Effects of mobile phone radiation (900 MHz radiofrequency) on structure and functions of rat brain.
Saikhedkar N, Bhatnagar M, Jain A, Sukhwal P, Sharma C, Jaiswal N · 2014
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation caused visible brain damage and memory problems in young rats after just 15 days of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 4 hours daily over 15 days and found significant brain damage in memory-critical areas like the hippocampus. The exposed rats showed increased anxiety, poor learning ability, and actual cell death in brain tissue, along with elevated oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules). This study demonstrates that radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to cell phones can cause measurable neurological harm and cognitive impairment.
Why This Matters
This research adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation affects brain function and structure, particularly in developing organisms. The 900 MHz frequency used here is identical to many cell phone networks, and the 4-hour daily exposure mirrors heavy phone use patterns among teenagers and young adults. What makes this study particularly concerning is the combination of behavioral changes, biochemical markers of cellular damage, and visible tissue death in brain regions critical for learning and memory. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure doesn't just potentially affect how we feel or perform cognitive tasks, but can actually damage the physical structure of brain tissue. This research reinforces why precautionary measures make sense, especially for young people whose brains are still developing.
Exposure Information
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 indicate extensive neurodegeneration in selective areas of CA1, CA3, DG, and the cerebral cortex. This extensive neuronal damage results in alterations in behavior related to memory and learning.
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2014_effects_of_mobile_phone_2555,
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},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24861496/},
}