6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Brain & Nervous System

Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba 2+ currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons.

No Effects Found

Platano D, Mesirca P, Paffi A, Pellegrino M, Liberti M, Apollonio F, Bersani F, Aicardi G · 2007

View Original Abstract
Share:

Brief 90-second exposures to cell phone radiation didn't affect calcium channels in rat brain cells, but this doesn't address long-term exposure concerns.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Italian researchers exposed rat brain cells to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) to see if it affected calcium channels, which are crucial for brain cell communication. After exposing the cells to radiation at 2 W/kg for short periods, they found no changes in how calcium moved through these channels. This suggests that brief exposure to cell phone-level radiation may not immediately disrupt this particular aspect of brain cell function.

Why This Matters

This study examines a critical question in EMF research: whether radiofrequency radiation affects calcium channels in brain cells, which are essential for neural communication. The 2 W/kg exposure level is significant because it matches the legal SAR limit for cell phones in many countries. However, the study's design has important limitations that readers should understand. The researchers only tested acute exposures lasting 90 seconds, which doesn't reflect how we actually use wireless devices throughout our daily lives. The reality is that most EMF health concerns center on chronic, long-term exposure patterns rather than brief exposures. While this negative result is noteworthy, it represents just one piece of a much larger research puzzle that includes hundreds of studies showing various biological effects from RF radiation.

Exposure Details

SAR
2 W/kg
Source/Device
GSM‐modulated 900 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 2 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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

We have studied the non‐thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on Ba2+ currents (equation image) through voltage‐gated calcium channels (VGCC), recorded in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons using the patch‐clamp technique.

To assess whether low‐level acute RF field exposure could modify the amplitude and/or the voltage‐de...

The results obtained indicate that single or multiple acute exposures to either CW or GSM‐modulated ...

Cite This Study
Platano D, Mesirca P, Paffi A, Pellegrino M, Liberti M, Apollonio F, Bersani F, Aicardi G (2007). Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba 2+ currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons. Bioelectromagnetics. 28(8):599-607, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2007_acute_exposure_to_lowlevel_2795,
  author = {Platano D and Mesirca P and Paffi A and Pellegrino M and Liberti M and Apollonio F and Bersani F and Aicardi G},
  title = {Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba 2+ currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons.},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20345},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20345},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20345

Cited By (38 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Italian researchers found that 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation at 2 W/kg does not affect calcium channels in rat brain neurons. The study exposed cortical neurons to GSM-modulated signals and found no changes in calcium current amplitude or voltage relationships, suggesting these critical brain cell communication pathways remain unaffected by brief cell phone-level exposures.
A 2007 study found no disruption to brain cell communication from GSM 900 MHz radiation at 2 W/kg. Researchers exposed rat cortical neurons to both continuous wave and GSM-modulated signals and detected no significant changes in voltage-gated calcium channels, which are essential for neuron-to-neuron communication in the brain.
Short-term exposure to 900 MHz cell phone radiation does not affect rat cortical neurons, according to Italian research. The study used acute exposures at 2 W/kg and found no alterations in calcium channel function, suggesting brief exposure periods may not immediately impact this particular aspect of brain cell activity.
Voltage-gated calcium channels remain unchanged during 900 MHz EMF exposure, research shows. Italian scientists exposed rat brain neurons to both continuous and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiation at cell phone-relevant power levels and found no significant alterations in calcium current properties or voltage relationships through these critical cellular channels.
Multiple acute exposures to GSM 900 MHz radiation do not damage cortical neurons, according to laboratory research. Scientists tested both single and repeated exposures on rat brain cells and found no significant changes in calcium channel function, indicating that brief, repeated exposures may not immediately harm these specific brain cell mechanisms.