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Plasma thyroid hormones and corticosterone levels in blood of chicken embryos and post hatch chickens exposed during incubation to 1800 MHz electromagnetic field.

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Pawlak K, Sechman A, Nieckarz Z. · 2014

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Cell phone radiation disrupted critical thyroid and stress hormones in developing chick embryos at exposure levels similar to everyday wireless use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Polish researchers exposed chicken embryos to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) during their development and measured hormone levels in their blood. They found that the radiation disrupted the thyroid system, reducing important thyroid hormones while increasing stress hormones in the embryos and newly hatched chicks. This suggests that exposure to wireless radiation during critical developmental periods can interfere with the hormone systems that control growth and metabolism.

Why This Matters

This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how wireless radiation affects developing organisms during their most vulnerable stages. The researchers used 1800 MHz radiation at 0.1 W/m², which is within the range of everyday cell phone exposures, yet found significant disruption to both thyroid and stress hormone systems in developing chicks. What makes this research particularly concerning is that the effects were most pronounced in newly hatched chicks, suggesting a cumulative impact over the development period. The fact that hormone levels normalized by slaughter age (42 days) might seem reassuring, but it actually raises questions about what compensatory mechanisms had to kick in and what the long-term costs of that early disruption might be. For humans, this research reinforces the importance of minimizing wireless radiation exposure during pregnancy and early childhood, when hormone systems are establishing the foundation for lifelong health.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.01 µW/m²
Source/Device
1800 MHz EMF
Exposure Duration
24 h for 4 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0.01 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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 Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.01 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 1,000,000,000x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This study attempted to determine the effect of a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) (only carrier frequency) on thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations in the blood plasma of chick embryos, and to investigate the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure during embryogenesis on the level of these hormones in birds that are ready for slaughter.

Throughout the incubation period, embryos from the experimental group were exposed to a 1800 MHz EM...

The experiment showed that T4 and T3 concentrations decreased markedly and CORT levels increased in...

The obtained results suggest that additional 1800 MHz radio frequency electromagnetic field inhibits function of HPT axis, however, it stimulates hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by inducing adrenal steroidogenic cells to synthesize corticosterone. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which radio EMFs affect HPT and HPA axis function in the chicken embryos.

Cite This Study
Pawlak K, Sechman A, Nieckarz Z. (2014). Plasma thyroid hormones and corticosterone levels in blood of chicken embryos and post hatch chickens exposed during incubation to 1800 MHz electromagnetic field. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2014 Jan;27(1):114-22.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2014_plasma_thyroid_hormones_and_1263,
  author = {Pawlak K and Sechman A and Nieckarz Z.},
  title = {Plasma thyroid hormones and corticosterone levels in blood of chicken embryos and post hatch chickens exposed during incubation to 1800 MHz electromagnetic field.},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24488772/},
}
PubMed: 24488772

Cited By (18 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows cell phone radiation can disrupt thyroid function. A 2014 Polish study found that 1800 MHz radiation significantly reduced thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in developing chicken embryos, suggesting wireless signals may interfere with normal thyroid regulation during critical developmental periods.
Yes, wireless radiation appears to disrupt hormone development. Polish researchers exposed chicken embryos to cell phone frequencies and found decreased thyroid hormones alongside increased stress hormones, indicating that EMF exposure during development can interfere with multiple hormone systems simultaneously.
Animal studies suggest potential risks during development. Research on chicken embryos exposed to 1800 MHz radiation found disrupted thyroid and stress hormone levels, with effects most pronounced in newly hatched chicks, indicating possible cumulative impacts during critical developmental windows.
Cell phone EMF exposure increases stress hormone production. The 2014 study showed that 1800 MHz radiation elevated corticosterone levels in chicken embryos and newly hatched chicks, suggesting that wireless signals activate the body's stress response system during development.
Phone radiation may suppress thyroid function during development. Research found that 1800 MHz EMF exposure significantly reduced essential thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in chicken embryos, with the strongest effects occurring in newly hatched chicks after cumulative exposure.