing",
    "tibia",
    "rat",
    "bone healing",
    "radiological",
    "histological",
    "biomechanical"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure described as 900 MHz EMF emitted from cellular 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: 10.3944/aott.2013.2854
PubMed: 23999516

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