Oxidative damage in the kidney induced by 900-MHz-emitted mobile phone: protection by melatonin.
Oktem F, Ozguner F, Mollaoglu H, Koyu A, Uz E · 2005
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation caused measurable kidney damage in rats through oxidative stress, but melatonin supplementation prevented these effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 900-MHz cell phone radiation for 30 minutes daily over 10 days and found significant kidney damage through oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules called free radicals). The study showed increased markers of kidney damage and reduced antioxidant defenses, but when rats were given melatonin before exposure, these harmful effects were largely prevented.
Why This Matters
This study adds to the growing body of evidence that radiofrequency radiation from mobile phones can cause oxidative damage to organs beyond the brain. What makes this research particularly relevant is that many people carry their phones on their belts or in pockets near the kidney area, potentially exposing these organs to concentrated RF energy. The 900-MHz frequency used matches older GSM networks, though modern phones operate across multiple frequency bands. The finding that melatonin provided protection suggests the damage occurs through oxidative stress pathways, which aligns with other research showing similar mechanisms in various tissues. While this was an animal study with relatively short exposure periods, it demonstrates measurable biological effects at the cellular level that warrant attention given our constant proximity to these devices.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900-MHz Duration: 30 min/day for 10 days
Study Details
The aim of this study was to examine 900-MHz mobile phone-induced oxidative stress that promotes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on renal tubular damage and the role of melatonin on kidney tissue against possible oxidative damage in rats.
The animals were randomly grouped as follows: 1) sham-operated control group and 2) study groups: i)...
In the EMR-exposed group, while tissue MDA and urine NAG levels increased, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px acti...
These results show that melatonin may exhibit a protective effect on mobile phone-induced renal impairment in rats.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2005_oxidative_damage_in_the_2484,
author = {Oktem F and Ozguner F and Mollaoglu H and Koyu A and Uz E},
title = {Oxidative damage in the kidney induced by 900-MHz-emitted mobile phone: protection by melatonin.},
year = {2005},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15950073/},
}