Microwave radiation induced oxidative stress, cognitive impairment and inflammation in brain of Fischer rats.
Megha K, Deshmukh PS, Banerjee BD, Tripathi AK, Abegaonkar MP · 2012
View Original AbstractCell phone-level microwave radiation caused measurable brain damage and memory problems in rats after just 30 days of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone-level microwave radiation (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) for 2 hours daily over 30 days and measured brain effects. The exposed rats showed significant cognitive impairment, increased brain inflammation, and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that chronic microwave exposure at levels similar to cell phone use may harm brain function and memory.
Why This Matters
This study adds to a growing body of evidence linking radiofrequency radiation to neurological effects, particularly at exposure levels that mirror real-world cell phone use. The SAR levels used (approximately 0.0006 W/kg) are actually lower than typical cell phone emissions during calls, yet still produced measurable brain damage in the form of oxidative stress and inflammation. What makes this research particularly significant is the combination of cognitive impairment with measurable biological markers - the rats didn't just perform worse on memory tests, they showed actual cellular damage in brain tissue. The inflammatory response (elevated IL-6 and TNF-alpha) indicates the brain's immune system was actively responding to the radiation as a threat. For anyone using wireless devices regularly, this research suggests that even relatively low-level chronic exposure may be affecting brain health in ways we're only beginning to understand.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.0005953 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 days (2 h/day)
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress, cognitive impairment and inflammation in brain of Fischer rats exposed to microwave radiation
Male Fischer-344 rats were exposed to 900 MHz microwave radiation (SAR = 5.953 x 10(-4) W/kg) and 18...
Significant impairment in cognitive function and induction of oxidative stress in brain tissues of m...
Results of the present study indicated that increased oxidative stress due to microwave exposure may contribute to cognitive impairment and inflammation in brain.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2012_microwave_radiation_induced_oxidative_1198,
author = {Megha K and Deshmukh PS and Banerjee BD and Tripathi AK and Abegaonkar MP},
title = {Microwave radiation induced oxidative stress, cognitive impairment and inflammation in brain of Fischer rats.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23986973/},
}