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Brain & Nervous System

Microglial activation as a measure of stress in mouse brains exposed acutely (60 minutes) and long-term (2 years) to mobile telephone radiofrequency fields.

No Effects Found

Finnie JW, Cai Z, Manavis J, Helps S, Blumbergs PC. · 2010

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Two years of cell phone radiation exposure showed no brain immune activation in mice, even at levels higher than typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for either one hour or repeatedly over two years, then examined their brains for signs of microglial activation (immune cells that respond to brain stress or damage). They found no evidence that either short-term or long-term radiofrequency exposure activated these immune cells, even though the same cells responded strongly when brain tissue was physically damaged. This suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels may not trigger the brain's stress response mechanisms.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 60 min (acute) or on five successive days per week for 104 weeks (long-term).

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.

Cite This Study
Finnie JW, Cai Z, Manavis J, Helps S, Blumbergs PC. (2010). Microglial activation as a measure of stress in mouse brains exposed acutely (60 minutes) and long-term (2 years) to mobile telephone radiofrequency fields. Pathology. 42(2):151-154, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{jw_2010_microglial_activation_as_a_3023,
  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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20085509/},
}
PubMed: 20085509

Cited By (23 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2010 study found that 900 MHz cell phone radiation did not activate microglial immune cells in mouse brains, even after two years of exposure. These immune cells normally respond to brain stress or damage, but showed no reaction to radiofrequency fields at cell phone levels.
Research shows two years of 900 MHz radiofrequency exposure did not cause brain inflammation in mice. Scientists measured microglial activation (brain immune response) using Iba1 protein markers and found no difference between exposed and unexposed animals, suggesting no inflammatory response occurred.
No, acute 60-minute exposure to 900 MHz cell phone radiation did not increase brain stress markers in mice. Researchers found no microglial activation using Iba1 immunostaining, while the same immune cells responded strongly when brain tissue was physically damaged as a positive control.
Microglial Iba1 expression measures brain immune cell activation in response to stress or damage. A study found that 900 MHz cell phone radiation exposure for either one hour or two years did not increase Iba1 expression, indicating no detectable brain immune response.
No, two years of 900 MHz radiofrequency exposure did not damage mouse brain tissue according to immune system markers. Researchers found no microglial activation, which typically occurs when brain tissue is stressed or injured, suggesting the radiation levels were not harmful to brain cells.