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Effect of 900 MHz radıofrequency radıatıon on oxıdatıve stress in rat brain and serum

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Bilgici B, Akar A, Avci B, Tuncel OK · 2013

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Cell phone-level RF radiation caused measurable brain damage in rats after just three weeks of daily exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by many cell phones) for one hour daily over three weeks at levels similar to what humans experience. They found significant increases in oxidative stress markers in the brain, indicating cellular damage from free radicals. Interestingly, rats given garlic powder showed protection against this brain damage, suggesting antioxidants may help counteract RF radiation effects.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that radiofrequency radiation at everyday exposure levels can trigger oxidative stress in brain tissue. The SAR level of 1.08 W/kg falls within the range of typical cell phone exposures, making these findings directly relevant to human health concerns. What makes this research particularly compelling is the demonstration that antioxidants like garlic can provide measurable protection against RF-induced cellular damage. The science demonstrates that even relatively brief daily exposures can accumulate meaningful biological effects over time. While we can't extrapolate directly from rat studies to humans, the consistency of oxidative stress findings across multiple species strengthens the case for precautionary measures around wireless device use, especially for vulnerable populations like children whose developing brains may be more susceptible to these effects.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.08 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
1 h/day for 3 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 1.08 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

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: 1.08 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of this study is to observe Effect of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation on oxidative stress in rat brain and serum

In this study, we examined the oxidative stress in the brain tissue and serum of rats that resulted ...

We found that malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.001) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) (p < 0...

Our results suggest that there is a significant increase in brain lipid and protein oxidation after electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure and that garlic has a protective effect against this oxidative stress.

Cite This Study
Bilgici B, Akar A, Avci B, Tuncel OK (2013). Effect of 900 MHz radıofrequency radıatıon on oxıdatıve stress in rat brain and serum Electromagn Biol Med. 32:20-29, 2013.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2013_effect_of_900_mhz_513,
  author = {Bilgici B and Akar A and Avci B and Tuncel OK},
  title = {Effect of 900 MHz radıofrequency radıatıon on oxıdatıve stress in rat brain and serum},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2012.699012},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2012.699012},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by many cell phones) for one hour daily over three weeks at levels similar to what humans experience. They found significant increases in oxidative stress markers in the brain, indicating cellular damage from free radicals. Interestingly, rats given garlic powder showed protection against this brain damage, suggesting antioxidants may help counteract RF radiation effects.