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GSM Mobile Phone Radiation Suppresses Brain Glucose Metabolism

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Kwon MS, Vorobyev V, Kännälä S, Laine M, Rinne JO, Toivonen T, Johansson J, Teräs M, Lindholm H, Alanko T, Hämäläinen H. · 2011

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GSM mobile phone exposure for 33 minutes was associated with significantly reduced glucose metabolism in the temporoparietal junction and anterior temporal lobe of the right hemisphere.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers used positron emission tomography with an 18F-deoxyglucose tracer to investigate the effects of mobile phone radiation on cerebral glucose metabolism in humans. Thirteen young right-handed male subjects were exposed to a pulse-modulated 902.4 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications signal for 33 minutes while performing a simple visual vigilance task. The relative cerebral metabolic rate of glucose was significantly reduced in the temporoparietal junction and anterior temporal lobe of the right hemisphere, on the same side as the exposure. The exposure did not affect task performance, measured by reaction time and error rate.

Why This Matters

The researchers used PET scanning with an 18F-deoxyglucose tracer, which allowed them to measure how much glucose different brain regions were using. Because the 18F isotope has a long half-life of 109 minutes, subjects could be exposed outside the PET scanner under more natural conditions. A small temperature rise was observed on the exposed side of the head, but the researchers described its magnitude as very small. The researchers concluded that short-term mobile phone exposure can locally suppress brain energy metabolism in humans.

Exposure Details

SAR
1, 1.1 ,1.5, 1.4, 0.74, 0.23 W/kg
Source/Device
902.4 MHz
Exposure Duration
continuously for 33 min

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1, 1.1 ,1.5, 1.4, 0.74, 0.23 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 7 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 902.4 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 902.4 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

We investigated the effects of mobile phone radiation on cerebral glucose metabolism using high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) with the 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) tracer.

A long half-life (109 minutes) of the 18F isotope allowed a long, natural exposure condition outside...

8F-deoxyglucose PET images acquired after the exposure showed that relative cerebral metabolic rate ...

Our results show that short-term mobile phone exposure can locally suppress brain energy metabolism in humans.

Cite This Study
Kwon MS, Vorobyev V, Kännälä S, Laine M, Rinne JO, Toivonen T, Johansson J, Teräs M, Lindholm H, Alanko T, Hämäläinen H. (2011). GSM Mobile Phone Radiation Suppresses Brain Glucose Metabolism J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 31(12):2293-2301, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{ms_2011_gsm_mobile_phone_radiation_118,
  author = {Kwon MS and Vorobyev V and Kännälä S and Laine M and Rinne JO and Toivonen T and Johansson J and Teräs M and Lindholm H and Alanko T and Hämäläinen H. },
  title = {GSM Mobile Phone Radiation Suppresses Brain Glucose Metabolism},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.1038/jcbfm.2011.128},
  url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1038/jcbfm.2011.128},
}
DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.128

Cited By (55 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Glucose metabolism was significantly reduced in the temporoparietal junction and anterior temporal lobe of the right hemisphere, on the same side as the exposure.
The exposure did not affect task performance, including reaction time and error rate.
A temperature rise was observed on the exposed side of the head, but its magnitude was described as very small.
Participants were exposed to a pulse-modulated 902.4 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications signal for 33 minutes.
The researchers concluded that short-term mobile phone exposure can locally suppress brain energy metabolism in humans.