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Effect of low level microwave radiation exposure on cognitive function and oxidative stress in rats.

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Deshmukh PS, Banerjee BD, Abegaonkar MP, Megha K, Ahmed RS, Tripathi AK, Mediratta PK. · 2013

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Even extremely weak microwave radiation impaired rat cognition and caused cellular damage at levels 2,000 times below current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-level 900 MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 2 hours daily over 30 days. The exposed rats showed significant cognitive impairment and increased oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules called free radicals) compared to unexposed control rats. This suggests that even very weak microwave radiation can affect brain function and cause cellular damage.

Why This Matters

This study demonstrates that cognitive impairment and oxidative stress can occur at extraordinarily low exposure levels - the SAR of 0.000085 W/kg is roughly 2,000 times lower than current regulatory limits. What makes this research particularly significant is that it shows biological effects at power levels once considered completely safe by regulatory agencies. The cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers observed here align with a growing body of research linking RF radiation to neurological effects. The reality is that your brain may be experiencing similar oxidative damage from daily cell phone use, though at potentially higher exposure levels than this study used. You don't have to accept that cognitive impairment is an inevitable cost of wireless technology - this research adds to the evidence that even 'low-level' exposures deserve serious consideration in how we use our devices.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.000084738 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
For 30 days (2 h/day, 5 days/week)

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.000084738 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 18,882x 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 present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 900 MHz MW radiation exposure on cognitive function and oxidative stress in blood of Fischer rats.

Animals were divided into two groups (6 animals/group): Group I (MW-exposed) and Group II (Sham-expo...

Results showed significant impairment in cognitive function and increase in oxidative stress, as evi...

The study demonstrated that low level MW radiation had significant effect on cognitive function and was also capable of leading to oxidative stress.

Cite This Study
Deshmukh PS, Banerjee BD, Abegaonkar MP, Megha K, Ahmed RS, Tripathi AK, Mediratta PK. (2013). Effect of low level microwave radiation exposure on cognitive function and oxidative stress in rats. Indian J Biochem Biophys. 50(2):114-119, 2013.
Show BibTeX
@article{ps_2013_effect_of_low_level_934,
  author = {Deshmukh PS and Banerjee BD and Abegaonkar MP and Megha K and Ahmed RS and Tripathi AK and Mediratta PK.},
  title = {Effect of low level microwave radiation exposure on cognitive function and oxidative stress in rats.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23720885/},
}
PubMed: 23720885

Cited By (47 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2013 study found that rats exposed to 900 MHz microwave radiation for 2 hours daily over 30 days showed significant cognitive impairment. The extremely low-level exposure, similar to cell phone frequencies, affected brain function even at very weak power levels.
Research demonstrates that low-level 900 MHz radiation significantly increases oxidative stress in the brain. The study found elevated MDA and protein carbonyl levels, which are markers of cellular damage from harmful free radicals, after 30 days of exposure.
Exposure to 900 MHz radiation increases two key damage markers: MDA (indicating lipid peroxidation) and protein carbonyl (showing protein oxidation). These elevated levels demonstrate that even weak microwave radiation can cause measurable cellular damage in brain tissue.
Cognitive impairment from 900 MHz radiation can occur within 30 days of daily exposure. Researchers found significant effects after exposing rats to cell phone-like frequencies for just 2 hours per day over this one-month period.
Yes, even extremely low-level 900 MHz microwave radiation can cause brain damage. The 2013 study showed that very weak exposure levels, similar to typical cell phone emissions, still produced significant cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in exposed subjects.