The effect of low level continuous 2.45 GHz waves on enzymes of developing rat brain.
Paulraj R, Behari J · 2002
View Original AbstractLow-level WiFi-frequency radiation disrupted brain chemistry in developing rats at exposure levels comparable to everyday wireless device use.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in WiFi and microwave ovens) for 2 hours daily over 35 days at very low power levels. They found significant changes in brain chemistry, including disrupted calcium levels and altered enzyme activity that controls cell growth and development. The authors concluded these changes could promote tumor development in the developing brain.
Why This Matters
This study demonstrates that even low-level microwave radiation can disrupt fundamental brain chemistry during critical developmental periods. The exposure level used (0.1 W/kg SAR) is well below current safety limits and comparable to what children experience from WiFi routers and other wireless devices in their daily environment. What makes this research particularly concerning is the focus on developing brains, which are more vulnerable to environmental toxins than adult brains. The finding that this radiation affected enzymes controlling cell proliferation and differentiation points to potential long-term consequences we're only beginning to understand. The science demonstrates that our current safety standards, based primarily on heating effects, may not adequately protect against these biological impacts on developing nervous systems.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.1 W/kg
- Power Density
- 0.34 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 2.45 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 hr/day for 35 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.34 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 34Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 566.7Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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 present work describes the effect of low level continuous microwaves (2.45 GHz) on developing rat brain.
Some 35-day-old Wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were exposed 2 hr/day for 35 days ...
A significant increase in calcium ion efflux and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was observed...
These results indicate that this type of radiation affects the membrane bound enzymes, which are associated with cell proliferation and differentiation, thereby pointing out its possible role as a tumor promoter.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2002_the_effect_of_low_1258,
author = {Paulraj R and Behari J},
title = {The effect of low level continuous 2.45 GHz waves on enzymes of developing rat brain.},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1081/JBC-120015993},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1081/JBC-120015993},
}