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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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Cell phone radiation caused measurable brain damage in rats at typical phone exposure levels, but melatonin partially prevented this oxidative stress.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation for 60 days and found it damaged brain cells through oxidative stress (harmful free radicals). Melatonin, a natural hormone, partially protected against this brain damage, suggesting phone radiation may harm brain tissue but antioxidants could help.

Why This Matters

This study provides important evidence that cell phone radiation can damage brain tissue through oxidative stress, even at relatively low exposure levels. The SAR values used (0.043-0.135 W/kg) are well within the range of typical cell phone emissions, making these findings directly relevant to everyday phone use. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable biochemical changes in brain tissue after chronic exposure periods similar to how people actually use their phones. The fact that melatonin provided partial protection suggests the damage occurs through oxidative pathways that we understand well from other environmental toxins. While this is animal research, the biological mechanisms of oxidative stress are highly conserved across species, and the brain's vulnerability to free radical damage is well-established in human studies.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.00869 mG
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 mG 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 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 230,150x 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)

View all 165 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2008 study found that 60 days of 900 MHz cell phone radiation exposure significantly increased brain tissue damage markers in rats. The radiation elevated harmful compounds like malondialdehyde and reduced protective antioxidant enzyme activity, demonstrating oxidative damage to brain cells.
Yes, melatonin supplementation partially protected rat brains from mobile phone radiation damage in this study. Melatonin significantly prevented increases in harmful oxidation markers and enzyme activity after 40 days of 900 MHz exposure, though it couldn't prevent all damage types.
This study found brain cell damage occurred after 40-60 days of continuous cell phone radiation exposure in rats. Researchers detected increased oxidative stress markers and decreased protective enzyme activity, with some damage persisting even after exposure ended.
900 MHz radiation decreased catalase enzyme activity and increased xanthine oxidase activity in rat brain tissue. These enzyme changes indicate oxidative stress, as catalase normally protects cells from damage while xanthine oxidase produces harmful free radicals when overactive.
Yes, chronic cell phone radiation significantly increased malondialdehyde levels in rat brain tissue. Malondialdehyde is a key marker of cellular damage from oxidative stress, indicating that 900 MHz radiation exposure for 60 days caused measurable harm to brain cells.