Effects of chronic exposure of electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on hearing in rats.

Auris, nasus, larynx · 2003 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5267

In a sham-exposure controlled design, no measurable EMF-associated changes in DPOAEs were found in either adult or developing rats after 30 days of 1-hour/day mobile phone EMF exposure (P>0.05).

Study snapshot

PublicationAuris, nasus, larynx · 2003

Study typeanimal

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Little attention has been paid to the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) of mobile phones on hearing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to EMF emitting from mobile phones on the inner ear of adult and developing rats using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). METHODS: EMF of mobile phones exposure was scheduled according to a sham-exposure controlled experimental design. Every day seven of 14 adult and four newborn rats were exposed to 1-h mobile phone EMF for 30 days, while the other seven adult rats were assigned to control group. DPOAEs were measured in both groups before and after the chronic exposure to EMF. The newborn rats were tested following similar exposure beginning on the 2nd day after birth. RESULTS: No measurable EMF associated changes in DPOAEs either in adult or developing rat inner ears were determined (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that chronic exposure of EMF, as long as 30 days 1 h per day, emitting from a mobile phone did not cause any hearing deterioration in adult and developing rats, at least at outer and middle ear and cochlear levels.

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

PopulationAdult and developing (newborn) rats

Sample size18

ExposureRF · 1 h/day for 30 days (chronic exposure); newborn exposure began on day 2 after birth

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a sham-exposure controlled design, no measurable EMF-associated changes in DPOAEs were found in either adult or developing rats after 30 days of 1-hour/day mobile phone EMF exposure (P>0.05).

Outcomes measured

Hearing/inner ear function assessed by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs)

Limitations

Exposure parameters such as frequency and SAR were not reported in the abstract.
Outcome assessment was limited to DPOAEs (outer/middle ear and cochlear levels) as described in the abstract.
Sample size for newborn rats is not fully specified (only 'four newborn rats' mentioned; group allocation unclear).

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h/day for 30 days (chronic exposure); newborn exposure began on day 2 after birth"
  },
  "population": "Adult and developing (newborn) rats",
  "sample_size": 18,
  "outcomes": [
    "Hearing/inner ear function assessed by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a sham-exposure controlled design, no measurable EMF-associated changes in DPOAEs were found in either adult or developing rats after 30 days of 1-hour/day mobile phone EMF exposure (P>0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure parameters such as frequency and SAR were not reported in the abstract.",
    "Outcome assessment was limited to DPOAEs (outer/middle ear and cochlear levels) as described in the abstract.",
    "Sample size for newborn rats is not fully specified (only 'four newborn rats' mentioned; group allocation unclear)."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "RF exposure",
    "rats",
    "hearing",
    "inner ear",
    "distortion product otoacoustic emissions",
    "DPOAE",
    "chronic exposure",
    "sham-controlled"
  ],
  "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: 10.1016/s0385-8146(03)00054-3
PubMed: 12927285

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