Effects of early-onset radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (GSM 900 MHz) on behavior and memory in rats.

Radiation research · 2014 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4660

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation research · 2014

Study typeanimal

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Female Wistar rats, from an age of 14 days to 19 months, were exposed in the head region for 2 h per day, 5 days per week, to a GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF). The average specific absorption rates (SAR) in the brain were 0 (sham), 0.7, 2.5 and 10 W/kg. To ensure a primary exposure of the head region, rats were fixed in restraining tubes of different sizes according to their increasing body weight. During the experiment, a set of 4 behavioral and learning tests (rotarod, Morris water maze, 8-arm radial maze, open field) were performed 3 times in juvenile, adult and presenile rats. In these tests, no profound differences could be identified between the groups. Only presenile rats of the cage control group showed a lower activity in two of these tests compared to the other groups presumably due to the lack of daily handling. The rotarod data revealed on some testing days significantly longer holding times for the sham-exposed rat vs. the exposed rat, but these findings were not consistent. During the first year, body weights of sham-exposed and exposed rats were not different from those of the cage controls, and thereafter only marginally lower, so that the effect of stress as confounder was probably negligible. The results of this study do not indicate harmful effects of long-term RF-EMF exposure even when begun at an early age on subsequent development, learning skills and behavior in rats, even at relatively high SAR values.

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 directionno_effect

PopulationFemale Wistar rats (exposed from 14 days old to 19 months)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 10 W/kg · 2 h/day, 5 days/week, from age 14 days to 19 months

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across repeated behavioral and learning tests in juvenile, adult, and presenile rats, no profound differences were identified between sham and RF-EMF exposed groups. Some rotarod testing days showed longer holding times in sham vs exposed rats, but findings were not consistent; cage controls showed lower activity in presenile rats in two tests, attributed to lack of daily handling. Authors conclude results do not indicate harmful effects of long-term early-onset GSM 900 MHz exposure on development, learning skills, or behavior, even at high SAR.

Outcomes measured

Behavior (rotarod, open field)
Learning and memory (Morris water maze, 8-arm radial maze)
Body weight

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure involved restraint in tubes, which could influence behavior (stress/handling), though authors state stress confounding was probably negligible
Some inconsistent significant differences observed (rotarod)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 10,
    "duration": "2 h/day, 5 days/week, from age 14 days to 19 months"
  },
  "population": "Female Wistar rats (exposed from 14 days old to 19 months)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Behavior (rotarod, open field)",
    "Learning and memory (Morris water maze, 8-arm radial maze)",
    "Body weight"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across repeated behavioral and learning tests in juvenile, adult, and presenile rats, no profound differences were identified between sham and RF-EMF exposed groups. Some rotarod testing days showed longer holding times in sham vs exposed rats, but findings were not consistent; cage controls showed lower activity in presenile rats in two tests, attributed to lack of daily handling. Authors conclude results do not indicate harmful effects of long-term early-onset GSM 900 MHz exposure on development, learning skills, or behavior, even at high SAR.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure involved restraint in tubes, which could influence behavior (stress/handling), though authors state stress confounding was probably negligible",
    "Some inconsistent significant differences observed (rotarod)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "rats",
    "behavior",
    "memory",
    "Morris water maze",
    "radial maze",
    "rotarod",
    "open field",
    "early-life exposure",
    "long-term exposure"
  ],
  "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: 10.1667/rr13695.1
PubMed: 25251701

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