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The effects of mobile phones on apoptosis in cerebral tissue: an experimental study on rats

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Yilmaz A, Yilmaz N, Serarslan Y, Aras M, Altas M, Ozgür T, Sefil F · 2014

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Rat brain tissue exposed to mobile phone electromagnetic waves showed more p53 and Bcl-2 positive stained cells than controls, suggesting a possible effect on apoptosis.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to electromagnetic waves from mobile phones at frequencies between 1900 and 2100 MHz for a four-week period to study effects on apoptosis-related proteins in brain tissue. Immunohistopathological examinations showed that the study group had more p53 and Bcl-2 positive stained cells, and they were stained denser, with statistically significant differences between the study and control groups (p < 0.003). The researchers concluded that electromagnetic waves from mobile phones may have an effect on apoptosis.

Why This Matters

The study included a group of 10 rats exposed to mobile phone electromagnetic waves, a sham group (n=10) that was only immobilized without EMW exposure, and a control group (n=10) with no application. Exposure was designed to simulate daily mobile phone use, with phones attached to rat ears 7 times a day during 5 minutes for a four-week period. Each session consisted of 3 seconds in dialing mode and 4 minutes and 47 seconds in calling mode. The Specific Absorption Rate of the phones ranged between 0.005 W/kg and 0.288 W/kg in dialing mode, and between 0.004 W/kg and 0.029 W/kg in calling mode. For Bcl-2, there was also a statistically significant difference between the study group and the sham group (p < 0.005), but for p53 the difference between those two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.005). The researchers noted that more realistic application of mobile phones during experiments is more important as expected.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.005 to 0.288 & 0.004 to 0.029 W/kg
Source/Device
1900-2100 MHz Mobile phones
Exposure Duration
7 times a day during 5 minutes (3 seconds dialing mode, 4 minutes and 47 seconds of calling mode) for a four week period

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.005 to 0.288 & 0.004 to 0.029 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 400 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.10 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.10 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

Aim of this report was to investigate the effects of the mobile phones on the Bcl-2 gene and p53 proteins in rat brains.

In the study group of 10 rats; mobile phones that spread EMW at a frequency between 1900-2100 MHz a...

Immunohistopathological examinations revealed that the samples in the study group had more p53 and B...

Our results showed that the electro-magnetic waves emitted by the mobile phones may have effect on apoptosis. Besides, obtained data revealed that more realistic application of mobile phones during experiments is more important as expected.

Cite This Study
Yilmaz A, Yilmaz N, Serarslan Y, Aras M, Altas M, Ozgür T, Sefil F (2014). The effects of mobile phones on apoptosis in cerebral tissue: an experimental study on rats Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 18(7):992-1000, 2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2014_the_effects_of_mobile_209,
  author = {Yilmaz A and Yilmaz N and Serarslan Y and Aras M and Altas M and Ozgür T and Sefil F},
  title = {The effects of mobile phones on apoptosis in cerebral tissue: an experimental study on rats},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/992-1000.pdf},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers measured p53 and Bcl-2 expression in rat brain tissue using immunohistopathological examination.
Mobile phones emitting electromagnetic waves at 1900-2100 MHz were attached to rat ears 7 times a day during 5 minutes over a four-week period.
Differences in both p53 and Bcl-2 staining between the study and control groups were statistically significant (p < 0.003), and Bcl-2 differences between the study and sham groups were also significant (p < 0.005).
The researchers concluded that electromagnetic waves from mobile phones may have an effect on apoptosis.
Sham group rats were only immobilized without electromagnetic wave exposure, while control group rats received no application at all.