6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Brain & Nervous System

Effects of mobile phone radiation (900 MHz radiofrequency) on structure and functions of rat brain

Bioeffects Seen

Saikhedkar N, Bhatnagar M, Jain A, Sukhwal P, Sharma C, Jaiswal N · 2014

View Original Abstract
Share:

Rats exposed to 900 MHz radio waves from a mobile handset for 4 hours daily over 15 days showed increased anxiety, impaired learning, and neurodegeneration in hippocampal regions and cerebral cortex.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 30-day-old rats to 900 MHz radio waves from a mobile handset for 4 hours per day over 15 days. Exposed rats showed more anxiety and poor learning compared to control and sham groups. Antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants changed significantly and lipid peroxidation increased in exposed rats.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to examine long-term mobile phone effects on hippocampal cytology, antioxidant status, and cognitive behavior including learning and memory. Behavioral tests included the open field test, elevated plus maze, Morris water maze, and classic maze test. Cresyl violet staining was used to assess neuronal damage. The researchers concluded that extensive neurodegeneration occurs with radio wave exposure.

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

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 4 hours per day for 15 days

Study Details

The goals of this study were: (1) to obtain basic information about the effects of long-term use of mobile phones on cytological makeup of the hippocampus in rat brains (2) to evaluate the effects on antioxidant status, and (3) to evaluate the effects on cognitive behavior particularly on learning and memory.

Rats (age 30 days, 120 ± 5 g) were exposed to 900 MHz radio waves by means of a mobile hand set for ...

A significant change in behavior, i.e., more anxiety and poor learning was shown by test animals as ...

Thus our findings indicate extensive neurodegeneration on exposure to radio waves. Increased production of reactive oxygen species due to exhaustion of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and increased lipid peroxidation are indicating extensive neurodegeneration in selective areas of CA1, CA3, DG, and cerebral cortex. This extensive neuronal damage results in alterations in behavior related to memory and learning

Cite This Study
Saikhedkar N, Bhatnagar M, Jain A, Sukhwal P, Sharma C, Jaiswal N (2014). Effects of mobile phone radiation (900 MHz radiofrequency) on structure and functions of rat brain Neurological Research 36(12):1072-1079,2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2014_effects_of_mobile_phone_1529,
  author = {Saikhedkar N and Bhatnagar M and Jain A and Sukhwal P and Sharma C and Jaiswal N},
  title = {Effects of mobile phone radiation (900 MHz radiofrequency) on structure and functions of rat brain},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000392},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000392},
}
DOI: 10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000392

Cited By (72 papers)

View all 72 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Rats were exposed to 900 MHz radio waves from a mobile handset for 4 hours per day for 15 days.
Exposed rats showed more anxiety and poor learning compared to control and sham groups.
Antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants changed significantly and lipid peroxidation increased in exposed rats.
Neurodegenerative cells were found in hippocampal subregions CA1, CA3, DG and the cerebral cortex.
Cresyl violet staining was used to assess neuronal damage.