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Brain & Nervous System

No influence of acute RF exposure (GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS) on mouse retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions

No Effects Found

Ahlers MT, Ammermüller J · 2013

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RF-EMF exposure at GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS frequencies up to 20 W/kg had no acute effects on mouse retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied possible non-thermal effects of RF-EMF on retinal ganglion cells in vitro under constant temperature. Mouse retinae were exposed to GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS at SARs of 0, 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg with temperature controlled within ±0.5 to 1°C. Light responses were recorded before, during, and up to 35 minutes after exposure under double-blind conditions. Comparison of sham and actual exposure distance values showed no significant differences, and regression analysis found no consistent SAR dependence. The authors concluded no acute effects on retinal ganglion cell responses at SARs up to 20 W/kg.

Why This Matters

Changes in light responses were measured using Euclidean distance of n-dimensional response vectors relative to pre-exposure responses. Some changes occurred during sham exposure, reflecting intrinsic variability in retinal ganglion cell responses.

Exposure Details

SAR
0 (sham), 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg
Source/Device
GSM‐900, GSM‐1800, UMTS Mobile Phones

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kg
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

Study Details

Possible non‐thermal effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF‐EMF) on retinal ganglion cells were studied in vitro under conditions of constant temperature.

Possible non‐thermal effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF‐EMF) on retinal ganglion ...

Some changes already occurred during sham (0 W/kg) exposure, reflecting the intrinsic variability in...

From these results we conclude that RF‐EMF exposure at three mobile phone frequencies (GSM‐900, GSM‐1800, UMTS) and SARs up to 20 W/kg has no acute effects on retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions.

Cite This Study
Ahlers MT, Ammermüller J (2013). No influence of acute RF exposure (GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS) on mouse retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions Bioelectromagnetics. 2013 Sep 21. doi: 10.1002/bem.21811.
Show BibTeX
@article{mt_2013_no_influence_of_acute_2733,
  author = {Ahlers MT and Ammermüller J},
  title = {No influence of acute RF exposure (GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS) on mouse retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.21811},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.21811},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.21811

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study tested GSM-900, GSM-1800, and UMTS at SARs of 0, 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 W/kg.
Responses to light stimuli of three intensities were recorded before, during, and up to 35 minutes after exposure, and changes were calculated using Euclidean distance of n-dimensional response vectors.
Comparison of distance values from sham exposure with actual exposure yielded no significant differences.
Linear regression of distance values versus SAR values yielded no consistent dependence of light response changes.
The authors concluded that RF-EMF exposure at three mobile phone frequencies and SARs up to 20 W/kg has no acute effects on retinal ganglion cell responses under constant temperature conditions.