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900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure affects qualitative and quantitative features of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the adult female rat.

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Bas O, Odaci E, Kaplan S, Acer N, Ucok K, Colakoglu S. · 2009

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Cell phone radiation caused measurable brain cell death in the memory center at exposure levels similar to typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed young female rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for one hour daily over 28 days and found significant loss of brain cells in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory and learning. The radiation levels used (0.016-2 W/kg SAR) overlap with what people experience during cell phone use. This cellular damage was visible both through precise cell counting and direct microscopic observation.

Why This Matters

This study provides direct evidence that radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to cell phone use can cause measurable brain cell death. The hippocampus is particularly concerning because it's essential for forming new memories and spatial navigation. What makes this research especially relevant is that the SAR levels used (0.016-2 W/kg) bracket the typical range people experience during phone calls, where local SAR can reach 1-2 W/kg near the device while whole-body exposure remains much lower. The researchers specifically noted their findings should encourage evaluation of chronic effects on teenagers' brains, which is particularly important given that young people's brains are still developing and may be more vulnerable to EMF exposure. While this is animal research, the biological mechanisms that cause cell death don't respect species boundaries, and the hippocampus functions similarly across mammals.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.016, 2 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
1 h/day for 28 days

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.016, 2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern rangeFCC limit is 100x higher than this level
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

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.

Cite This Study
Bas O, Odaci E, Kaplan S, Acer N, Ucok K, Colakoglu S. (2009). 900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure affects qualitative and quantitative features of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the adult female rat. Brain Res. 1265:178-185, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{o_2009_900_mhz_electromagnetic_field_848,
  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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19230827/},
}
PubMed: 19230827

Cited By (117 papers)

View all 117 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2009 study found that daily one-hour exposure to 900 MHz radiation for 28 days caused significant loss of pyramidal cells in the hippocampus of young female rats. This brain region is critical for memory and learning functions.
Research shows that 28 days of daily one-hour exposure to 900 MHz radiation can cause measurable brain cell loss in the hippocampus. The damage was visible both through cell counting and microscopic observation in female rat studies.
Cell loss in hippocampal pyramidal neurons occurred at SAR levels of 0.016-2 W/kg in a 2009 rat study. These radiation levels overlap with what people experience during typical cell phone use near the head.
Research suggests potential risks, as a 2009 study found significant hippocampal cell loss in young female rats exposed to 900 MHz radiation. The researchers specifically noted this may encourage evaluation of chronic effects on teenagers' brains.
The hippocampus shows significant pyramidal cell loss from daily 900 MHz radiation exposure, according to 2009 research on female rats. The CA region of the hippocampus, crucial for memory formation, was particularly affected after 28 days of exposure.