Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Microglial activation as a measure of stress in mouse brains exposed acutely (60 minutes) and long-term (2 years) to mobile telephone radiofrequency fields
Finnie JW, Cai Z, Manavis J, Helps S, Blumbergs PC · 2010
View Original AbstractAcute and long-term mobile telephone RF exposure did not activate microglia in mouse brains.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to 900 MHz RF fields at 4 W/kg for 60 minutes or five days per week for 104 weeks. Control mice were sham-exposed or freely moving in cages, and positive controls received a stab wound. No increase in microglial Iba1 expression was found in exposed brains compared to controls, while positive controls showed substantial activation. Acute or two-year exposure did not produce microglial activation detectable by Iba1 immunostaining.
Why This Matters
The study aimed to determine whether acute or long-term RF exposure produces microglial activation, since microglia respond rapidly to microenvironment changes. Brain tissue was perfusion-fixed with paraformaldehyde and stained for Iba1 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 60 min or 5 days/week for 104 weeks
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
To determine whether acute or long-term exposure of the brain to mobile telephone radiofrequency (RF) fields produces activation of microglia, which normally respond rapidly to any change in their microenvironment.
Using a purpose designed exposure system at 900 MHz, mice were given a single, far-field whole body ...
There was no increase in microglial Iba1 expression in brains short or long-term exposed to mobile t...
Acute (60 minutes) or longer duration (2 years) exposure of murine brains to mobile telephone RF fields did not produce any microglial activation detectable by Iba1 immunostaining.
Show BibTeX
@article{jw_2010_microglial_activation_as_a_2754,
author = {Finnie JW and Cai Z and Manavis J and Helps S and Blumbergs PC},
title = {Microglial activation as a measure of stress in mouse brains exposed acutely (60 minutes) and long-term (2 years) to mobile telephone radiofrequency fields},
year = {2010},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031302516334729},
}