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Effect of Low Level Subchronic Microwave Radiation on Rat Brain

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Deshmukh PS, Megha K, Nasare N, Banerjee BD, Ahmed RS, Abegaonkar MP, Tripathi AK, Mediratta PK · 2016

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Even microwave radiation 1000 times below safety limits caused memory problems and brain DNA damage in this 90-day study.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900-2450 MHz) for 2 hours daily over 90 days at levels 1000 times below safety limits. The low-level radiation still impaired learning and memory while damaging brain DNA, suggesting current safety standards may be inadequate.

Why This Matters

This study delivers a sobering message about microwave radiation safety. The researchers used exposure levels approximately 1000 times lower than current regulatory limits, yet still documented significant cognitive impairment and DNA damage in brain tissue. What makes this particularly relevant is that the frequencies tested - 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz - are the exact frequencies used by cell phones, WiFi, and other wireless devices we use daily. The science demonstrates that our current safety standards, which only consider thermal heating effects, may be woefully inadequate for protecting against biological harm from chronic, low-level exposure. The reality is that this study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that non-thermal effects occur at power levels we previously assumed were harmless.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.0005953 ,0.0005835 , 0.0006672 W/kg
Source/Device
900, 1800 or 2450 MHz
Exposure Duration
2 h/day, 5 days/week for 90 days

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0005953 ,0.0005835 , 0.0006672 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 2,742x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of subchronic low level microwave radiation (MWR) on cognitive function, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) level and DNA damage in brain of Fischer rats

Experiments were performed on male Fischer rats exposed to microwave radiation for 90 days at three ...

Microwave exposure at 900–900–2450 MHz with SAR values as mentioned above lead to decline in cogniti...

The results of the present study suggest that low level microwave exposure at frequencies 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz may lead to hazardous effects on brain.

Cite This Study
Deshmukh PS, Megha K, Nasare N, Banerjee BD, Ahmed RS, Abegaonkar MP, Tripathi AK, Mediratta PK (2016). Effect of Low Level Subchronic Microwave Radiation on Rat Brain Biomed Environ Sci. 29(12):858-867, 2016.
Show BibTeX
@article{ps_2016_effect_of_low_level_94,
  author = {Deshmukh PS and Megha K and Nasare N and Banerjee BD and Ahmed RS and Abegaonkar MP and Tripathi AK and Mediratta PK},
  title = {Effect of Low Level Subchronic Microwave Radiation on Rat Brain},
  year = {2016},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089539881730003X},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2016 study found that rats exposed to cell phone radiation for 2 hours daily over 90 days experienced DNA damage in brain tissue. This occurred even at radiation levels 1000 times below current safety limits, suggesting prolonged exposure may harm brain cells.
Research shows that 90 days of exposure to 900-2450 MHz radiation significantly impaired learning and memory in rats, even at extremely low levels. The study found cognitive decline occurred at radiation intensities far below what regulators consider safe for humans.
A 2016 rat study suggests current safety limits may be inadequate. Researchers found brain DNA damage and cognitive impairment from radiation levels 1000 times below regulatory standards, indicating that existing limits might not prevent all biological effects.
Subchronic exposure to 900-2450 MHz radiation increases HSP70 protein levels in rat brains. HSP70 is a stress protein that cells produce when damaged, suggesting that even low-level microwave radiation triggers cellular stress responses in brain tissue.
Research indicates that 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2450 MHz frequencies all caused similar brain damage in rats during a 90-day exposure study. All three frequencies commonly used by cell phones produced cognitive decline and DNA damage.