900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure affects qualitative and quantitative features of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the adult female rat
Bas O, Odaci E, Kaplan S, Acer N, Ucok K, Colakoglu S · 2009
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation caused measurable brain cell death in rats at exposure levels similar to typical phone use.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed female rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for one hour daily over 28 days. They found significant loss of brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory and learning, raising concerns about potential effects from regular phone use.
Why This Matters
This study adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation at levels we encounter daily can damage brain tissue. The exposure levels used here (SAR of 0.016 to 2 W/kg) mirror real-world cell phone use, with the higher end actually exceeding current safety limits in some regions. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates actual cell death in the hippocampus, not just temporary changes. The hippocampus is essential for forming new memories and spatial navigation. The researchers specifically noted these findings should prompt evaluation of chronic effects on teenagers' developing brains. This aligns with a growing body of research showing that developing nervous systems may be more vulnerable to EMF exposure than adult brains.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.016 and 2 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz EMF
- Exposure Duration
- 1 h/day for 28 days
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The current study investigated the number of pyramidal cells in the cornu ammonis (CA) of the 16-week-old female rat hippocampus following postnatal exposure to a 900 megahertz (MHz) EMF.
In this study were three groups of 6 rats: control (Cont), sham exposed (Sham), and EMF exposed (EMF...
Results showed that postnatal EMF exposure caused a significant decrease of the pyramidal cell numbe...
These results may encourage researchers to evaluate the chronic effects of 900 MHz EMF on teenagers' brains.
Show BibTeX
@article{o_2009_900_mhz_electromagnetic_field_68,
author = {Bas O and Odaci E and Kaplan S and Acer N and Ucok K and Colakoglu S},
title = {900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure affects qualitative and quantitative features of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the adult female rat},
year = {2009},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006899309002996},
}