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Long-term exposure to 835 MHz RF-EMF induces hyperactivity, autophagy and demyelination in the cortical neurons of mice

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Kim JH, Yu DH, Huh YH, Lee EH, Kim HG, Kim HR. · 2017

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Mice exposed to 835 MHz RF-EMF for 12 weeks showed myelin sheath damage and hyperactivity-like behavior.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed C57BL/6 mice to 835 MHz RF-EMF at a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg for 5 hours per day during 12 weeks. The study found that RF-EMF exposure led to myelin sheath damage and that mice displayed hyperactivity-like behavior. Autophagy-related proteins including LC3B-II and Beclin1 were increased in neuronal cell bodies, and the researchers suggest autophagy may act as a protective pathway during radiofrequency exposure.

Why This Matters

The study examined the cerebral cortex as a proxy for cranial exposure during mobile phone use, because this brain region is located relatively externally. While autophagy markers were elevated, the pro-apoptotic factor Bax was down-regulated in the cerebral cortex, and neuronal cell bodies remained structurally stable. The researchers suggest that demyelination induced in cortical neurons following prolonged RF-EMF is a potential cause of neurological or neurobehavioural disorders.

Exposure Details

SAR
4 W/kg
Source/Device
835 MHz
Exposure Duration
5 hours a day for 12 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 4 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: 4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 3 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 835 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 835 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This study assessed neuronal effects of RF-EMF on the cerebral cortex of the mouse brain as a proxy for cranial exposure during mobile phone use.

C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 835 MHz RF-EMF at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 5 ho...

Induction of autophagy genes and production of proteins including LC3B-II and Beclin1 were increased...

Cite This Study
Kim JH, Yu DH, Huh YH, Lee EH, Kim HG, Kim HR. (2017). Long-term exposure to 835 MHz RF-EMF induces hyperactivity, autophagy and demyelination in the cortical neurons of mice Sci Rep. 7:41129, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{jh_2017_longterm_exposure_to_835_116,
  author = {Kim JH and Yu DH and Huh YH and Lee EH and Kim HG and Kim HR.},
  title = {Long-term exposure to 835 MHz RF-EMF induces hyperactivity, autophagy and demyelination in the cortical neurons of mice},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/srep41129},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 835 MHz RF-EMF at a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg for 5 hours per day during 12 weeks.
The exposed mice displayed hyperactivity-like behavior.
RF-EMF exposure led to myelin sheath damage, and demyelination was induced in cortical neurons following prolonged RF-EMF.
Neuronal cell bodies remained structurally stable, though demyelination was induced in cortical neurons.
The researchers suggest that autophagy may act as a protective pathway for neuronal cell bodies in the cerebral cortex during radiofrequency exposure.