Oxidative stress induced by 1.8 GHz radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and effects of garlic extract in rats.
Avci B, Akar A, Bilgici B, Tunçel ÖK. · 2012
View Original AbstractCell phone-level radiation caused measurable brain protein damage in rats after just three weeks of daily exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for one hour daily over three weeks at levels comparable to phone use. The radiation caused protein damage in brain tissue and increased nitric oxide levels in blood, indicating oxidative stress. When rats were given garlic extract alongside the radiation exposure, the brain protein damage was significantly reduced.
Why This Matters
This study adds to the growing body of evidence that radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to cell phone use can trigger oxidative stress in the brain. The 0.4 W/kg SAR level used here falls within the range of typical smartphone emissions during calls. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is the demonstration that antioxidants can provide some protection against RF-induced damage. The science demonstrates that even relatively brief daily exposures can measurably alter brain chemistry. While this was an animal study, the biological mechanisms of oxidative stress are well-conserved across species, making these findings relevant to human health concerns about chronic cell phone use.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1.8 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 1 h a day for three weeks.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
We aimed to study the oxidative damage induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile telephones and the protective effect of garlic extract used as an anti-oxidant against this damage.
A total of 66 albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The first group of rats was given 1...
After the RF-EMR exposed, the advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels of brain tissue incre...
The exposure of RF-EMR similar to 1.8 GHz Global system for mobile communication (GSM) leads to protein oxidation in brain tissue and an increase in serum NO. We observed that garlic administration reduced protein oxidation in brain tissue and that it did not have any effects on serum NO levels.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2012_oxidative_stress_induced_by_828,
author = {Avci B and Akar A and Bilgici B and Tunçel ÖK.},
title = {Oxidative stress induced by 1.8 GHz radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and effects of garlic extract in rats.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22788526/},
}