2.45 GHz microwave irradiation-induced oxidative stress affects implantation or pregnancy in mice, Mus musculus.
Shahin S, Singh VP, Shukla RK, Dhawan A, Gangwar RK, Singh SP, Chaturvedi CM. · 2013
View Original AbstractLow-level WiFi-frequency radiation disrupted pregnancy and caused DNA damage in mice at exposure levels comparable to everyday wireless device use.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed female mice to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as WiFi and microwave ovens) for 2 hours daily over 45 days at very low power levels. The exposed mice showed significantly reduced implantation sites for embryos, along with increased DNA damage in brain cells, elevated stress markers in blood, and disrupted hormone levels. This suggests that even low-level microwave radiation can interfere with reproduction and pregnancy through oxidative stress mechanisms.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to the growing body of research linking radiofrequency radiation to reproductive harm. The 2.45 GHz frequency used here is identical to what WiFi routers, microwave ovens, and many wireless devices emit. What makes this research particularly significant is the extremely low exposure level - the specific absorption rate of 0.023 W/kg is well below current safety limits and comparable to what you might experience from prolonged proximity to wireless devices. The researchers found clear biological effects including compromised embryo implantation, DNA damage in brain tissue, and hormonal disruption through oxidative stress pathways. The science demonstrates that reproductive tissues may be especially vulnerable to RF radiation, even at levels regulatory agencies consider safe. For women trying to conceive or who are pregnant, this research suggests the wisdom of minimizing unnecessary wireless radiation exposure.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.023023 W/kg
- Power Density
- 0.033549 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 2.45 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h/day for 45 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.033549 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 3.4Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 55.9Kx 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 experiment was designed to study the 2.45 GHz low-level microwave (MW) irradiation-induced stress response and its effect on implantation or pregnancy in female mice.
Twelve-week-old mice were exposed to MW radiation (continuous wave for 2 h/day for 45 days, frequenc...
We observed that implantation sites were affected significantly in MW-irradiated mice as compared to...
Our findings led us to conclude that a low level of MW irradiation-induced oxidative stress not only suppresses implantation, but it may also lead to deformity of the embryo in case pregnancy continues. We also suggest that MW radiation-induced oxidative stress by increasing ROS production in the body may lead to DNA strand breakage in the brain cells and implantation failure/resorption or abnormal pregnancy in mice.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2013_245_ghz_microwave_irradiationinduced_569,
author = {Shahin S and Singh VP and Shukla RK and Dhawan A and Gangwar RK and Singh SP and Chaturvedi CM.},
title = {2.45 GHz microwave irradiation-induced oxidative stress affects implantation or pregnancy in mice, Mus musculus.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23334843/},
}