Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.

Bioeffects Seen

Nittby H, Widegren B, Krogh M, Grafström G, Berlin H, Rehn G, Eberhardt JL, Malmgren L, Persson BRR, Salford L. · 2008

Cell phone radiation altered brain gene expression in memory centers at exposure levels similar to typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Swedish researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 1,800 MHz for six hours and found significant changes in brain gene expression. The radiation altered genes controlling cell membranes and signal transmission in memory-critical brain regions, occurring at levels similar to extended human cell phone use.

Why This Matters

This study provides molecular-level evidence that radiofrequency radiation can alter fundamental cellular processes in the brain. The fact that gene expression changes occurred in membrane-related functions is particularly significant, as it aligns with the same research group's previous findings of blood-brain barrier disruption from EMF exposure. The SAR level used (30 mW/kg in brain tissue) falls within the range of typical cell phone exposures, making these findings directly relevant to everyday device use. What makes this research especially compelling is that it demonstrates measurable biological effects at the genetic level, not just behavioral or physiological changes. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure can influence how brain cells function at their most basic level, affecting the very instructions that govern cellular behavior and communication.

Exposure Details

SAR: 0.013 and 0.03 W/kg
Power Density: 0.035 µW/m²
Electric Field: 11.54 V/m
Source/Device: 1,800 MHz
Exposure Duration: 6 h

Exposure Context

This study used 0.035 µW/m² for radio frequency:

3.5Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
58.3Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²

This study used 11.54 V/m for electric fields:

38.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m

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 Details

We have now studied whether 6 h of exposure to the radiation from a GSM mobile test phone at 1,800 MHz (at a whole-body SAR-value of 13 mW/kg, corresponding to a brain SAR-value of 30 mW/kg) has an effect upon the gene expression pattern in rat brain cortex and hippocampus- areas where we have observed albumin leakage from capillaries into neurons and neuronal damage.

Microarray analysis of 31,099 rat genes, including splicing variants, was performed in cortex and hi...

Gene ontology analysis (using the gene ontology categories biological processes, molecular functions...

Cite This Study

Nittby H, Widegren B, Krogh M, Grafström G, Berlin H, Rehn G, Eberhardt JL, Malmgren L, Persson BRR, Salford L. (2008). Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex. Environmentalist 28(4), 458-465, 2008.

Show BibTeX

@article{h_2008_exposure_to_radiation_from_157,
  author = {Nittby H and Widegren B and  Krogh M and Grafström G and Berlin H and  Rehn G and  Eberhardt JL and  Malmgren L and  Persson BRR and Salford L.},
  title = {Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.},
  year = {2008},
  doi = {10.1007/s10669-008-9170-8.pdf},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10669-008-9170-8.pdf},
}

DOI: 10.1007/s10669-008-9170-8.pdf

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, Swedish researchers found that six hours of 1,800 MHz cell phone radiation significantly altered gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex. The radiation changed genes controlling cell membranes and signal transmission in memory-critical brain regions at levels similar to extended human cell phone use.

The 2008 study found that 1,800 MHz radiation primarily affected genes related to extracellular regions, signal transducer activity, and membrane functions in both hippocampus and cortex. Most altered gene categories connected to membrane functions, potentially explaining previously observed blood-brain barrier changes.

Research demonstrates that 1,800 MHz cell phone radiation significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus after six hours of exposure. The affected genes control membrane functions and cellular signaling in this memory-critical brain region, occurring at radiation levels comparable to human phone use.

The Nittby study found significant brain gene expression changes after just six hours of 1,800 MHz radiation exposure in rats. The researchers observed altered gene activity in both cortex and hippocampus, with most changes affecting membrane-related cellular functions and signal transmission pathways.

Yes, the 2008 Swedish study revealed that 1,800 MHz radiation significantly altered genes integral to cell membranes in rat brains. Gene ontology analysis showed highly significant changes in membrane-related gene categories in both hippocampus and cortex after six hours of exposure.