Suppressive effect of electromagnetic field on analgesic activity of tramadol in rats
Bodera P, Stankiewicz W, Antkowiak B, Paluch M, Kieliszek J, Sobiech J, Zdanowski R, Wojdas A, Siwicki AK, Skopińska-Rózewska E · 2012
View Original AbstractCell phone frequencies can reduce painkiller effectiveness, potentially compromising medical treatments in our wireless world.
Plain English Summary
Polish researchers exposed rats to cell phone-frequency electromagnetic fields (1500 MHz and 1800 MHz) for 15 minutes and tested how well the painkiller tramadol worked afterward. While the EMF exposure alone didn't change pain sensitivity, it significantly reduced tramadol's pain-relieving effects when the two were combined. This suggests that EMF exposure from devices like cell phones might interfere with how certain medications work in the body.
Why This Matters
This research reveals a concerning interaction that goes beyond direct EMF health effects - the potential for wireless radiation to interfere with pharmaceutical treatments. The frequencies tested (1500 MHz and 1800 MHz) are identical to those used by cell phones and other wireless devices that surround us daily. What makes this particularly significant is that tramadol is a commonly prescribed painkiller for moderate to severe pain, used by millions of people who also regularly use wireless devices. The study demonstrates that even brief EMF exposure can disrupt the body's response to medication, raising important questions about drug efficacy in our increasingly wireless world. This adds another layer to EMF health concerns - it's not just about direct biological effects, but also about how wireless radiation might compromise medical treatments we depend on.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.0003 and 0.000062 mG
- Electric Field
- 90 and 20 V/m
- Source/Device
- 1500 MHz and 1800 MHz(modulated)
- Exposure Duration
- 15 minutes
Exposure Context
This study used 90 and 20 V/m for electric fields:
- 66.7x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
This study used 0.0003 and 0.000062 mG for magnetic fields:
- 3.1x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 0.6x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of electromagnetic fields of high-frequency microwaves on pain perception and anti-nociceptive activity of tramadol (TRAM) - analgetic effective in the treatment of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain states.
Electromagnetic fields exposures of a)1500 MHz frequency and b) modulated, 1800 MHz (which is identi...
The differences in the level of pain (PWL) between control group and rats exposed to EMF alone in th...
High frequency electromagnetic fields of 1500 and 1800 MHz when applied alone, did not influence pain perception threshold to thermal stimulus, however it presented an unwanted effect diminishing analgesic action of tramadol
Show BibTeX
@article{p_2012_suppressive_effect_of_electromagnetic_70,
author = {Bodera P and Stankiewicz W and Antkowiak B and Paluch M and Kieliszek J and Sobiech J and Zdanowski R and Wojdas A and Siwicki AK and Skopińska-Rózewska E},
title = {Suppressive effect of electromagnetic field on analgesic activity of tramadol in rats},
year = {2012},
url = {http://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/show-content?id=99012&},
}