Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.
Nittby H, Widegren B, Krogh M, Grafström G, Berlin H, Rehn G, Eberhardt JL, Malmgren L, Persson BRR, Salford L. · 2008
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation significantly altered hundreds of genes in rat brain tissue after just 6 hours at exposure levels similar to long phone calls.
Plain English Summary
Swedish researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 1,800 MHz for 6 hours and analyzed gene activity in brain regions critical for memory and thinking. The radiation significantly altered the expression of hundreds of genes, particularly those involved in cell membrane functions and cellular communication. This suggests that even brief exposure to mobile phone radiation can trigger measurable biological changes in brain tissue at the genetic level.
Why This Matters
This study represents some of the most detailed molecular evidence we have that cell phone radiation creates biological effects in brain tissue. The researchers found significant changes in gene expression patterns in both the hippocampus (critical for memory) and cortex (involved in higher thinking) after just 6 hours of exposure. What makes this particularly concerning is that the exposure level used (30 mW/kg brain SAR) is well within current safety limits and comparable to what your brain experiences during a long phone call. The fact that genes related to membrane function were most affected aligns with the same research team's previous findings showing that cell phone radiation increases blood-brain barrier permeability. Put simply, this study demonstrates that mobile phone radiation doesn't just pass harmlessly through brain tissue - it actively changes how brain cells function at the most fundamental genetic level.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.013 (Whole body) and 0.03 (brain) W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1,800 MHz GSM Mobile test phone
- Exposure Duration
- 6h
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To study whether the exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.
The study was conducted with 6 h of exposure to the radiation from a GSM mobile test phone at 1,800 ...
Gene ontology analysis (using the gene ontology categories biological processes, molecular functions...
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2008_exposure_to_radiation_from_19,
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},
url = {http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-008-9170-8},
}