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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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5G's 28-GHz radiation worsened heart damage from chemotherapy in rats, reducing protective enzymes and increasing cell death.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 28-GHz radiation (the frequency used in 5G networks) while giving them doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug known to damage the heart. The 5G radiation made the heart damage worse, reducing protective enzymes and increasing cell death signals. Vitamin C provided some protection against these combined effects.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a troubling interaction between 5G's millimeter waves and a widely used cancer treatment. The 28-GHz frequency tested here is identical to what 5G networks deploy in urban areas, making these findings directly relevant to millions of people living near 5G infrastructure. What's particularly concerning is that the EMF exposure amplified the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin through multiple pathways - reducing antioxidant defenses, promoting cell death, and disrupting heart rhythm. The science demonstrates that even short-term exposure can modify how our bodies respond to medical treatments. This adds another layer of complexity to the 5G safety debate, especially for vulnerable populations like cancer patients who may be receiving cardiotoxic therapies while living in 5G-dense 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.

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

Yes, this study found that 28-GHz radiation amplified doxorubicin-induced heart damage in rats. The EMF exposure reduced protective antioxidant enzymes, increased pro-death gene expression, and prolonged dangerous heart rhythm intervals when combined with chemotherapy treatment.
Vitamin C provided partial protection against the combined effects of 28-GHz radiation and chemotherapy in this study. While it didn't eliminate all damage, vitamin C helped reduce oxidative stress and cellular injury across multiple measures of heart health.
Rats were exposed to 28-GHz radiation for three 10-minute cycles per day over 14 days. This relatively short-term exposure pattern was enough to significantly amplify the heart-damaging effects of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.
The combination of doxorubicin and 28-GHz radiation caused QT interval prolongation on electrocardiograms. QT prolongation is a dangerous heart rhythm abnormality that can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias and is a known side effect of certain medications.
Catalase (CAT) enzyme activity was significantly reduced when 28-GHz radiation was combined with doxorubicin treatment. Catalase is crucial for protecting cells from oxidative damage, so its reduction would leave heart tissue more vulnerable to injury.