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Cardiovascular

Exposure of frog hearts to CW or amplitude-modulated VHF fields: selective efflux of calcium ions at 16 Hz.

No Effects Found

Schwartz JL, House DE, Mealing GA · 1990

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Weak RF fields caused 21% increase in calcium movement from heart cells at power levels thousands of times below current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed isolated frog hearts to 240-MHz radio frequency fields (similar to some wireless communication frequencies) for 30 minutes to study calcium movement in heart tissue. They found that when the RF field was pulsed at 16 Hz, calcium ions moved out of the heart cells at rates 18-21% higher than normal, but only at very low power levels. This suggests that even weak RF fields can disrupt normal cellular processes in heart tissue when delivered at specific frequencies.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 240 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 240 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 240-MHz Duration: 30-min

Study Details

Isolated frog hearts were exposed for 30-min periods in a Crawford cell to a 240-MHz electromagnetic field, either continuous-wave or sinusoidally modulated at 0.5 or 16 Hz.

Radiolabeled with calcium (45Ca), the hearts were observed for movement of Ca2+ at calculated SARs ...

Neither CW radiation nor radiation at 0.5 Hz, which is close to the beating frequency of the frog's ...

These data indicate that the intact myocardium of the frog, akin to brain tissue of neonatal chicken, exhibits movement of calcium ions in response to a weak VHF field that is modulated at 16 Hz.

Cite This Study
Schwartz JL, House DE, Mealing GA (1990). Exposure of frog hearts to CW or amplitude-modulated VHF fields: selective efflux of calcium ions at 16 Hz. Bioelectromagnetics 11(4):349-358, 1990.
Show BibTeX
@article{jl_1990_exposure_of_frog_hearts_3384,
  author = {Schwartz JL and House DE and Mealing GA},
  title = {Exposure of frog hearts to CW or amplitude-modulated VHF fields: selective efflux of calcium ions at 16 Hz.},
  year = {1990},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2285418/},
}
PubMed: 2285418

Cited By (71 papers)

View all 71 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows radio waves can disrupt heart cell function under specific conditions. A 1990 study found that 240-MHz radio frequency fields pulsed at 16 Hz increased calcium movement in frog heart cells by 18-21%, but only at very low power levels.
Studies suggest wireless radiation may affect heart cells, but effects depend on specific frequencies and power levels. Research on frog hearts found that 240-MHz fields disrupted normal calcium ion movement only when pulsed at 16 Hz at extremely low power.
Laboratory studies indicate RF radiation similar to cell phones can alter calcium movement in heart tissue. Researchers found 240-MHz fields increased calcium efflux by up to 21% in frog hearts, but only at specific pulse rates and very low power levels.
RF exposure may disrupt normal heart cell processes under certain conditions. A study using 240-MHz fields found increased calcium ion movement in heart tissue only when radiation was pulsed at 16 Hz, suggesting frequency-specific biological effects exist.
EMF exposure can alter ion movement in heart cells depending on frequency and modulation. Research showed 240-MHz radiation increased calcium efflux by 18-21% in frog hearts when pulsed at 16 Hz, indicating cellular processes can be disrupted by weak fields.