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Brain & Nervous System

Interaction of low level modulated RF radiation with Na+¯K+-ATPase.

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Behari J, Kunjilwar KK, and Pyne S · 1998

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Chronic exposure to amplitude-modulated radiofrequency radiation produced a statistically significant increase in Na+–K+-ATPase activity in the brains of young male rats.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied the effect of low-level amplitude-modulated radiofrequency radiation on Na+–K+-ATPase activity in the brains of developing male Wistar rats aged 23 days. Rats were exposed to carrier wave frequencies of 147 MHz and its sub-harmonic frequencies 73.5 and 36.75 MHz, amplitude modulated at 16 and 76 Hz, for 30–35 days at 3 hours per day. Na+–K+-ATPase activity increased by around 19–20% in rats exposed with amplitude modulation at 16 Hz, and by around 15–16% in rats exposed with amplitude modulation at 76 Hz, compared to controls. The researchers concluded that the effect on Na+–K+-ATPase activity was insensitive to the carrier wave frequencies under investigation.

Why This Matters

The study focused on young rats at 23 days of age, representing a developing brain. The difference in Na+–K+-ATPase activity between the two groups was around 3–4%, which was found to be statistically insignificant. Within each modulation group, the effect on Na+–K+-ATPase activity was independent of the magnitude of the carrier wave frequencies used. A separate short-duration in vitro exposure of membranes lasting 20–60 minutes did not show any significant alteration in Na+–K+-ATPase activity.

Exposure Details

SAR
9.65–6.11 W/kg
Power Density
1.47 mW/cm²
Source/Device
147 MHz, 73.5 and 36.75 MHz amplitude modulated at 16 and 76 Hz
Exposure Duration
30–35 days 3 h day

Exposure Context

This study used 1.47 mW/cm² for radio frequency:

This study used 9.65–6.11 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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: 1.47 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 76 Hz - 147 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 76 Hz - 147 MHzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The effect of low-level amplitude modulated radiofrequency radiation were studied on Na+–K+-ATPase activity in the brain of developing male Wistar rats of age 23 days (body weight 55–60 g).

They were exposed to carrier wave (CW) frequency 147 MHz and its sub-harmonic frequencies 73.5 and 3...

We observed a statistically significant increase in Na+–K+-ATPase activity in chronically exposed ra...

It is concluded that a low level effect of amplitude modulated radiation produces statistically significant effect on Na+–K+-ATPase activity but is insensitive to the carrier wave frequencies under investigation.

Cite This Study
Behari J, Kunjilwar KK, and Pyne S (1998). Interaction of low level modulated RF radiation with Na+¯K+-ATPase. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 47:247-252, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{j_1998_interaction_of_low_level_850,
  author = {Behari J and Kunjilwar KK and and Pyne S},
  title = {Interaction of low level modulated RF radiation with Na+¯K+-ATPase.},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0302459898001950},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used developing male Wistar rats aged 23 days, with body weights of 55–60 g.
Rats were exposed to carrier wave frequencies of 147 MHz and sub-harmonics at 73.5 and 36.75 MHz, amplitude modulated at 16 and 76 Hz, for 30–35 days at 3 hours per day, at a power density of 1.47 mW cm−2.
The increase was around 19–20% for 16 Hz modulation and around 15–16% for 76 Hz modulation, but the difference between these groups was found to be statistically insignificant.
A single short-duration exposure of membranes in vitro lasting 20–60 minutes did not show any significant alteration in Na+–K+-ATPase activity.
The researchers concluded that the effect on Na+–K+-ATPase activity was insensitive to the carrier wave frequencies under investigation.