900-MHz microwave radiation promotes oxidation in rat brain.
Kesari KK, Kumar S, Behari J. · 2011
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at near-regulatory limits caused measurable oxidative stress and antioxidant disruption in rat brains after 45 days of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for two hours daily over 45 days. The study found increased harmful molecules and reduced protective antioxidants in brain tissue, suggesting cell phone radiation may cause oxidative stress that could contribute to neurological problems.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects brain chemistry at the cellular level. The SAR level of 0.9 W/kg used in this research is close to the maximum allowed for cell phones in many countries (2.0 W/kg), making these findings directly relevant to everyday phone use. The researchers documented multiple markers of oxidative stress - essentially cellular 'rusting' that can damage brain cells over time. What makes this research particularly significant is that it measured not just one effect, but a cascade of related changes including disrupted antioxidant enzymes, reduced protective melatonin, and increased cellular damage markers. The 45-day exposure period, while relatively short, showed clear biological impacts that suggest cumulative effects from regular phone use. These findings align with a growing body of research showing that RF radiation can trigger oxidative stress in brain tissue, even at exposure levels considered 'safe' by current regulations.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.9 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h per day for a duration of 45 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.9 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 2.3x 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
The aim of this study is to observe 900-MHz microwave radiation promotes oxidation in rat brain
35-day old Wistar rats were exposed to a mobile phone for 2 h per day for a duration of 45 days wher...
Our observations indicate a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the level of glutathione peroxidase, ...
The study concludes that a reduction or an increase in antioxidative enzyme activities, protein kinase C, melatonin, caspase 3, and creatine kinase are related to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in animals under mobile phone radiation exposure. Our findings on these biomarkers are clear indications of possible health implications.
Show BibTeX
@article{kk_2011_900mhz_microwave_radiation_promotes_540,
author = {Kesari KK and Kumar S and Behari J.},
title = {900-MHz microwave radiation promotes oxidation in rat brain.},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.3109/15368378.2011.587930},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2011.587930},
}