Effect of global system for mobile communication (gsm)-like radiofrequency fields on vascular permeability in mouse brain.
Finnie JW, Blumbergs PC, Manavis J, Utteridge TD, Gebski V, Swift JG, Vernon-Roberts B, Kuchel TR. · 2001
View Original AbstractGSM radiation at 4 W/kg for one hour showed no blood-brain barrier disruption in mice, though this represents exposure four times higher than phone SAR limits.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to GSM mobile phone radiation at 898.4 MHz for one hour to test whether it could damage the blood-brain barrier (the protective barrier that prevents harmful substances from entering brain tissue). They found no significant increase in vascular leakage in the brain compared to unexposed control mice. This suggests that this specific exposure level and duration did not compromise the blood-brain barrier's protective function.
Why This Matters
This study represents an important piece of the puzzle in understanding RF radiation's effects on the blood-brain barrier, one of the most critical protective mechanisms in our bodies. The 4 W/kg exposure level used here is four times higher than the current SAR limit for mobile phones (2 W/kg), making this a relevant high-exposure scenario. While the researchers found no blood-brain barrier disruption, this negative result doesn't close the book on the issue. The science demonstrates that RF effects can be highly dependent on specific frequencies, exposure patterns, and biological endpoints. Other studies have reported blood-brain barrier effects at different frequencies and exposure conditions, highlighting the complexity of this research area. What this means for you is that while this particular study provides some reassurance, the broader body of evidence on RF radiation and neurological effects remains mixed and warrants continued precautionary approaches to device use.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 898.4 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 60 minutes
Exposure Context
This study used 4 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 10x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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
The effect of global system for mobile communication (GSM) radiofrequency fields on vascular permeability in the brain was studied using a purpose-designed exposure system at 898.4 MHz.
Mice (n= 30) were given a single far field, whole body exposure for 60 minutes at a specific absorpt...
Vascular permeability changes were detected using albumin immunohistochemistry and the efficacy of t...
Show BibTeX
@article{jw_2001_effect_of_global_system_973,
author = {Finnie JW and Blumbergs PC and Manavis J and Utteridge TD and Gebski V and Swift JG and Vernon-Roberts B and Kuchel TR.},
title = {Effect of global system for mobile communication (gsm)-like radiofrequency fields on vascular permeability in mouse brain.},
year = {2001},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11523936/},
}