Expression of the immediate early gene, c-fos, in mouse brain after acute global system for mobile communication microwave exposure.
Finnie JW. · 2005
View Original AbstractThis study found that restraining test animals, not 900 MHz radiation exposure, caused brain gene activation in mice.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation for one hour to test if it stressed brain cells by activating a stress gene called c-fos. They found radiation didn't cause brain stress - restraining the animals during testing did, showing proper study controls matter.
Why This Matters
This study highlights a critical issue in EMF research: the importance of proper experimental controls. While the 4 W/kg exposure level used here is four times higher than current safety limits for cell phones, the researchers discovered that stress from restraining the animals was driving the biological response, not the radiofrequency exposure. This finding underscores why we must scrutinize study methodologies when evaluating EMF research. The science demonstrates that experimental design flaws can lead to misleading conclusions about EMF effects. What this means for you is that not every study showing biological changes from EMF exposure necessarily proves harm - but it doesn't mean EMF is safe either. Well-designed studies with appropriate controls remain essential for understanding real EMF health risks.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 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
To study the effect of acute exposure to global system for mobile communication radiofrequency fields on immediate early gene, c-fos, expression in the brain.
Using a purpose-designed exposure system at 900 MHz, mice were given a single, far-field, whole body...
Activation of c-fos in exposed and sham-exposed brains was comparable, but was greatly increased com...
These results suggest that the majority of the acute genomic response detected by c-fos expression was due to immobilisation rather than irradiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{jw._2005_expression_of_the_immediate_975,
author = {Finnie JW.},
title = {Expression of the immediate early gene, c-fos, in mouse brain after acute global system for mobile communication microwave exposure.},
year = {2005},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16175897/},
}