Nursery EMF Research

No effect of an UMTS mobile phone‐like electromagnetic field of 1.97 GHz on human attention and reaction time

Unterlechner M, Sauter C, Schmid G, Zeitlhofer J · 2008

Elevation of plasma corticosterone levels and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor translocation in rats: a potential mechanism for cognition impairment following chronic low-power-density microwave exposure

Unknown authors · 2008

Elevation of plasma corticosterone levels and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor translocation in rats: a potential mechanism for cognition impairment following chronic low-power-density microwave exposure

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (similar to WiFi frequency) at very low power levels for 3 hours daily over 30 days. The exposed rats showed significant learning and memory problems, along with elevated stress hormones and brain cell death in the hippocampus. When researchers blocked the stress hormone pathway, the cognitive damage was partially prevented.

Effects of modulated microwave radiation at cellular telephone frequency (1.95 GHz) on X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Manti L et al. · 2008

Italian researchers exposed human blood cells to cell phone radiation (1.95 GHz UMTS signal) for 24 hours, then hit them with X-rays to see if the RF exposure made the radiation damage worse. While the cell phone signals didn't increase the number of damaged cells, they did cause a small but measurable increase in the severity of chromosome damage within each affected cell at the higher exposure level (2.0 W/kg SAR). This suggests RF radiation might interfere with the cell's ability to repair DNA damage from other sources.

Chronic non-thermal exposure of modulated 2450 MHz microwave radiation alters thyroid hormones and behavior of male rats.

Sinha RK · 2008

Researchers exposed male rats to 2450 MHz microwave radiation and assessed thyroid hormones and behavior. Exposed rats showed hyperactivity and aggression, with significant changes in open-field and elevated plus-maze tests. Thyroid hormone levels changed, with T3 decreasing and T4 increasing, correlating with behavioral changes.

The protective effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate on electric field-induced hepatic oxidative stress.

Guler G, Turkozer Z, Tomruk A, Seyhan N · 2008

Upregulation of Specific mRNA Levels in Rat Brain After Cell Phone Exposure

Yan JG, Agresti M, Zhang LL, Yan Y, Matloub HS. · 2008

Researchers exposed adult Sprague-Dawley rats to cell phones for 6 hours per day for 126 days and measured mRNA levels of several injury-associated proteins in the brain. The proteins evaluated included Calcium ATPase, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Neural Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. The results showed statistically significant mRNA up-regulation of these proteins in the brains of exposed rats.

Extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields enhance chemically induced formation of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)sites in A172 cells.

Koyama S, Sakurai T, Nakahara T, Miyakoshi J · 2008

Researchers measured apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites in human glioma A172 cells after exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields, genotoxic chemicals, or both. ELF magnetic fields alone produced no difference in AP sites compared with sham controls. The results suggest that the number of AP sites induced by MMS or H2O2 is enhanced by exposure to ELF magnetic fields at 5 millitesla (mT).

Mobile phone base station radiation does not affect neoplastic transformation in BALB/3T3 cells.

Hirose H et al. · 2008

Researchers continuously exposed BALB/3T3 cells to 2.1425 GHz W-CDMA RF fields at SARs of 80 and 800 mW/kg for 6 weeks. They also tested MCA-treated cells and MCA plus TPA-treated cells for tumor promotion and co-promotion effects. No significant differences in transformation frequency were found between RF-exposed groups and sham-exposed controls in any treatment condition. The results suggest that exposure to low-level RF radiation of up to 800 mW/kg does not induce cell transformation.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields: a study in the SOD-1 transgenic mouse model

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers used the SOD-1 mouse model to assess the possible effect of ELF magnetic fields on ALS development. Seven mice per group were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 100 and 1000 microT(rms) before clinical signs of ALS appeared. Exposure lasted 7 weeks while body weight, motor performance, and life span were monitored. The results showed no evidence of a link between ELF exposure and ALS in this transgenic animal model.

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on antioxidant activity in plasma and red blood cells in spot welders

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers studied 46 spot welders exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz, 8.8-84 microTesla) and found their red blood cells had significantly reduced antioxidant enzyme activity compared to unexposed workers. The study showed a 22% decrease in superoxide dismutase and 12.3% decrease in glutathione peroxidase, suggesting these magnetic fields act as oxidative stressors even at recommended exposure levels.

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on antioxidant activity in plasma and red blood cells in spot welders

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers studied 46 spot welders exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz, 8.8-84 microTesla) and found their red blood cells had significantly reduced antioxidant enzyme activity compared to unexposed workers. The stronger the magnetic field exposure, the greater the reduction in protective enzymes that normally defend cells against oxidative damage.

Assessing the Potential Leukemogenic Effects of 50 Hz and their Harmonics Using an Animal Leukemia Model

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers used a rat model of chemically induced B acute lymphoblastic leukemia to test effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields with and without harmonics. The experiment included 280 rats and compared body weight, survival time, bone marrow blast cells, cumulative leukemia incidence, and leukemia type between exposed and unexposed groups. No significant differences were found for any parameter (p > 0.05). Results did not support the hypothesis that ELF-MFs, with or without harmonics, affect the development of B acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

Exposure of Fischer 344 rats to a weak power frequency magnetic field facilitates mammary tumorigenesis in the DMBA model of breast cancer

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed groups of 108 DMBA-treated Fischer 344 rats to a 100 muT, 50 Hz magnetic field or sham exposure for 26 weeks. MF exposure significantly facilitated mammary tumorigenesis. The incidence of histologically verified adenocarcinomas was increased by 45% (P = 0.0095). The most pronounced effect on tumor incidence was seen in the cranial inguinal complexes.

Assessing the Potential Leukemogenic Effects of 50 Hz and their Harmonics Using an Animal Leukemia Model

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed 280 rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (100 microT) while chemically inducing leukemia to test whether power line frequencies promote cancer development. The study found no differences in survival, leukemia incidence, or disease progression between exposed and unexposed animals. This suggests that power line frequency magnetic fields do not accelerate leukemia development in this animal model.

Exposure of Fischer 344 rats to a weak power frequency magnetic field facilitates mammary tumorigenesis in the DMBA model of breast cancer

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed Fischer 344 rats to power line frequency magnetic fields (100 µT at 50 Hz) for 26 weeks after treating them with a cancer-causing chemical. The magnetic field exposure increased breast cancer rates by 45% compared to unexposed rats. This study suggests that common household and power grid magnetic fields may promote breast cancer development.

Microwave irradiation induces neurite outgrowth in PC12m3 cells via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Inoue S, Motoda H, Koike Y, Kawamura K, Hiragami F, Kano Y. · 2008

Exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave irradiation at 200 W increased neurite outgrowth frequency about 10-fold compared to non-irradiated controls. The increase was prevented by adding a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Microwave treatment did not cause toxicity, unlike heat shock at 45°C.

Effects of exposure to 50 Hz electric field at different strengths on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain tissue of guinea pigs.

Türközer Z, Güler G, Seyhan N. · 2008

Researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of varied 50 Hz electric field exposure on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in guinea pig brain homogenates. Guinea pigs were exposed to electric fields ranging from 2 to 5 kV/m for three days, eight hours per day, in both vertical and horizontal directions. No statistically significant differences were found between exposed and sham groups in lipid peroxidation levels or enzyme activities at any field strength or direction. Comparisons between vertical and horizontal exposure directions also showed no significant differences.

Effects of exposure to 50 Hz electric field at different strengths on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain tissue of guinea pigs.

Türközer Z, Güler G, Seyhan N · 2008

Researchers exposed guinea pigs to powerful electric fields (the kind found near high-voltage power lines) for 8 hours daily over three days to see if it would damage brain tissue through oxidative stress. They found no statistically significant effects on brain cell damage markers or antioxidant defenses, even at the highest exposure levels tested. While this suggests these particular electric field exposures may not cause measurable brain oxidative damage in the short term, the researchers noted some non-significant trends that warrant further investigation.

Physiologically patterned weak magnetic fields applied over left frontal lobe increase acceptance of false statements as true.

Ross ML, Koren SA, Persinger MA. · 2008

Researchers tested whether a weak magnetic field pulsed over the left prefrontal brain region at the moment of accepting or refuting a statement could increase the likelihood of later accepting a false statement as true. Fifty men and women were each exposed to one of four magnetic field conditions, or a sham field, over the left prefrontal region above the eyebrow. Groups that received the burst-firing or 25 Hz pulsed fields during the refutation process accepted about twice the number of false statements as true compared to those in the 50 Hz or sham-field conditions. The treatments did not significantly affect the numbers of true statements accepted as false.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields effects on the snail single neurons.

Partsvania B, Sulaberidze T, Modebadze Z, Shoshiashvili L. · 2008

Researchers studied how extremely low-frequency magnetic fields at 8.34 and 217 Hz affected the ability of single neurons in the mollusk Helix Pomatia to habituate to repeated stimuli. Brain ganglia were exposed to magnetic fields with peak values between 1 and 6 mT using Helmholtz coils, and neuron activity was recorded with a standard microelectrode technique. Exposure caused dehabituation, which the researchers described as occurring through degradation of the signal to noise ratio and alteration of the neuron's normal function.

Effects of modulated microwave radiation at cellular telephone frequency (1.95 GHz) on X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Manti L et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro to a UMTS signal at a frequency carrier of 1.95 GHz for 24 hours at 0.5 and 2.0 W/kg SAR. Cells were also given 4 Gy of X rays immediately before RF radiation or sham exposures, and chromosome aberrations were measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization. No significant variations due to the UMTS exposure were found in the fraction of aberrant cells, but the frequency of exchanges per cell showed a small but statistically significant increase of 0.11 exchange per cell compared to 0 W/kg SAR.

The mechanism of magnetic field-induced increase of excitability in hippocampal neurons.

Ahmed Z, Wieraszko A. · 2008

Researchers investigated the influence of a pulsed magnetic field on hippocampal evoked potentials in vitro. Exposure to a pulsed magnetic field at 0.16 Hz and 15 mT, applied for 30 minutes, amplified the population spike and the slope of EPSP recorded from hippocampal tissue. The amplification was additive to previously induced long-term potentiation and occurred in an NMDA-independent way. The pulsed magnetic field also modified paired-pulse facilitation and paired-pulse inhibition, suggesting it affects both excitatory and inhibitory processes in the hippocampus.

Chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields causes a significant weakening of antioxidant defence systems in aged rat brain

Falone S et al. · 2008

Researchers continuously exposed female Sprague-Dawley rats to a sinusoidal 50 Hz, 0.1 mT magnetic field for 10 days. The study examined antioxidant protection systems and neurotrophic support in brain cortices, as a function of the age of the subjects. Exposure significantly affected antioxidant capability in both young and aged animals, but in opposite ways. The researchers suggested that exposure to these fields may act as a risk factor for oxidative stress-based nervous system pathologies associated with ageing.

Effect of electric field in conditioned aversion response.

Harakawa S et al. · 2008

Researchers examined how a 50 Hz sinusoidal electric field affected the voluntary behavior of Wistar rats using a conditioned place aversion response based on an aversive behavior against light environment. Rats conditioned without the electric field spent significantly less time in the white place, while rats conditioned with the electric field did not show such changes. The researchers considered that the aversion response to the light environment was interfered by exposure to the electric field.