RF Safe

Low-level exposure to pulsed 900 MHz microwave radiation does not cause deficits in the performance of a spatial learning task in mice.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2000 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 6373

Adult male C57BL/6J mice exposed to a low-intensity 900 MHz RF field pulsed at 217 Hz (average whole-body SAR 0.05 W/kg) for 45 min/day for 10 days showed no significant field-dependent effects on radial maze choice accuracy or total completion time compared …

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2000
Study typeanimal
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

There is some concern that short-term memory loss or other cognitive effects may be associated with the use of mobile cellular telephones. In this experiment, the effect of repeated, acute exposure to a low intensity 900 MHz radiofrequency (RF) field pulsed at 217 Hz was explored using an appetitively-motivated spatial learning and working memory task. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were exposed under far field conditions in a GTEM cell for 45 min each day for 10 days at an average whole-body specific energy absorption rate (SAR) of 0.05 W/kg. Their performance in an 8-arm radial maze was compared to that of sham-exposed control animals. All behavioral assessments were performed without handlers having knowledge of the exposure status of the animals. Animals were tested in the maze immediately following exposure or after a delay of 15 or 30 min. No significant field-dependent effects on performance were observed in choice accuracy or in total times to complete the task across the experiment. These results suggest that exposure to RF radiation simulating a digital wireless telephone (GSM) signal under the conditions of this experiment does not affect the acquisition of the learned response. Further studies are planned to explore the effects of other SARs on learned behavior. Bioelectromagnetics 21:151-158, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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 male C57BL/6J mice
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 0.05 W/kg · 45 min/day for 10 days (acute repeated exposure); tested immediately or after 15 or 30 min delay
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Adult male C57BL/6J mice exposed to a low-intensity 900 MHz RF field pulsed at 217 Hz (average whole-body SAR 0.05 W/kg) for 45 min/day for 10 days showed no significant field-dependent effects on radial maze choice accuracy or total completion time compared with sham-exposed controls, whether tested immediately after exposure or after 15 or 30 minutes.

Outcomes measured

  • Spatial learning performance in 8-arm radial maze
  • Working memory/choice accuracy
  • Total time to complete task

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Only one SAR level tested (0.05 W/kg)
  • Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
  • Exposure limited to 10 days and specific behavioral endpoints
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 0.05,
    "duration": "45 min/day for 10 days (acute repeated exposure); tested immediately or after 15 or 30 min delay"
  },
  "population": "Adult male C57BL/6J mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spatial learning performance in 8-arm radial maze",
    "Working memory/choice accuracy",
    "Total time to complete task"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Adult male C57BL/6J mice exposed to a low-intensity 900 MHz RF field pulsed at 217 Hz (average whole-body SAR 0.05 W/kg) for 45 min/day for 10 days showed no significant field-dependent effects on radial maze choice accuracy or total completion time compared with sham-exposed controls, whether tested immediately after exposure or after 15 or 30 minutes.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only one SAR level tested (0.05 W/kg)",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Exposure limited to 10 days and specific behavioral endpoints"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "microwave radiation",
    "GSM",
    "pulsed 217 Hz",
    "SAR",
    "GTEM cell",
    "far field",
    "mice",
    "C57BL/6J",
    "spatial learning",
    "working memory",
    "radial maze",
    "sham control",
    "blinded assessment"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure described as simulating a digital wireless telephone (GSM) signal at 900 MHz."
    }
  ]
}
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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/(sici)1521-186x(200004)21:3<151::aid-bem1>3.0.co;2-q
PubMed: 10723014

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