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Auditory brainstem response changes during exposure to GSM-900 radiation: An experimental study.

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Kaprana AE, Chimona TS, Papadakis CE, Velegrakis SG, Vardiambasis IO, Adamidis G, Velegrakis GA. · 2011

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Cell phone radiation disrupted auditory nerve signals in just 15 minutes, showing the nervous system treats EMF as a biological stressor.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rabbits to cell phone radiation (GSM-900) and measured how it affected their hearing pathway using auditory brainstem response tests. They found that the radiation caused statistically significant delays in nerve signal transmission through the hearing system, with effects appearing as early as 15 minutes of exposure. The changes returned to normal 24 hours after exposure ended, suggesting the auditory system responds to cell phone radiation as a biological stressor.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that cell phone radiation directly affects the nervous system in real-time, specifically disrupting the normal electrical activity of auditory pathways. The fact that measurable changes occurred within just 15 minutes of exposure is particularly significant, as this timeframe represents a typical phone call duration. What makes this research especially relevant is that GSM-900 is the same frequency band used by many cell phones worldwide. The researchers noted that these disruptions follow the pattern of a general stress response, suggesting the nervous system recognizes EMF as a biological stressor. While the effects were reversible in this study, the implications for chronic daily exposure remain concerning, especially given that most people use their phones for far longer than the exposure times tested here.

Exposure Information

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

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: GSM-900 Duration: 60, 45 and 15 min

Study Details

The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible electrophysiological time-related changes in auditory pathway during mobile phone electromagnetic field exposure.

Thirty healthy rabbits were enrolled in an experimental study of exposure to GSM-900 radiation for 6...

The mean absolute latency of waves III-V showed a statistically significant delay (p < 0.05) after 6...

The prolongation of interval latencies I-V and III-V indicates that exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phone can affect the normal electrophysiological activity of the auditory system, and these findings fit the pattern of general responses to a stressor.

Cite This Study
Kaprana AE, Chimona TS, Papadakis CE, Velegrakis SG, Vardiambasis IO, Adamidis G, Velegrakis GA. (2011). Auditory brainstem response changes during exposure to GSM-900 radiation: An experimental study. Audiol Neurootol. 16(4):270-276, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{ae_2011_auditory_brainstem_response_changes_2261,
  author = {Kaprana AE and Chimona TS and Papadakis CE and Velegrakis SG and Vardiambasis IO and Adamidis G and Velegrakis GA.},
  title = {Auditory brainstem response changes during exposure to GSM-900 radiation: An experimental study.},
  year = {2011},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21079392/},
}
PubMed: 21079392

Cited By (17 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, researchers found GSM-900 radiation caused statistically significant delays in auditory nerve signal transmission in rabbits. The delays appeared after just 15 minutes of exposure and affected multiple brainstem response waves, indicating the auditory system responds to cell phone radiation as a biological stressor.
Studies show 900 MHz radiation can affect hearing nerve pathways within 15 minutes of exposure. Researchers found statistically significant delays in auditory brainstem response waves after this brief exposure time, with effects becoming more pronounced at 30, 45, and 60 minutes of radiation exposure.
No, auditory brainstem response changes from 900 MHz cell phone radiation are not permanent. Research shows that while radiation exposure caused significant delays in nerve signal transmission, all measurements returned to normal baseline levels within 24 hours after exposure ended.
Yes, cell phone radiation affects the ear closest to the phone more than the opposite ear. Studies found statistically significant auditory brainstem response delays only in the ear directly exposed to GSM-900 radiation, while the contralateral ear showed no significant changes during exposure.
Waves III and V of the auditory brainstem response are most affected by 900 MHz radiation exposure. Research shows these waves experienced statistically significant delays, with interwave latencies I-V and III-V showing the most pronounced changes after 30 minutes of GSM-900 exposure.