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Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation.

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Fragopoulou AF, Samara A, Antonelou MH, Xanthopoulou A, Papadopoulou A, Vougas K, Koutsogiannopoulou E, Anastasiadou E, Stravopodis DJ, Tsangaris GT, Margaritis LH. · 2012

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Eight months of cell phone and cordless phone radiation exposure significantly altered 143 brain proteins in mice, potentially explaining common wireless-related symptoms.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Greek researchers exposed mice to cell phone and cordless phone radiation for 8 months and found that both sources significantly altered the expression of 143 brain proteins. The changes affected proteins involved in brain function, stress response, and cell structure across three different brain regions. These protein changes may explain common symptoms like headaches, sleep problems, and memory issues that people report with long-term wireless device use.

Why This Matters

This research provides crucial molecular evidence for what many people experience but science has struggled to explain - how everyday wireless radiation affects brain function. The exposure levels used (0.17-0.37 W/kg for cell phones, 0.012-0.028 W/kg for DECT phones) fall within ranges typical of real-world use, making these findings particularly relevant. What makes this study significant is its comprehensive approach - examining 143 different proteins across multiple brain regions over an extended 8-month period. The fact that both cell phone and cordless phone radiation produced similar protein disruptions suggests these effects aren't limited to one type of wireless technology. The researchers found changes in proteins critical for brain plasticity, stress response, and cellular structure, providing a biological basis for the headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and memory problems commonly reported by heavy wireless device users.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.17 - 0.37 W/kg
Exposure Duration
3 h daily for 8 months

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.17 - 0.37 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 9x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the proteome of cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe in Balb/c mice following long-term whole body irradiation.

Three equally divided groups of animals (6 animals/group) were used; the first group was exposed to ...

Comparative proteomics analysis revealed that long-term irradiation from both EMF sources altered si...

The observed protein expression changes may be related to brain plasticity alterations, indicative of oxidative stress in the nervous system or involved in apoptosis and might potentially explain human health hazards reported so far, such as headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, memory deficits, and brain tumor long-term induction under similar exposure conditions.

Cite This Study
Fragopoulou AF, Samara A, Antonelou MH, Xanthopoulou A, Papadopoulou A, Vougas K, Koutsogiannopoulou E, Anastasiadou E, Stravopodis DJ, Tsangaris GT, Margaritis LH. (2012). Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation. Electromagn Biol Med.31(4):250-274, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{af_2012_brain_proteome_response_following_978,
  author = {Fragopoulou AF and Samara A and Antonelou MH and Xanthopoulou A and Papadopoulou A and Vougas K and Koutsogiannopoulou E and Anastasiadou E and Stravopodis DJ and Tsangaris GT and Margaritis LH.},
  title = {Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation.},
  year = {2012},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22263702/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Greek researchers exposed mice to cell phone and cordless phone radiation for 8 months and found that both sources significantly altered the expression of 143 brain proteins. The changes affected proteins involved in brain function, stress response, and cell structure across three different brain regions. These protein changes may explain common symptoms like headaches, sleep problems, and memory issues that people report with long-term wireless device use.