Thermal effects of mobile phones on facial nerves and surrounding soft tissue.
Acar GO, Yener HM, Savrun FK, Kalkan T, Bayrak I, Enver O. · 2009
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation heated facial tissues and temporarily impaired nerve function in just 25 minutes of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rabbits to cell phone radiation (1900 MHz) for 25 minutes and measured temperature changes and nerve function in facial tissues. They found that the radiation increased tissue temperature by 0.39°C and temporarily impaired facial nerve function, with both effects returning to normal 25 minutes after exposure ended.
Why This Matters
This study provides direct evidence that cell phone radiation can heat facial tissues and temporarily disrupt nerve function at the same time. What makes this particularly relevant is that the researchers used a 1900 MHz frequency commonly used by cell phones, with the device positioned exactly where you hold your phone during calls. The 0.39°C temperature increase may seem small, but it was enough to measurably impair facial nerve function. The science demonstrates that even brief exposures can cause detectable biological changes in nerve tissue. While the effects were temporary in this study, the research raises important questions about what happens with the chronic, repeated exposures that characterize real-world cell phone use. You don't have to avoid your phone entirely, but this study reinforces why using speaker mode or headsets makes biological sense.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 1900 MHz Duration: 25 minutes
Study Details
To investigate the possible thermal effects of microwaves from mobile phones on facial nerves (FN) and surrounding soft tissue.
We studied FN conduction rate and compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) on 12 rabbits before expo...
The average temperature of the surrounding soft tissues was 0.39 K higher than the preexposure value...
The RFR emitted from a mobile phone can cause temporary FN dysfunction that can be due to temporary temperature increase in the soft tissue around the FN.
Show BibTeX
@article{go_2009_thermal_effects_of_mobile_1802,
author = {Acar GO and Yener HM and Savrun FK and Kalkan T and Bayrak I and Enver O.},
title = {Thermal effects of mobile phones on facial nerves and surrounding soft tissue.},
year = {2009},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19160391/},
}