Acute effects of 30 minutes of exposure to a smartphone call on in vitro platelet function.
Lippi G, Danese E, Brocco G, Gelati M, Salvagno GL, Montagnana M. · 2017
View Original AbstractSmartphone radiation altered blood clotting function in just 30 minutes, raising questions about cardiovascular effects from regular phone use.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers exposed blood samples from 16 healthy volunteers to smartphone radiation (900 MHz) for 30 minutes and found significant changes in platelet function. The exposed blood showed altered clotting behavior and increased platelet size compared to unexposed samples. This suggests that smartphone radiation can directly affect blood components involved in clotting and wound healing.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning direct biological effect of smartphone radiation on blood platelets, the cells responsible for clotting and wound healing. The researchers found measurable changes in platelet function after just 30 minutes of exposure to 900 MHz radiation - the same frequency used by many smartphones during calls. What makes this particularly significant is that these effects occurred in blood samples outside the body, demonstrating that RF radiation can directly alter cellular function without the protective mechanisms that might exist in living tissue. The 10% increase in clotting time and 5% increase in platelet size may seem modest, but these changes could potentially impact cardiovascular health with repeated exposure. The researchers specifically noted implications for blood banks, suggesting that stored blood products should be kept away from mobile devices - a practical acknowledgment that these effects are real and measurable.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 30-min
Study Details
This study was aimed to assess the acute effects of radiofrequency waves emitted by a commercial smartphone on platelet function.
Two sequential citrated blood samples were collected from 16 healthy volunteers recruited from labor...
A 30-min exposure of citrated blood to smartphone radiofrequency waves induced significant prolongat...
This study demonstrates that smartphone radiofrequency waves induce significant perturbation of platelet structure and function, thus providing further support to concerns regarding excessive use of mobile phones. Caution should also be taken with regards to blood products containing platelets, which should be kept far away from mobile phones and smartphones throughout the production pipeline and storage period.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2017_acute_effects_of_30_2366,
author = {Lippi G and Danese E and Brocco G and Gelati M and Salvagno GL and Montagnana M.},
title = {Acute effects of 30 minutes of exposure to a smartphone call on in vitro platelet function.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27177410/},
}