Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation
Paulraj R, Behari J. · 2006
View Original AbstractChronic WiFi-frequency radiation caused significant DNA damage in developing rat brain cells at exposure levels comparable to everyday wireless devices.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to microwave radiation at frequencies used in WiFi and other wireless technologies for 35 days, then examined their brain cells for DNA damage. The study found statistically significant increases in single-strand DNA breaks in brain cells of exposed animals compared to controls. This suggests that chronic exposure to these common wireless frequencies may damage genetic material in developing brain tissue.
Why This Matters
This study adds to mounting evidence that microwave radiation can cause genetic damage in brain tissue, particularly concerning given that it used frequencies (2.45 GHz) identical to WiFi routers and microwave ovens. The SAR levels of 1.0 and 2.01 W/kg are within the range of typical wireless device exposures, making these findings directly relevant to everyday technology use. What makes this research particularly significant is the focus on developing brain tissue and the use of the comet assay, a well-established method for detecting DNA damage. The 35-day exposure period models chronic, real-world exposure patterns rather than acute laboratory conditions. While this is animal research, the biological mechanisms for DNA damage are fundamentally similar across mammalian species, and the statistically significant results (p < 0.001) indicate a robust finding that warrants serious consideration for human health implications.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 1.0 (with 2.45 GHz) and 2.01 (with 16.5 GHz) W/kg
- Source/Device
- 2.45 and 16.5 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 35 days
Exposure Context
This study used 1.0 (with 2.45 GHz) and 2.01 (with 16.5 GHz) W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 2.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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
To investigate the effect of microwave exposure (2.45 and 16.5 GHz) on developing rat brain (35 days old).
Wistar rats (35 days old, male, six rats in each group) were selected for this study. These animals ...
This study shows that the chronic exposure to these radiations cause statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in DNA single strand breaks in brain cells of rat.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2006_single_strand_dna_breaks_27,
author = {Paulraj R and Behari J.},
title = {Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation},
year = {2006},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0027510705005361},
}