Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
Aldad TS, Gan G, Gao XB, Taylor HS · 2012
View Original AbstractPrenatal cell phone radiation at FCC-approved levels caused hyperactivity and memory problems in mice through altered brain development.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to radiofrequency radiation from cell phones (at levels similar to human exposure) throughout pregnancy and then tested the offspring's behavior and brain function. The exposed mice showed hyperactivity and memory problems as adults, along with measurable changes in brain cell communication in the prefrontal cortex. This study provides the first direct experimental evidence that prenatal cell phone radiation exposure can alter brain development and behavior.
Why This Matters
This landmark 2012 study from Yale University provides crucial experimental evidence for what epidemiological studies had already suggested: prenatal exposure to cell phone radiation can affect neurodevelopment. The researchers used an SAR level of 1.6 W/kg, which is the FCC limit for cell phones and represents realistic human exposure levels. What makes this research particularly significant is that it doesn't just show behavioral changes, but identifies the underlying neurological mechanism through altered synaptic transmission in the prefrontal cortex. The dose-response relationship the researchers found strengthens the case for causation rather than coincidence. While we need human studies to confirm these findings, this research adds substantial weight to the growing body of evidence suggesting that pregnant women should minimize cell phone radiation exposure. The reality is that developing brains appear especially vulnerable to EMF effects, and this study provides a biological basis for the precautionary recommendations many experts have been making.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 1.6 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones
- Exposure Duration
- In Utero/continuous for 0, 9, 15 or 24 hours/day on day 1-17 of gestation
Exposure Context
This study used 1.6 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 4x 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 determine if prenatal radiofrequency exposure from 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
An association between prenatal cellular telephone use and hyperactivity in children has been postul...
Mice exposed in-utero were hyperactive and had impaired memory as determined using the object recogn...
We present the first experimental evidence of neuropathology due to in-utero cellular telephone radiation. Further experiments are needed in humans or non-human primates to determine the risk of exposure during pregnancy
Show BibTeX
@article{ts_2012_fetal_radiofrequency_radiation_exposure_60,
author = {Aldad TS and Gan G and Gao XB and Taylor HS},
title = {Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice},
year = {2012},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00312},
}