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The effect of melatonin on body mass and behaviour of rats during an exposure to microwave radiation from mobile phone.

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Sokolovic D, Djordjevic B, Kocic G, Babovic P, Ristic G, Stanojkovic Z, Sokolovic DM, Veljkovic A, Jankovic A, Radovanovic Z. · 2012

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Mobile phone radiation caused weight loss and anxiety in rats at everyday exposure levels, but melatonin prevented these effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to mobile phone radiation for 4 hours daily over 60 days and found the animals lost significant body weight and developed anxiety-like behaviors including agitation and irritability. When rats were given melatonin (a natural hormone) along with the radiation exposure, these negative effects were largely prevented, suggesting melatonin may offer protective benefits against microwave radiation damage.

Why This Matters

This study demonstrates that chronic mobile phone radiation exposure produces measurable physical and behavioral changes in laboratory animals - effects that mirror concerns about anxiety and stress reported by people with electromagnetic sensitivity. The SAR levels used (0.043-0.135 W/kg) fall within the range of typical mobile phone emissions, making these findings directly relevant to everyday device use. What makes this research particularly compelling is the protective effect of melatonin, which suggests the radiation damage involves oxidative stress pathways that this natural antioxidant can counter. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure isn't just about heating tissue - it's triggering biological stress responses that affect weight regulation and neurological function.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.00468 , 0.00869 mG
SAR
0.043 , 0.135 W/kg
Electric Field
9.88, 18.35 V/m
Source/Device
900 MHz Mobile Phone
Exposure Duration
4 h/day on 60 days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.00468 , 0.00869 mG for magnetic fields:

This study used 9.88, 18.35 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: 0.00468 , 0.00869 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 427,350x 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 this research was to determine body mass and behaviour changes in rats after a chronic microwave exposure, as well as to determine the effects of melatonin on body mass and behaviour in irradiated rats.

Wistar rats were divided into the four experimental groups: I group (control) - rats treated with 0,...

A significant body mass reduction was noted in animals exposed to MW radiation when compared to cont...

Microwave radiation causes body mass decrease and anxiety related behaviour in rats, however melatonin causes a reverse of those effects on both body weight and behaviour of irradiated animals

Cite This Study
Sokolovic D, Djordjevic B, Kocic G, Babovic P, Ristic G, Stanojkovic Z, Sokolovic DM, Veljkovic A, Jankovic A, Radovanovic Z. (2012). The effect of melatonin on body mass and behaviour of rats during an exposure to microwave radiation from mobile phone. Bratisl Lek Listy. 113(5):265-269, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2012_the_effect_of_melatonin_189,
  author = {Sokolovic D and Djordjevic B and Kocic G and Babovic P and Ristic G and Stanojkovic Z and Sokolovic DM and Veljkovic A and Jankovic A and Radovanovic Z. },
  title = {The effect of melatonin on body mass and behaviour of rats during an exposure to microwave radiation from mobile phone.},
  year = {2012},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/22616582},
}
PubMed: 22616582

Cited By (18 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2012 study found that rats exposed to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation for 4 hours daily lost significant body weight after 20, 40, and 60 days compared to unexposed animals. The weight loss was statistically significant across all time periods measured.
Research shows melatonin can protect against mobile phone radiation damage. When rats received melatonin before 900 MHz radiation exposure, they maintained better body weight and showed reduced anxiety-like behaviors compared to rats exposed to radiation alone.
A 60-day animal study found that 900 MHz mobile phone radiation exposure caused anxiety-related behaviors including agitation and irritability after just 10 days. These behavioral changes became less noticeable after removing the radiation source.
Behavioral changes from 900 MHz mobile phone radiation can occur within 10 days of exposure. Researchers observed anxiety-related behaviors like agitation and irritability in rats after this short exposure period during a 4-hour daily radiation protocol.
The study suggests some mobile phone radiation effects may be reversible. Behavioral changes became less noticeable after removing the 900 MHz radiation source, and melatonin treatment successfully reversed both weight loss and anxiety behaviors in exposed animals.