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Brain & Nervous System

Effects of early-onset radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (GSM 900 MHz) on behavior and memory in rats.

No Effects Found

Klose M, Grote K, Spathmann O, Streckert J, Clemens M, Hansen VW, Lerchl A. · 2014

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Long-term cell phone radiation exposure during brain development showed no cognitive effects in rats, even at levels five times higher than phone safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

German researchers exposed young rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for nearly their entire lives, testing their learning and memory abilities at different ages. Despite using radiation levels up to 10 W/kg (much higher than typical phone exposure), they found no significant effects on behavior, memory, or brain development. This long-term study suggests that chronic cell phone radiation exposure starting in early development may not impair cognitive function.

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: 2 h per day, 5 days per week

Study Details

To investigate possible long-term effects of electromagnetic fields (GSM 900 MHz) on the developing rat brain.

Female Wistar rats, from an age of 14 days to 19 months, were exposed in the head region for 2 h per...

In these tests, no profound differences could be identified between the groups. Only presenile rats ...

The results of this study do not indicate harmful effects of long-term RF-EMF exposure even when begun at an early age on subsequent development, learning skills and behavior in rats, even at relatively high SAR values.

Cite This Study
Klose M, Grote K, Spathmann O, Streckert J, Clemens M, Hansen VW, Lerchl A. (2014). Effects of early-onset radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (GSM 900 MHz) on behavior and memory in rats. Radiat Res. 182(4):435-447, 2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2014_effects_of_earlyonset_radiofrequency_2775,
  author = {Klose M and Grote K and Spathmann O and Streckert J and Clemens M and Hansen VW and Lerchl A. },
  title = {Effects of early-onset radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (GSM 900 MHz) on behavior and memory in rats.},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/182/4/435/150432},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

German researchers found no significant effects on learning or memory in rats exposed to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for nearly their entire lives. Even at high exposure levels of 10 W/kg, cognitive function remained normal throughout development and aging.
A 2014 German study found no harmful effects on brain development when rats were exposed to GSM 900 MHz radiation starting from early age. Behavioral tests and memory assessments showed no significant differences compared to unexposed control groups.
The Klose study tested SAR levels up to 10 W/kg, which is much higher than typical cell phone exposure levels. Even at these elevated radiation doses, researchers found no significant behavioral or memory impairments in the exposed rats.
Research by Klose and colleagues found no cognitive problems in rats chronically exposed to 900 MHz EMF from youth through old age. The study suggests long-term cell phone radiation exposure may not impair learning or memory function.
German researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz radiation for nearly their entire lifespans, testing cognitive abilities at different ages. This comprehensive long-term approach found no significant effects on behavior, memory, or brain development throughout the animals' lives.