Deshmukh PS et al. · 2013
The study investigated possible DNA-damaging effects of low-level microwave radiation in the brains of male Fischer rats. Rats were exposed for 30 days at three frequencies: 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz, at specific absorption rates on the order of 10−4 W/kg. DNA damage in brain tissue was assessed using alkaline comet assay after the exposure period. The researchers concluded that low SAR microwave radiation at these frequencies may induce DNA strand breaks in brain tissue.
Haghani M, Shabani M, Moazzami K · 2013
Researchers exposed pregnant Wistar rats to 900-MHz pulse-EMF irradiation for 6 hours per day throughout gestation, then evaluated ten offspring per group. Behavioral tests did not reveal any abnormalities in the exposed offspring. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings revealed decreased neuronal excitability of Purkinje cells, with changes in afterhyperpolarization amplitude, spike frequency, half width, and first spike latency.
Lv B, Chen Z, Wu T, Shao Q, Yan D, Ma L, Lu K, Xie Y. · 2013
Eighteen subjects participated in a double-blind, crossover, randomized and counterbalanced experiment including real and sham exposure sessions. Resting-state fMRI signals were collected before and after exposure, with the radiation source placed close to the right ear. After real exposure, decreased ALFF values were found in the left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and right paracentral lobule.
Odacı E et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields for one hour daily between days 13 and 21 of pregnancy, then assessed the female pups' spinal cord tissue and motor behavior. The rotarod test showed a significant increase in motor functions in the EMF group pups (p=0.037), while the open field test found no difference between groups. Pathological changes were observed in the spinal cords of the EMF group pups, and the researchers suggested these changes may have led to the increase in motor activity.
Bai WF, Xu WC, Feng Y, Huang H, Li XP, Deng CY, Zhang MS. · 2013
Researchers divided rat bone marrow stromal cells into three groups: one treated with electromagnetic fields, one induced without fields, and a control group. The cells in the EMF group expressed neuron-specific markers and genes, formed synaptic junctions, and pulsed excitatory postsynaptic currents. The researchers suggested that EMF appears to be a promising clinical option for stem cell transplantation therapies to combat central nervous system diseases.
Balassa T et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (0.5 and 3 mT, 50 Hz) during two critical periods of brain development: in utero during the second gestation week, or as newborns for 7 days starting 3 days after birth. Basic excitability of hippocampal slices was increased by both the fetal 0.5 mT and the newborn 3 mT treatments. Fetal exposure significantly inhibited paired-pulse depression and significantly decreased the efficacy of long-term potentiation induction in the neocortex, but not in the hippocampus. Neonatal treatment had no significant effect on plasticity phenomena.
Calabrò E et al. · 2013
Researchers used SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells as an experimental model to study the effects of a 50 Hz electromagnetic field in the range from 50 µT to 1.4 mT. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed a reduction in intensity of the amide A band and a slight increase of vibration bands corresponding to methylene groups. Exposure to a 50 Hz electromagnetic field higher than 0.8 mT was associated with a significant reduction of cell viability and reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential.
Deng Y, Zhang Y, Jia S, Liu J, Liu Y, Xu W, Liu L. · 2013
Researchers divided sixty male SPF Kunming mice into four groups: a control group, an ELF-MF group exposed at 2 mT for 4 hours per day, a group given aluminum at 200 mg per kg, and a combined ELF-MF plus aluminum group. After 8 weeks of treatment, all three exposure groups showed learning memory impairment, with prolonged escaping latency to the platform and a reduced percentage of time in the platform quadrant in the Morris water maze task. All three exposed groups showed a statistically significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and an increase in malondialdehyde levels. The combined ELF-MF plus aluminum treatment induced no more damage than ELF-MF and aluminum did separately.
Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Lu R, Zhang R, Sun G, Sun X. · 2013
Researchers investigated whether lotus seedpod procyanidins (LSPCs) given by oral gavage could protect mice from cognitive deficits and oxidative damage caused by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure at 50 Hz and 8 mT for 28 days. A water maze test indicated that learning and memory abilities of the ELF-EMF group deteriorated significantly compared with the control group, but the ELF-EMF + LSPCs90 group had remarkably improved learning and memory abilities compared with the ELF-EMF group. ELF-EMF exposure was associated with significant increases in oxidative stress markers and decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities.
Manjhi J, Kumar S, Behari J, Mathur R. · 2013
Researchers studied whether extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field exposure could reduce osteoporosis caused by spinal cord injury in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 24) were equally divided into sham, SCI, and SCI+MF groups. Starting one day after injury, the exposed group received ELF magnetic field at 17.96 micro-Tesla and 50 Hz for two hours per day over eight weeks. Bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and biochemical markers were significantly lower in spinal cord injury rats compared with the sham group, and these decreases were attenuated in the magnetic field-treated group, except for carbon content.
Park JE, Seo YK, Yoon HH, Kim CW, Park JK, Jeon S · 2013
Researchers treated human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) with ELF-EMF at 50 Hz and 1 mT and measured neural marker expression and cell signaling. The expression of neural markers NF-L, MAP2, and NeuroD1 increased at 6 days, while phosphorylation of Akt and CREB, but not ERK, increased at 90 min. The researchers suggest that EMF induces neural differentiation through activation of EGFR signaling and mild generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Atasoy HI, Gunal MY, Atasoy P, Elgun S, Bugdayci G · 2013
Researchers exposed male rats to radiofrequency radiation from Wi-Fi devices operating at 2.437 GHz for 24 hours a day for 20 weeks, then examined their testes. The exposed rats showed significant increases in markers indicating DNA damage in the testes compared to controls. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were decreased in the exposed group, which the researchers suggested may have been due to radiofrequency effects on enzyme activity. The researchers said these findings raise questions about the safety of radiofrequency exposure from Wi-Fi Internet access devices for growing organisms of reproductive age, with a potential effect on both fertility and the integrity of germ cells.
Hancı H et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 900-MHz EMF during days 13–21 of pregnancy and examined the testicles of their offspring at postnatal day 21. The offspring of exposed mothers showed irregularities in seminiferous tubule basal membrane and epithelium, immature germ cells in the lumen, and a decreased diameter in seminiferous tubules and thickness of epithelium. Apoptotic index, lipid peroxidation, and DNA oxidation were higher in the offspring of exposed mothers than in controls.
Liu C, Duan W, Xu S, Chen C, He M, Zhang L, Yu Z, Zhou Z. · 2013
Researchers exposed a mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cell line to 1800 MHz GSM signals for 24 hours using an intermittent schedule of 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off, at SAR levels of 1 W/kg, 2 W/kg, or 4 W/kg. At a SAR of 4 W/kg, DNA migration in a modified comet assay was significantly increased, and levels of the DNA adduct 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) were also increased. No detectable DNA strand breakage was observed by the alkaline comet assay. The increases in DNA damage were accompanied by increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and these effects were mitigated by co-treatment with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol.
Balassa T et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed developing rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) during critical brain development periods and found lasting changes in brain function. The exposed animals showed altered electrical activity in brain regions responsible for learning and memory, with some changes persisting weeks after exposure ended. This suggests that magnetic field exposure during early development may affect how the brain processes information later in life.
Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Lu R, Zhang R, Sun G, Sun X. · 2013
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) for 28 days and found it damaged their learning, memory, and brain cells through oxidative stress. When mice were given lotus seedpod antioxidants during exposure, these harmful effects were largely prevented. This suggests that extremely low frequency EMF exposure can cause measurable brain damage, but antioxidants may offer some protection.
Deshmukh PS et al. · 2013
Scientists exposed rats to cell phone-level microwave radiation (900 MHz) for 30 days at extremely low power levels. They discovered DNA damage in brain tissue even at exposures thousands of times weaker than current safety limits, suggesting cellular harm may occur below regulatory thresholds.
Ayinmode BO, Farai IP. · 2013
Researchers studied how radiofrequency radiation power density varied with distance around mobile phone base stations at ten randomly selected locations in Ibadan, western Nigeria. Measurements were made with a calibrated hand-held spectrum analyser. The result of this study demonstrates that exposure of people to RF radiation from phone base stations in Ibadan city is far less than the recommended limits by international scientific bodies.
Banaceur S, Banasr S, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H. · 2013
Researchers exposed mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms to WiFi signals (2.4 GHz) for two hours daily over a month at levels similar to cell phone exposure. Surprisingly, the WiFi exposure actually improved cognitive performance and memory in the Alzheimer's mice compared to unexposed mice. This unexpected finding suggests radiofrequency radiation might have therapeutic potential for certain brain conditions, though the mechanism remains unclear.
Beekhuizen J, Vermeulen R, Kromhout H, Bürgi A, Huss A. · 2013
Researchers modelled radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) across Amsterdam using a three-dimensional model called NISMap, then compared the results to actual measurements taken in areas with different built-up characteristics. The modelled values agreed well with measurements, with Spearman correlations of 0.86 for GSM900 and 0.85 for UMTS. The researchers concluded that NISMap provides a reliable way of assessing environmental RF-EMF exposure for epidemiological studies in urban areas.
Bilgici B, Akar A, Avci B, Tuncel OK. · 2013
Researchers exposed rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field at a whole body average specific absorption rate of 1.08 W/kg for 1 h/day for 3 weeks. Malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein product levels increased in rat brain tissue after exposure, suggesting increased lipid and protein oxidation. Garlic reduced the brain oxidative stress markers, though it did not affect the increase in serum nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide levels in the brain showed no significant difference after exposure, but serum nitric oxide increased significantly.
İkinci A et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 900 MHz EMF for one hour daily from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy. The study used 3 pregnant rats per group and yielded 13 control and 10 EMF female pups for testing.
Lustenberger C et al. · 2013
Sixteen male subjects completed two experimental nights, one with all-night pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure at 0.25–0.8 Hz. Sleep efficiency exceeded 90 percent in both conditions. Slow-wave activity increased during pulsed exposure compared to sham toward the end of the sleep period. Spindle activity did not change. Motor sequence task improvement was reduced by 20.1 percent during exposure versus sham.
Mohammed HS, Fahmy HM, Radwah NM, Elsayed AA · 2013
Researchers investigated the effect of chronic low-level non-thermal electromagnetic radiation on sleep EEG in rats. They used two types of radiation fields: 900 MHz unmodulated and 900 MHz modulated at 8 and 16 Hz, with exposure for one month at one hour per day. EEG power spectral analyses revealed that REM sleep was more susceptible to modulated radiofrequency radiation than slow wave sleep. The latency of REM sleep increased due to radiation exposure, indicating a change in the ultradian rhythm of normal sleep cycles. The authors concluded that exposure to electromagnetic radiation in awake animals can alter subsequent sleep structure and suggested cumulative irreversible effects.
Maaroufi K et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed Long-Evans rats to 900 MHz EMF alone or combined with iron overload and tested them in spatial learning tasks including the Morris water maze, radial-arm maze, and object exploration. EMF-exposed rats were impaired in the object exploration task but not in the navigation or working memory tasks. Combined EMF and iron overload did not produce greater behavioral or neurochemical deficits than EMF alone, and neither treatment caused global oxidative stress.
