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Does Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Modify Thermal Preference in Juvenile Rats?

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Pelletier A, Delanaud S, de Seze R, Bach V, Libert JP, Loos N. · 2014

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RF-EMF exposure induced a shift in thermal preference towards higher temperatures in juvenile rats, along with greater slow wave sleep during the light period.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers recorded thermal preference and sleep in 18 young male Wistar rats, with nine exposed to a low-intensity RF-EMF at 900 MHz and nine serving as non-exposed controls. During the light period, exposed rats preferred to sleep at an air temperature of 31°C while controls preferred 28°C. During the dark period, no significant differences between groups were found.

Why This Matters

The study used a three-compartment chamber set to air temperatures of 24°C, 28°C, and 31°C to assess which temperature the animals chose to occupy. Exposure was associated with a significantly lower tail skin temperature of minus 1.6°C compared with the control group. The researchers concluded that RF-EMF exposure induced a shift in thermal preference towards higher temperatures, which they suggested might result from a cold thermal sensation. The researchers suggested that modulation of slow wave sleep may be a protective adaptation in response to RF-EMF exposure. Paradoxical sleep did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Exposure Details

Electric Field
1 V/m
Source/Device
900 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 1 V/m for electric fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

Here, we sought to establish whether sleep disturbances might result from the disturbance of thermoregulatory processes by a RF-EMF.

We recorded thermal preference and sleep stage distribution in 18 young male Wistar rats. Nine anima...

Our results indicated that relative to control group, exposure to RF-EMF at 31°C was associated with...

We conclude that RF-EMF exposure induced a shift in thermal preference towards higher temperatures. The shift in preferred temperature might result from a cold thermal sensation. The change in sleep stage distribution may involve signals from thermoreceptors in the skin. Modulation of SWS may be a protective adaptation in response to RF-EMF exposure.

Cite This Study
Pelletier A, Delanaud S, de Seze R, Bach V, Libert JP, Loos N. (2014). Does Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Modify Thermal Preference in Juvenile Rats? PLoS One. 2014 Jun 6;9(6):e99007. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099007.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2014_does_exposure_to_a_169,
  author = {Pelletier A and Delanaud S and de Seze R and Bach V and Libert JP and Loos N.},
  title = {Does Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Modify Thermal Preference in Juvenile Rats?},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0099007},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used 18 young male Wistar rats; nine were exposed to a 900 MHz radiofrequency field at 1 V per metre for five weeks, and nine were non-exposed controls.
The researchers concluded that RF-EMF exposure induced a shift in thermal preference towards higher temperatures. During the light period, exposed rats preferred 31°C while controls preferred 28°C.
During the dark period, there were no significant differences between the exposed and control groups.
The researchers suggested that the change in sleep stage distribution may involve signals from thermoreceptors in the skin, and that modulation of slow wave sleep may be a protective adaptation.