No adverse effects detected for simultaneous whole-body exposure to multiple-frequency radiofrequency electromagnetic fields for rats in the intrauterine and pre- and post-weaning periods.

Journal of radiation research · 2017 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4820

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of radiation research · 2017

Study typeanimal

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In everyday life, people are exposed to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) with multiple frequencies. To evaluate the possible adverse effects of multifrequency RF EMFs, we performed an experiment in which pregnant rats and their delivered offspring were simultaneously exposed to eight different communication signal EMFs (two of 800 MHz band, two of 2 GHz band, one of 2.4 GHz band, two of 2.5 GHz band and one of 5.2 GHz band). Thirty six pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) 10-week-old rats were divided into three groups of 12 rats: one control (sham exposure) group and two experimental (low- and high-level RF EMF exposure) groups. The whole body of the mother rats was exposed to the RF EMFs for 20 h per day from Gestational Day 7 to weaning, and F offspring rats (46-48 F1 pups per group) were then exposed up to 6 weeks of age also for 20 h per day. The parameters evaluated included the growth, gestational condition and organ weights of the dams; the survival rates, development, growth, physical and functional development, memory function, and reproductive ability of the F offspring; and the embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in the F rats. No abnormal findings were observed in the dams or F offspring exposed to the RF EMFs or to the F offspring for any of the parameters evaluated. Thus, under the conditions of the present experiment, simultaneous whole-body exposure to eight different communication signal EMFs at frequencies between 800 MHz and 5.2 GHz did not show any adverse effects on pregnancy or on the development of rats.

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

PopulationPregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and their F1 offspring

Sample size36

ExposureRF · 20 h/day from gestational day 7 to weaning (dams); F1 offspring then exposed up to 6 weeks of age, also 20 h/day

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Pregnant rats and their offspring were simultaneously exposed whole-body to eight RF communication-signal fields (800 MHz to 5.2 GHz) for 20 h/day from gestational day 7 through weaning, with offspring exposure continuing to 6 weeks of age. No abnormal findings were observed in dams or offspring for the evaluated pregnancy, development, functional, memory, reproductive, embryotoxicity, or teratogenicity parameters under the study conditions.

Outcomes measured

Growth (dams and offspring)
Gestational condition (dams)
Organ weights (dams)
Survival rates (offspring)
Development (offspring)
Physical and functional development (offspring)
Memory function (offspring)
Reproductive ability (offspring)
Embryotoxicity (offspring)
Teratogenicity (offspring)

Limitations

SAR or other exposure intensity metrics not reported in the abstract
Specific results/statistics for endpoints not provided in the abstract
Details of exposure levels for the low- and high-level groups not provided in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "multiple-frequency communication signals",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20 h/day from gestational day 7 to weaning (dams); F1 offspring then exposed up to 6 weeks of age, also 20 h/day"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and their F1 offspring",
  "sample_size": 36,
  "outcomes": [
    "Growth (dams and offspring)",
    "Gestational condition (dams)",
    "Organ weights (dams)",
    "Survival rates (offspring)",
    "Development (offspring)",
    "Physical and functional development (offspring)",
    "Memory function (offspring)",
    "Reproductive ability (offspring)",
    "Embryotoxicity (offspring)",
    "Teratogenicity (offspring)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pregnant rats and their offspring were simultaneously exposed whole-body to eight RF communication-signal fields (800 MHz to 5.2 GHz) for 20 h/day from gestational day 7 through weaning, with offspring exposure continuing to 6 weeks of age. No abnormal findings were observed in dams or offspring for the evaluated pregnancy, development, functional, memory, reproductive, embryotoxicity, or teratogenicity parameters under the study conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "SAR or other exposure intensity metrics not reported in the abstract",
    "Specific results/statistics for endpoints not provided in the abstract",
    "Details of exposure levels for the low- and high-level groups not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "multifrequency",
    "whole-body exposure",
    "pregnancy",
    "developmental toxicity",
    "teratogenicity",
    "embryotoxicity",
    "Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "800 MHz",
    "2 GHz",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "2.5 GHz",
    "5.2 GHz"
  ],
  "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: 10.1093/jrr/rrw085
PubMed: 27694283

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