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Rahimi A, Rafati A, Mortazavi SMJ, Edalat F, Jooyan N, Naseh M, Keshavarz S, Jahromi HM, Nabizadeh A, Dastghaib S, Karbalaei N

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Authors not listed · 2026

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28 GHz 5G radiation worsened chemotherapy heart damage in rats, reducing antioxidant protection and increasing cellular death markers after just 14 days of exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This animal study examined whether 28 GHz 5G radiation affects heart damage from doxorubicin chemotherapy in rats. Researchers found that short-term exposure to this millimeter-wave radiation worsened the heart toxicity caused by the cancer drug, reducing antioxidant defenses and increasing cell death markers. Vitamin C provided partial protection against these combined effects.

Why This Matters

This research matters because it's among the first to examine how 5G millimeter-wave frequencies interact with existing medical conditions. The findings suggest that 28 GHz radiation doesn't operate in isolation but can amplify vulnerability in already-stressed biological systems. The rats received three 10-minute daily exposures for just 14 days, yet this brief exposure worsened chemotherapy damage by reducing catalase antioxidant activity and increasing pro-death gene expression.

The reality is that we're deploying 5G technology without understanding how these higher frequencies interact with compromised health states. While this is animal research under controlled conditions, it raises legitimate concerns about cumulative exposures for people undergoing medical treatment or managing chronic conditions. The fact that vitamin C offered modest protection is interesting but shouldn't distract from the core finding: millimeter-wave radiation acted as a stressor that intensified existing cardiac damage. The study's authors appropriately call for long-term research, but millions are already living in 5G-saturated environments.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 28 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 28 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

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Cite This Study
Unknown (2026). Rahimi A, Rafati A, Mortazavi SMJ, Edalat F, Jooyan N, Naseh M, Keshavarz S, Jahromi HM, Nabizadeh A, Dastghaib S, Karbalaei N.
Show BibTeX
@article{rahimi_a_rafati_a_mortazavi_smj_edalat_f_jooyan_n_naseh_m_keshavarz_s_jahromi_hm_nabizadeh_a_dastghaib_s_karbalaei_n_ce4721,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Rahimi A, Rafati A, Mortazavi SMJ, Edalat F, Jooyan N, Naseh M, Keshavarz S, Jahromi HM, Nabizadeh A, Dastghaib S, Karbalaei N},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.taap.2025.117703},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2025.117703PubMed: 41478317

Quick Questions About This Study

In this rat study, 28 GHz radiation amplified doxorubicin-induced heart damage. Animals exposed to both the chemotherapy drug and millimeter-wave radiation showed greater reductions in protective antioxidants (catalase) and higher expression of genes that trigger cell death compared to chemotherapy alone. The radiation appeared to compound the toxic stress.
Rats were exposed to 28 GHz radiation in three 10-minute cycles per day for 14 days, totaling 30 minutes of daily exposure. This relatively brief exposure period still produced measurable changes in cardiac function and biochemistry when combined with chemotherapy treatment, suggesting even short-term exposure may have biological consequences.
Vitamin C (250 mg/kg daily) provided partial protection against the combined effects of doxorubicin and 28 GHz radiation. It helped mitigate oxidative stress, reduced inflammatory markers, and improved some cardiac function measures. However, protection was incomplete, and animals still showed significant damage compared to unexposed controls.
When combined with chemotherapy, 28 GHz radiation prolonged the QT interval (a heart rhythm measure), significantly reduced catalase antioxidant levels, and increased BAX gene expression (which promotes cell death). These changes indicate both electrical disturbances and increased cellular stress beyond what chemotherapy alone produced.
Yes, 28 GHz is within the millimeter-wave spectrum used by some 5G networks, particularly for high-speed applications. While human exposure patterns differ from controlled laboratory conditions, this frequency is actively deployed in urban areas. The study raises questions about potential health interactions that haven't been adequately investigated before widespread implementation.