Effects of 900-MHz electromagnetic fields exposure throughout middle/late adolescence on the kidney morphology and biochemistry of the female rat.

Toxicology and industrial health · 2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5525

Histopathological analysis showed no pathology in control or sham groups, while multiple kidney tissue changes (e.g., glomerular hemorrhage/degeneration, tubular epithelial vacuolization/irregularity, edema) were observed in the EMF-exposed group. TOS and OSI…

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicology and industrial health · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effect of the electromagnetic field (EMF) established when cell phones are in use on human health, and particularly the head, has been the subject of major scientific research. Phones are usually carried near the lumbar region when not in use, and the kidneys will also inevitably be affected by such fields. We investigated the effects on the kidneys of female rats exposed to a continuous 900-megahertz (MHz) EMF for 1 h daily in mid-late adolescence. Control, sham, and EMF groups were established. The EMF was applied to the application group rats daily on postnatal days 35-59. A pseudo-megahertz effect was applied to sham group rats. All animals were euthanized on postnatal day 60. Right kidney tissues were subjected to routine procedures. Malondialdehyde, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status (TOS) were investigated in left kidneys, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was also calculated from these. Histopathological analysis revealed no pathology in either the control or sham groups. However, findings including hemorrhage in glomerulus, vacuolization and irregularity in the proximal and distal tubular epithelium, diffuse glomerular degeneration and edema, occasional degeneration in Bowman capsules, hemorrhage in the medullary region, disturbed nucleus location and morphology, and tubular edema in the cortex were observed in the EMF groups. TOS and OSI values were lower in the EMF group (9.4316 ± 1.0211 and 0.8461 ± 0.0826, respectively) and the sham group (8.2171 ± 0.6437 and 0.7358 ± 0.0545, respectively) than in the control group (11.1522 ± 1.3389 and 1.0085 ± 0.1174, respectively) ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to a continuous 900-MHz EMF for 1 h daily during middle and late adolescence may cause various changes in the female rat kidney at postnatal day 60.

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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 directionharm

PopulationFemale rats in mid-late adolescence (postnatal days 35–59)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · Continuous 900-MHz EMF, 1 h daily; postnatal days 35–59 (euthanized day 60)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Kidney histopathology/morphology (right kidney)
Malondialdehyde (left kidney)
Total antioxidant status (TAS)
Total oxidant status (TOS)
Oxidative stress index (OSI)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the abstract
SAR/dosimetry details not reported in the abstract
Only female rats studied; generalizability to humans not addressed in the abstract
Short-term endpoint (postnatal day 60) only

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Continuous 900-MHz EMF, 1 h daily; postnatal days 35–59 (euthanized day 60)"
  },
  "population": "Female rats in mid-late adolescence (postnatal days 35–59)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Kidney histopathology/morphology (right kidney)",
    "Malondialdehyde (left kidney)",
    "Total antioxidant status (TAS)",
    "Total oxidant status (TOS)",
    "Oxidative stress index (OSI)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Histopathological analysis showed no pathology in control or sham groups, while multiple kidney tissue changes (e.g., glomerular hemorrhage/degeneration, tubular epithelial vacuolization/irregularity, edema) were observed in the EMF-exposed group. TOS and OSI values were reported as lower in the EMF and sham groups than in the control group (p < 0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "SAR/dosimetry details not reported in the abstract",
    "Only female rats studied; generalizability to humans not addressed in the abstract",
    "Short-term endpoint (postnatal day 60) only"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "adolescence",
    "female rat",
    "kidney",
    "histopathology",
    "oxidative stress",
    "TOS",
    "OSI",
    "malondialdehyde"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Exposure described as 900-MHz EMF established when cell phones are in use."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1177/0748233718781292
PubMed: 30009691

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