Multigenerational effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA cellular phone signals on brain function in rats

Bioelectromagnetics · 2014 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4663

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2014

Study typeanimal

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The present experimental study was carried out with rats to evaluate the effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz band code division multiple access (W-CDMA) signals for 20 h a day, over three generations. The average specific absorption rate (SAR, in unit of W/kg) for dams was designed at three levels: high (<0.24 W/kg), low (<0.08 W/kg), and 0 (sham exposure). Pregnant mothers (4 rats/group) were exposed from gestational day (GD) 7 to weaning and then their offspring (F1 generation, 4 males and 4 females/dam, respectively) were continuously exposed until 6 weeks of age. The F1 females were mated with F1 males at 11 weeks old, and then starting from GD 7, they were exposed continuously to the electromagnetic field (EMF; one half of the F1 offspring was used for mating, that is, two of each sex per dam and 8 males and 8 females/group, except for all offspring for the functional development tests). This protocol was repeated in the same manner on pregnant F2 females and F3 pups; the latter were killed at 10 weeks of age. No abnormalities were observed in the mother rats (F0 , F1 , and F2 ) and in the offspring (F1 , F2 , and F3 ) in any biological parameters, including neurobehavioral function. Thus, it was concluded that under the experimental conditions applied, multigenerational whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA signals for 20 h/day did not cause any adverse effects on the F1 , F2 , and F3 offspring.

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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

PopulationRats (F0 dams and F1–F3 offspring)

Sample size4

ExposureRF · 2140 MHz · 20 h/day; from gestational day 7 to weaning (dams) and offspring exposed until 6 weeks of age; repeated across three generations

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across three generations of rats exposed whole-body to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA signals for 20 h/day at designed average SAR levels high (<0.24 W/kg), low (<0.08 W/kg), or sham, no abnormalities were observed in mothers or offspring in measured biological parameters, including neurobehavioral function. The authors concluded no adverse effects on F1–F3 offspring under these experimental conditions.

Outcomes measured

Biological parameters
Neurobehavioral function
Brain function (as described in title/abstract)

Limitations

Small number of pregnant mothers per group (4 rats/group)
Average SAR reported as designed levels with upper bounds; exact achieved SAR values not provided in abstract
Specific neurobehavioral/brain function tests and detailed outcome measures not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "cellular phone signals (W-CDMA)",
    "frequency_mhz": 2140,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20 h/day; from gestational day 7 to weaning (dams) and offspring exposed until 6 weeks of age; repeated across three generations"
  },
  "population": "Rats (F0 dams and F1–F3 offspring)",
  "sample_size": 4,
  "outcomes": [
    "Biological parameters",
    "Neurobehavioral function",
    "Brain function (as described in title/abstract)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across three generations of rats exposed whole-body to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA signals for 20 h/day at designed average SAR levels high (<0.24 W/kg), low (<0.08 W/kg), or sham, no abnormalities were observed in mothers or offspring in measured biological parameters, including neurobehavioral function. The authors concluded no adverse effects on F1–F3 offspring under these experimental conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small number of pregnant mothers per group (4 rats/group)",
    "Average SAR reported as designed levels with upper bounds; exact achieved SAR values not provided in abstract",
    "Specific neurobehavioral/brain function tests and detailed outcome measures not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "multigenerational",
    "whole-body exposure",
    "2.14 GHz",
    "W-CDMA",
    "RF-EMF",
    "SAR",
    "neurobehavioral function",
    "offspring",
    "gestation"
  ],
  "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.21871
PubMed: 25196377

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