The effect of radiofrequency radiation generated by a Global System for Mobile Communications source on cochlear development in a rat model.
Seckin E, Suren Basar F, Atmaca S, Kaymaz FF, Suzer A, Akar A, Sunan E, Koyuncu M. · 2014
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation caused microscopic damage to developing inner ear structures in rats, even when hearing tests appeared normal.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed pregnant rats and their offspring to cell phone radiation (900 and 1800 MHz frequencies) for one hour daily during pregnancy and for 21 days after birth. While hearing tests showed no differences between exposed and unexposed animals, microscopic examination revealed significant cellular damage in the inner ear structures responsible for hearing. This suggests that cell phone radiation can harm developing hearing organs even when functional hearing appears normal.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a troubling disconnect between functional hearing tests and actual cellular damage in developing ears exposed to cell phone radiation. The fact that microscopic examination showed significant increases in dying and damaged cells while hearing tests appeared normal suggests that RF radiation may cause structural harm that isn't immediately detectable through standard hearing assessments. What makes this particularly concerning is the exposure during critical developmental windows - both in the womb and during the first three weeks of life when hearing organs are still forming. The 900 and 1800 MHz frequencies used in this study are the same ones used by GSM cell phones worldwide. While the specific power levels weren't reported, the one-hour daily exposure duration is well within typical phone usage patterns for many adults, raising questions about potential risks to developing children from prenatal and early-life EMF exposure.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 and 1800 MHz Duration: 1 hour per day for 21 days
Study Details
This study aimed to determine the effect of radiofrequency radiation generated by 900 and 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications sources on cochlear development in the rat model.
Eight pregnant albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Th...
Distortion product otoacoustic emission tests revealed no significant difference among the groups, b...
The findings indicated cellular structural damage in the cochlea caused by radiofrequency radiation exposure during cochlear development in the rat model.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2014_the_effect_of_radiofrequency_2576,
author = {Seckin E and Suren Basar F and Atmaca S and Kaymaz FF and Suzer A and Akar A and Sunan E and Koyuncu M.},
title = {The effect of radiofrequency radiation generated by a Global System for Mobile Communications source on cochlear development in a rat model.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24784924/},
}