Oxidative stress-mediated skin damage in an experimental mobile phone model can be prevented by melatonin
Ayata A, Mollaoglu H, Yilmaz HR, Akturk O, Ozguner F, Altuntas I · 2004
View Original AbstractCell phone frequency radiation caused measurable skin damage in just 10 days, but melatonin prevented most effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 30 minutes daily over 10 days and found significant skin damage including increased fibrosis (tissue scarring) and oxidative stress markers. When rats were given melatonin before radiation exposure, most of the skin damage was prevented. This suggests that cell phone radiation can cause measurable skin damage through oxidative stress, but antioxidants like melatonin may offer protection.
Why This Matters
This study adds to the growing body of evidence that radiofrequency radiation causes oxidative stress in living tissue. What makes this research particularly relevant is that 900 MHz falls within the frequency range used by GSM cell phones, making these findings directly applicable to everyday exposures. The fact that melatonin prevented most of the radiation-induced skin damage suggests the mechanism involves oxidative stress rather than direct thermal effects. While the 2-watt exposure level is higher than typical cell phone emissions, the skin is often in direct contact with phones during calls, creating localized high-exposure scenarios. The research demonstrates that even short daily exposures can produce measurable biological changes, challenging the assumption that non-thermal RF exposure is harmless.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: Every day for 10 days (30 min/day)
Study Details
The effects of 900 MHz of radiation on fibrosis, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes and the ameliorating effects of melatonin (Mel) were evaluated in rat skin.
Thirty Wistar-Albino rats were used in the study. The experimental groups were the control group, th...
MDA and hydroxyproline levels and activities of CAT and GSH-Px were increased significantly in the I...
These results suggest that rats irradiated with 900 MHz suffer from increased fibrosis and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Mel treatment can reduce the fibrosis and LPO caused by radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2004_oxidative_stressmediated_skin_damage_1612,
author = {Ayata A and Mollaoglu H and Yilmaz HR and Akturk O and Ozguner F and Altuntas I},
title = {Oxidative stress-mediated skin damage in an experimental mobile phone model can be prevented by melatonin},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00620.x},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00620.x},
}