EMF Research Studies

Gene expression changes in human cells after exposure to mobile phone microwaves, Proteomics 2006 Sep;6(17):4745-54

Unknown authors · 2006

An anatomically realistic voxel model of the pregnant woman and numerical dosimetry for a whole-body exposure to RF electromagnetic fields.

Nagaoka T et al. · 2006

Researchers had previously developed a whole-body numerical female model of an adult Japanese non-pregnant average figure. A new fetus model including inherent tissues of pregnant women was constructed based on abdominal MRI data of a 7-month pregnant woman. A whole-body pregnant woman model was developed by combining the new fetus and the female models. The anatomical details of the developed pregnant woman model and basic SAR characteristics for whole-body exposure to RF electromagnetic fields are demonstrated.

Paternal occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Mjøen G et al. · 2006

Expression of the immediate early gene, c-fos, in fetal brain after whole of gestation exposure of pregnant mice to global system for mobile communication microwaves.

Finnie JW, Cai Z, Blumbergs PC, Manavis J, Kuchel TR. · 2006

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to 900 MHz fields at 4 W/kg for 60 minutes daily from gestation day 1 to 19. Control mice were sham-exposed or freely mobile without restraint. Fetal brains were examined for c-fos expression in multiple regions using immunohistochemistry. No difference in c-fos immunoreactivity was found between exposed and control fetal brains.

Effect of mobile telephony on blood-brain barrier permeability in the fetal mouse brain.

Finnie JW, Blumbergs PC, Cai Z, Manavis J, Kuchel TR. · 2006

Pregnant mice were exposed to 900 MHz radiofrequency fields at 4 W/kg for 60 minutes daily from gestational day 1 to day 19. Fetal brains were examined for albumin extravasation in multiple regions including cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, hippocampus, cerebellum, midbrain and medulla. No albumin extravasation was found in exposed or control brains, indicating no increase in vascular permeability.

Ultra high frequency-electromagnetic field irradiation during pregnancy leads to an increase in erythrocytes micronuclei incidence in rat offspring.

Ferreira AR et al. · 2006

Researchers used the micronucleus assay to assess chromosomal damage in erythrocytes from rat offspring exposed to non-thermal UHF-EMF from a cellular phone during embryogenesis. The irradiated group showed a significant increase in micronuclei occurrence. No significant differences were found in any oxidative parameter of offspring blood and liver. The average number of pups in each litter was not significantly altered.

Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular phone on human sperm motility: an in vitro study.

Erogul O et al. · 2006

Researchers enrolled 27 men and divided each semen sample into two parts, exposing one to 900 MHz cellular phone radiation. Exposure caused a subtle decrease in rapid and slow progressive sperm movement and an increase in non-motile sperm. Sperm concentration did not differ significantly between exposed and unexposed samples.

Endometrial Apoptosis Induced by a 900-MHz Mobile Phone: Preventive Effects of Vitamins E and C.

Oral B et al. · 2006

Researchers examined oxidative stress from a 900-MHz mobile phone and the possible protective effects of vitamins E and C on endometrial tissue in rats. Rats were divided into a sham control group, a 900-MHz EMF-exposed group (30 minutes daily for 30 days), and an EMF-exposed group treated with vitamins E and C before each exposure. Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and the proteins Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-8 were measured in endometrial tissue. The EMF-exposed rats showed increased malondialdehyde levels and apoptosis, while vitamins E and C ameliorated oxidative tissue injury and apoptosis through free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties.

Effect of whole-body 1800MHz GSM-like microwave exposure on testicular steroidogenesis and histology in mice.

Forgacs Z et al. · 2006

Researchers studied the possible effects of whole-body 1800 MHz GSM-like microwave exposure on male reproduction in mice. After repeated exposure at 0.018-0.023 W/kg SAR, an elevated serum testosterone level was measured, but no histopathological alteration could be detected in the reproductive organs. Leydig cell cultures from exposed animals did not differ from controls in their steroidogenic response.

Effect of 50-Hz 1-mT magnetic field on the uterus and ovaries of rats (electron microscopy evaluation).

Aksen F, Akdag MZ, Ketani A, Yokus B, Kaya A, Dasdag S. · 2006

[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA of testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure in mice] Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields at 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT for 4 weeks. DNA strand breakage in testicular cells was measured using single-cell gel electrophoresis, and sperm chromatin structure was analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of testicular cells with DNA migration increased from 25.64% in controls to 37.83% and 39.38% after exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.4 mT, respectively. Comet tail length and the percentage of DNA in the tail also increased significantly in both exposure groups. The proportion of sperm with abnormal chromatin structure (COMPalphaT) increased in both exposed groups, while S.D.alphaT and XalphaT did not change significantly.

Biological and morphological effects on the reproductive organ of rats after exposure to electromagnetic field.

Ozguner M et al. · 2005

Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a control group and an EMF group exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Testicular weight, biopsy score, and interstitial tissue percentage did not differ significantly between groups. Seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium height were significantly decreased in the EMF group. Serum testosterone was significantly lower in the EMF group, while LH and FSH did not change significantly.

Image content influences men’s semen quality.

Kilgallon SJ, Simmons LW. · 2005

Is there a relationship between cell phone use and semen quality?

Fejes I et al. · 2005

Researchers surveyed 371 men at a university clinic about their cell phone use habits and analyzed semen using conventional methods. Duration of possession and daily transmission time correlated negatively with rapid progressive motile sperm (r = -0.12 and r = -0.19) and positively with slow progressive motile sperm (r = 0.12 and r = 0.28). Men in the high transmitter group had a lower proportion of rapid progressive motile sperm than those in the low transmitter group (40.6% vs 48.7%).

Impact of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA integrity in the male germline.

Aitken RJ, Bennetts LE, Sawyer D, Wiklendt AM, King BV. · 2005

Researchers exposed mice to 900 MHz RFEMR at a specific absorption rate of approximately 90 mW/kg inside a waveguide for 7 days at 12 h per day. Sperm number, morphology, and vitality were not significantly affected by the exposure. However, detailed DNA analysis using QPCR revealed statistically significant damage to both the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear beta-globin locus.

Non-thermal DNA breakage by mobile-phone radiation (1800MHz) in human fibroblasts and in transformed GFSH-R17 rat granulosa cells in vitro.

Diem E, Schwarz C, Adlkofer F, Jahn O, Rudiger H. · 2005

Researchers exposed cultured human diploid fibroblasts and transformed GFSH-R17 rat granulosa cells to 1800 MHz RF-EMF at SAR levels of 1.2 or 2 W/kg, using both intermittent and continuous exposures. DNA strand breaks were determined by means of the alkaline and neutral comet assay. Effects occurred after 16 h exposure in both cell types, and intermittent exposure showed a stronger effect in the comet assay than continuous exposure. The researchers concluded that the induced DNA damage cannot be based on thermal effects.

Absence of mutagenic effects of 2.45 GHz radiofrequency exposure in spleen, liver, brain, and testis of lacZ-transgenic mouse exposed in utero.

Ono T et al. · 2004

A possible mutagenic effect of 2.45 GHz radiofrequency exposure was examined using lacZ-transgenic MutaTM mice. Offspring were exposed in utero for 16 hours a day from embryonic day 0 to 15 and examined at 10 weeks of age. Mutation frequencies at the lacZ gene in spleen, liver, brain, and testis were similar to those in non-exposed mice. Sequencing of mutant DNAs showed no appreciable difference in mutation quality between exposed and non-exposed samples.

Effect of electromagnetic field emitted by cellular phones on fetal heart rate patterns.

Celik O, Hascalik S. · 2004

The study was planned to determine the effects of electromagnetic fields from cellular phones on baseline fetal heart rate, acceleration, and deceleration. Forty pregnant women undergoing non-stress testing were enrolled. Non-stress tests were recorded while subjects held a cellular phone in standby mode and dialing mode for five minutes each, and also with no phone present for ten minutes.

Effect of gsm 900-mhz mobile phone radiation on the reproductive capacity of drosophila melanogaster.

Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH · 2004

The study used GSM mobile phones with a carrier frequency at 900 MHz. Insects were exposed to the near field of the mobile phone antenna for 6 minutes per day during the first 2–5 days of adult life. Modulated radiation decreased reproductive capacity by 50–60% while nonmodulated radiation decreased it by 15–20%. The authors suggested the radiation decreases the rate of cellular processes during gonad development.

Bone morphogenetic protein expression in newborn rat kidneys after prenatal exposure to radiofrequency radiation.

Pyrpasopoulou A et al. · 2004

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to pulsed GSM-like radiofrequency radiation at 9.4 GHz and 5 microW/cm2 during early gestation. They measured bone morphogenetic protein and receptor expression in newborn kidneys using semi-quantitative duplex RT-PCR. Exposure increased BMP-4 and BMPR-IA expression and decreased BMPR-II expression, with statistical significance depending on exposure timing. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed aberrant expression and localization of these molecules. The authors suggest these molecular changes do not affect renal organogenesis but may reflect a developmental delay, and that exposure timing influences effects.

The effects of cellular telephone use on serum PSA levels in men.

Simsek V, Sahin H, Akay AF, Kaya H, Bircan MK · 2003

Average free PSA was 2.070 ng/ml before and 2.0 ng/ml after, while total PSA was 0.500 ng/ml before and 0.505 ng/ml after. No significant difference was found between initial and final PSA values (p > 0.05).

Whole body exposure of rats to microwaves emitted from a cell phone does not affect the testes.

Dasdag S et al. · 2003

Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into exposed and sham-exposed groups of eight each. The exposed group received cell phone radiation for 20 minutes per day, seven days a week, for one month. No statistically significant alterations were found in any endpoints, including sperm count, morphology, testicular histology, lipid composition, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity, or rectal temperature.

[Biological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic field on chick embryo (risk assessment using the mortality rate)]

Grigor'ev IuG. · 2003

The study aimed to investigate biological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic field on chick embryo using mortality rate as a risk assessment. Chicken embryos were exposed to EMF from a GSM mobile phone during the 21-day embryonic development. The embryo mortality rate in the incubation period increased to 75% versus 16% in the control group.

Effects of mobile phone radiation on reproduction and development in Drosophila melanogaster.

Weisbrot D, Lin H, Ye L, Blank M, Goodman R. · 2003

Researchers exposed fruit flies to a discontinuous RF signal from a GSM multiband phone at 900/1,900 MHz with SAR approximately 1.4 W/kg for 10 days from egg laying through pupation. The non-thermal radiation increased offspring numbers, elevated hsp70 levels, increased SRE DNA-binding, and induced ELK-1 phosphorylation.

Nonthermal effects of mobile-phone frequency microwaves on uteroplacental functions in pregnant rats.

Nakamura H et al. · 2003

Researchers compared microwave exposure to water immersion at matched temperature rises in thirty-six pregnant rats assigned to six groups with 90-minute exposures. No significant differences in uteroplacental circulation or placental endocrine and immune functions were found between rats exposed to 0.6 mW/cm2 microwaves and those immersed at 38 °C. At 3 mW/cm2, microwaves caused significant decreases in uteroplacental blood flow and estradiol compared with rats immersed at 40 °C.