RF Safe

Effects of fetal microwave radiation exposure on offspring behavior in mice.

Journal of radiation research · 2015 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream
MixedLow evidencePaper 4651

In utero exposure to 9.417-GHz microwave radiation throughout gestation was associated with less movement in the center of the open field and in the open arms of the elevated-plus maze, interpreted as increased anxiety-related behavior. Exposed mice showed re…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of radiation research · 2015
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The recent rapid development of electronic communication techniques is resulting in a marked increase in exposure of humans to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This has raised public concerns about the health hazards of long-term environmental EMF exposure for fetuses and children. Some studies have suggested EMF exposure in children could induce nervous system disorders. However, gender-dependent effects of microwave radiation exposure on cognitive dysfunction have not previously been reported. Here we investigated whether in utero exposure to 9.417-GHz microwave throughout gestation (Days 3.5-18) affected behavior, using the open field test (OFT), elevated-plus maze (EPM), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and Morris water maze (MWM). We found that mice showed less movement in the center of an open field (using the OFT) and in an open arm (using the EPM) after in utero exposure to 9.417-GHz radiation, which suggested that the mice had increased anxiety-related behavior. Mice demonstrated reduced immobility in TST and FST after in utero exposure to 9.417-GHz radiation, which suggested that the mice had decreased depression-related behavior. From the MWM test, we observed that male offspring demonstrated decreased learning and memory, while females were not affected in learning and memory, which suggested that microwaves had gender-dependent effects. In summary, we have provided the first experimental evidence of microwaves inducing gender-dependent effects.

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 directionmixed
PopulationMice offspring after in utero exposure during gestation
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · 9417 MHz · in utero throughout gestation (Days 3.5–18)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In utero exposure to 9.417-GHz microwave radiation throughout gestation was associated with less movement in the center of the open field and in the open arms of the elevated-plus maze, interpreted as increased anxiety-related behavior. Exposed mice showed reduced immobility in tail suspension and forced swim tests, interpreted as decreased depression-related behavior. In the Morris water maze, male offspring showed decreased learning and memory while females were not affected, suggesting sex-dependent effects.

Outcomes measured

  • Anxiety-related behavior (open field test; elevated-plus maze)
  • Depression-related behavior (tail suspension test; forced swimming test)
  • Learning and memory (Morris water maze)
  • Sex/gender-dependent behavioral effects

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
  • Exposure metric (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in the provided abstract
  • Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract
  • Behavioral interpretations (anxiety/depression) are inferred from test performance as stated by authors
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 9417,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "in utero throughout gestation (Days 3.5–18)"
  },
  "population": "Mice offspring after in utero exposure during gestation",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Anxiety-related behavior (open field test; elevated-plus maze)",
    "Depression-related behavior (tail suspension test; forced swimming test)",
    "Learning and memory (Morris water maze)",
    "Sex/gender-dependent behavioral effects"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In utero exposure to 9.417-GHz microwave radiation throughout gestation was associated with less movement in the center of the open field and in the open arms of the elevated-plus maze, interpreted as increased anxiety-related behavior. Exposed mice showed reduced immobility in tail suspension and forced swim tests, interpreted as decreased depression-related behavior. In the Morris water maze, male offspring showed decreased learning and memory while females were not affected, suggesting sex-dependent effects.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Exposure metric (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract",
    "Behavioral interpretations (anxiety/depression) are inferred from test performance as stated by authors"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "in utero exposure",
    "gestation",
    "9.417 GHz",
    "behavior",
    "anxiety",
    "depression",
    "learning and memory",
    "Morris water maze",
    "sex differences",
    "mouse"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1093/jrr/rru097
PubMed: 25359903

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library