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Effects of nano-selenium on cognition performance of mice exposed in 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields

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Qin F, Yuan H, Nie J, Cao Y, Tong J · 2014

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Cell phone radiation impaired learning and memory in mice after just 30 days of exposure at levels comparable to phone calls.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) for 30 days and found that 2-hour daily exposures significantly impaired learning and memory performance. The study also tested whether nano-selenium supplements could protect against these cognitive effects, finding that the supplement did help preserve brain function in radiation-exposed mice.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking radiofrequency radiation to cognitive impairment. The 1800 MHz frequency used here is identical to what GSM cell phones emit, and the power density of 0.208 mW/cm² falls within ranges you might encounter from a cell phone held close to your head during a call. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable cognitive decline after just 30 days of exposure, along with biochemical changes in the brain including increased oxidative stress and altered neurotransmitter levels. The protective effect of nano-selenium suggests that the damage occurs through oxidative pathways, which aligns with other research showing that RF radiation generates harmful free radicals in brain tissue. While this was an animal study, the biological mechanisms involved are fundamentally similar in humans, making these findings relevant to anyone concerned about long-term cell phone use.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.208 µW/m²
Source/Device
1800 MHz
Exposure Duration
0, 30 and 120 min/d for 30 days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.208 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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: 0.208 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Slight Concern rangeFCC limit is 48,076,923x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To study the effects of nano-selenium (NSe) on cognition performance of mice exposed to 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields (RF).

Male mice were randomly divided into four groups, control and nano-Se low, middle and high dose grou...

Significant impairments in learning and memory (P < 0.05) were observed in the RF 120 min group, and...

NSe could improve cognitive impairments of mice exposed to RF, the mechanism of which might involve the increasing antioxidation, decreasing free radical content and the changes of cerebra neurotransmitters.

Cite This Study
Qin F, Yuan H, Nie J, Cao Y, Tong J (2014). Effects of nano-selenium on cognition performance of mice exposed in 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 43(1):16-21, 2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2014_effects_of_nanoselenium_on_171,
  author = {Qin F and Yuan H and Nie J and Cao Y and Tong J},
  title = {Effects of nano-selenium on cognition performance of mice exposed in 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/24564105},
}
PubMed: 24564105

Cited By (9 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows nano-selenium supplements can protect brain function from 1800 MHz cell phone radiation. In a 2014 mouse study, nano-selenium helped preserve learning and memory abilities in animals exposed to daily 2-hour radiation sessions, while also reducing harmful brain chemistry changes.
Yes, 2-hour daily exposures to 1800 MHz cell phone radiation significantly impaired learning and memory performance in mice after 30 days. The study found measurable cognitive deficits along with changes in brain neurotransmitters and reduced antioxidant activity in exposed animals.
1800 MHz radiation exposure increases harmful brain chemicals GABA, glutamate, and MDA while decreasing beneficial acetylcholine levels and antioxidant enzymes. These neurotransmitter changes correlate with the learning and memory impairments observed in radiation-exposed mice after 30 days of exposure.
Thirty days of 1800 MHz radiation exposure reduces critical brain antioxidants CAT and GSH-Px while increasing harmful MDA levels. These changes indicate increased oxidative stress in brain tissue, which researchers believe contributes to the observed cognitive impairments in exposed mice.
Nano-selenium supplements can help reverse cognitive damage from 1800 MHz cell phone radiation. The 2014 study found that supplemented mice showed improved learning and memory performance, restored neurotransmitter balance, and increased antioxidant activity compared to radiation-only exposed animals.