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Blood-brain barrier disruption by continuous-wave radio frequency radiation

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Sirav B, Seyhan N · 2009

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Twenty minutes of cell phone radiation made the blood-brain barrier more permeable in male rats at exposure levels comparable to phone calls.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 20 minutes and found it made the blood-brain barrier more permeable in males but not females. This protective brain barrier normally keeps toxins out, suggesting cell phone radiation might compromise brain protection.

Why This Matters

This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that radiofrequency radiation can compromise the blood-brain barrier, your brain's critical defense system against toxins and pathogens. What makes this research particularly significant is that it used power densities (12.8 mW/cm²) that are within range of what you might experience during a phone call held close to your head. The finding that only male rats were affected highlights an important gap in our understanding of how biological sex influences EMF sensitivity. The reality is that a compromised blood-brain barrier isn't just an academic concern - it potentially allows harmful substances to reach brain tissue that would normally be protected. While the researchers appropriately call for more studies, the precautionary principle suggests we shouldn't wait for definitive proof before taking reasonable steps to reduce our exposure, especially given that similar blood-brain barrier effects have been documented in other independent studies.

Exposure Details

Power Density
12.8 µW/m²
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
20 min

Study Details

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 900 and 1,800 MHz Continuous Wave Radio Frequency Radiation (CW RFR) on the permeability of Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) of rats.

Results have shown that 20 min RFR exposure of 900 and 1,800 MHz induces an effect and increases the...

More studies are needed to demonstrate the effects of RFR on the permeability of BBB and the mechanisms of that breakdown.

Cite This Study
Sirav B, Seyhan N (2009). Blood-brain barrier disruption by continuous-wave radio frequency radiation Electromagn Biol Med. 28:215-222, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2009_bloodbrain_barrier_disruption_by_182,
  author = {Sirav B and Seyhan N},
  title = {Blood-brain barrier disruption by continuous-wave radio frequency radiation},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1080/15368370802608738},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15368370802608738},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 20 minutes and found it made the blood-brain barrier more permeable in males but not females. This protective brain barrier normally keeps toxins out, suggesting cell phone radiation might compromise brain protection.