Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Developmental toxicity interactions of methanol and radiofrequency radiation or 2-methoxyethanol in rats
Nelson BK, Snyder DL, Shaw PB · 2001
View Original AbstractRF radiation didn't enhance methanol's developmental toxicity in rats, but chemical-EMF interactions remain poorly understood and understudied.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 10 MHz radiofrequency radiation combined with methanol (a common industrial solvent) to test whether RF radiation might worsen the developmental toxicity of chemicals. While both RF radiation and methanol individually increased fetal resorptions and malformations, no interactive effects were found between RF and methanol specifically. This suggests that RF radiation doesn't universally enhance chemical toxicity during pregnancy, though the researchers emphasized that such interactions are complex and require more study.
Study Details
We previously demonstrated that combined exposure to RF radiation (10 MHz) and the industrial solvent, 2-methoxyethanol (2ME), enhanced teratogenicity in rats. Interactions were noted at even the lowest levels of 2ME tested, but only at hyperthermic levels of RF radiation. The purpose of the present research is to investigate if the interactive effects noted for RF radiation and 2ME are unique to these agents, or if similar interactions might be seen with other chemicals. Because methanol is widely used as a solvent as well as fuel additive, and, at high levels, is teratogenic in animals, we selected methanol as a chemical to address generalizability.
Based on the literature and our pilot studies, 0, 2, or 3 g/kg methanol (twice, at 6-hour intervals)...
The results indicate that RF radiation or methanol on day 9 increased the incidence of resorbed fetu...
These results point out that interactions in developmental toxicology, such as those of RF radiation, 2ME, and methanol that we have studied, are complex, and such interactions cannot be fully understood or predicted without more research. It is important that combined exposure effects be considered when developing both physical agent and chemical agent exposure guidelines and intervention strategies.
Show BibTeX
@article{bk_2001_developmental_toxicity_interactions_of_3272,
author = {Nelson BK and Snyder DL and Shaw PB},
title = {Developmental toxicity interactions of methanol and radiofrequency radiation or 2-methoxyethanol in rats},
year = {2001},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11354470/},
}