Effects of 700 and 3500 MHz 5G radiofrequency exposure on developing zebrafish embryos
Torres-Ruiz M, Suárez OJ, López V, Marina P, Sanchis A, Liste I, de Alba M, Ramos V · 2024
Zebrafish embryos exposed to unmodulated 700 MHz and 3500 MHz radiation showed no changes in mortality, hatching, or body length, but had organ morphological changes, behavioral alterations, and stronger effects at 700 MHz with 4 h exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to unmodulated 700 MHz and 3500 MHz radiofrequency radiation for 1 and 4 hours during the blastula period and assessed outcomes up to 120 hours post fertilization. The exposure did not affect mortality, hatching, or body length, but caused specific organ morphological changes and lasting behavioral alterations in activity, anxiety-like behavior, and habituation. Effects were stronger at 700 MHz, particularly after 4 hours of exposure, and acetylcholinesterase activity was reduced.
Why This Matters
The study employed a battery of toxicity, developmental, and behavioral assays, including tail coiling, light/dark activity, thigmotaxis anxiety, and startle response habituation tests. The exposure system was described as robust, flexible for frequency and power testing, and highly comparable. The authors plan future experiments with modulated 5G signals to further assess health effects.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{torres_ruiz_m_surez_oj_lpez_v_marina_p_sanchis_a_liste_i_de_alba_m_ramos_v_ce3887,
author = {Torres-Ruiz M and Suárez OJ and López V and Marina P and Sanchis A and Liste I and de Alba M and Ramos V},
title = {Effects of 700 and 3500 MHz 5G radiofrequency exposure on developing zebrafish embryos},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169475},
}