Effect of Microwave Wi-Fi Radiation at Frequency of 2.4 GHz on Epileptic Behavior of Rats.

Journal of biomedical physics & engineering · 2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5528

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of biomedical physics & engineering · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) with different intensities are widely used at home, offices and public places.Today, there is a growing global concern about the effects of human exposure to EMFs. Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological diseases, affecting 50 million people of all ages worldwide. We aimed to investigate the effect of exposure to Wi-Fi radiation on epileptic behavior of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 147 male rats, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into seven groups; negative control (no intervention), sham 1(distilled water), positive control (Pentylentetrazol [PTZ]), intervention group 1 (PTZ + Wi-Fi "off"), sham 2 (distilled water + Wi-Fi "off"), sham 3 (distilled water + Wi-Fi "on"), and intervention group 2 (PTZ + Wi-Fi "on"). The rats were exposed to Wi-Fi for 2h at a distance of 30cm from a commercial Wi-Fi router. Convulsive behaviors of rats were monitored and scored based on the intensity and type by measuring latency/threshold time, number of convulsions, sum of scores and durations of seizure, and duration of score 6 seizure. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Convulsion was observed in interventions Group 4 and Group 7, and positive control. The mean number of events, and sum of scores were significantly different in intervention 2 than other two groups. However, the differences in mean threshold, mean sum of durations and " time to show convulsion with score 6 " were not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Due to limitations of our study including the sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution. In this study, exposure to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation showed significant beneficial effects on the epileptic behaviour of rats. More experiments are needed to verify if these exposures can be used as a therapeutic approach for amelioration of seizures in epilepsy.

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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 directionmixed

PopulationMale rats (200–250 g) with PTZ-induced seizures model and controls

Sample size147

ExposureRF · 2400 MHz · 2 h (exposure session; timing relative to PTZ not specified)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In PTZ-treated rats, the group exposed to Wi‑Fi “on” showed a statistically significant difference in mean number of events and sum of scores compared with other groups. Differences in mean threshold, mean sum of durations, and time to show convulsion with score 6 were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The authors conclude Wi‑Fi exposure showed significant beneficial effects on epileptic behavior in rats, with caution due to limitations.

Outcomes measured

Latency/threshold time to convulsion
Number of convulsions
Sum of seizure scores
Seizure duration (sum of durations)
Duration of score 6 seizure
Time to show convulsion with score 6

Limitations

Authors note limitations including sample size
Several measured outcomes were not statistically significant (threshold and duration-related measures)
Exposure characterization limited (no SAR or field strength reported; only distance and router described)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": 2400,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h (exposure session; timing relative to PTZ not specified)"
  },
  "population": "Male rats (200–250 g) with PTZ-induced seizures model and controls",
  "sample_size": 147,
  "outcomes": [
    "Latency/threshold time to convulsion",
    "Number of convulsions",
    "Sum of seizure scores",
    "Seizure duration (sum of durations)",
    "Duration of score 6 seizure",
    "Time to show convulsion with score 6"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In PTZ-treated rats, the group exposed to Wi‑Fi “on” showed a statistically significant difference in mean number of events and sum of scores compared with other groups. Differences in mean threshold, mean sum of durations, and time to show convulsion with score 6 were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The authors conclude Wi‑Fi exposure showed significant beneficial effects on epileptic behavior in rats, with caution due to limitations.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Authors note limitations including sample size",
    "Several measured outcomes were not statistically significant (threshold and duration-related measures)",
    "Exposure characterization limited (no SAR or field strength reported; only distance and router described)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Wi-Fi",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "RF EMF",
    "epilepsy",
    "seizure",
    "PTZ",
    "rats"
  ],
  "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: Not supplied
PubMed: 29951445

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