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Oxidative Stress165 citations

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain

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Sokolovic D, Djindjic B, Nikolic J, Bjelakovic G, Pavlovic D, Kocic G, Krstic D, Cvetkovic T, Pavlovic V · 2008

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Exposure to mobile phone microwave radiation increased markers of oxidative stress in rat brain tissue, and melatonin treatment partially prevented this damage.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed Wistar rats to microwave radiation from a mobile test phone for 20, 40, and 60 days to evaluate oxidative stress in brain tissue and whether melatonin could reduce it. Exposure led to a significant increase in malondialdehyde and carbonyl group concentrations in brain tissue, along with decreased catalase activity and increased xanthine oxidase activity. Melatonin treatment significantly prevented the rise in MDA content and xanthine oxidase activity after 40 days of exposure, but was unable to prevent the decrease in catalase activity or the increase in carbonyl group content.

Why This Matters

The study used four groups of Wistar rats: a saline control group, a melatonin-only group, a microwave-exposed group, and a microwave-exposed group also treated with melatonin. The microwave radiation was produced by a mobile test phone with a SAR of 0.043 to 0.135 W/kg. MDA and carbonyl groups are markers of oxidative damage, and the study found their levels rose significantly in exposed animals. Melatonin was given at a dose of 2 mg per kilogram of body weight, injected intraperitoneally each day. The researchers noted that melatonin's protective effect was only partial, as it could not counteract all the oxidative changes observed.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.00869 mT
SAR
0.043-0.135 W/kg
Electric Field
18.356 V/m
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
4 h/day, for 20, 40, and 60 days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.00869 mT for magnetic fields:

This study used 18.356 V/m for electric fields:

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: 0.00869 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 23 times higher than this level
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

The aim of the study was to evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress in the brain of animals chronically exposed to mobile phones and potential protective effects of melatonin in reducing oxidative stress and brain injury.

Experiments were performed on Wistar rats exposed to microwave radiation during 20, 40 and 60 days....

A significant increase in the brain tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl group concentration wa...

We demonstrated two important findings; that mobile phones caused oxidative damage biochemically by increasing the levels of MDA, carbonyl groups, XO activity and decreasing CAT activity; and that treatment with the melatonin significantly prevented oxidative damage in the brain.

Cite This Study
Sokolovic D, Djindjic B, Nikolic J, Bjelakovic G, Pavlovic D, Kocic G, Krstic D, Cvetkovic T, Pavlovic V (2008). Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain J Radiat Res. 49(6):579-586, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2008_melatonin_reduces_oxidative_stress_188,
  author = {Sokolovic D and Djindjic B and Nikolic J and Bjelakovic G and Pavlovic D and Kocic G and Krstic D and Cvetkovic T and Pavlovic V},
  title = {Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18827438/#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20We%20demonstrated%20two%20important,oxidative%20damage%20in%20the%20brain.},
}
PubMed: 18827438

Cited By (165 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The experiments were performed on Wistar rats.
The researchers measured malondialdehyde, carbonyl group concentration, catalase activity, and xanthine oxidase activity in brain tissue.
Melatonin only partially protected the brain tissue: it significantly prevented increases in MDA content and xanthine oxidase activity, but was unable to prevent the decrease in catalase activity or the increase in carbonyl group content.
The mobile test phone used in the study produced microwave radiation at a SAR of 0.043 to 0.135 W/kg.
Rats were exposed for periods of 20, 40, and 60 days.