Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.
Showing 1,014 studies (Rodent Studies)
Esmekaya MA, Ozer C, Seyhan N · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 20 minutes daily over three weeks. All major organs showed increased oxidative damage and reduced antioxidant protection compared to unexposed animals, suggesting brief daily mobile phone exposure may harm multiple body systems.
Chen YB, Li J, Liu JY, Zeng LH, Wan Y, Li YR, Ren D, Guo GZ. · 2011
Researchers exposed mice to intense electromagnetic pulses (400,000 volts per meter) and found it significantly impaired their ability to learn new tasks for up to 24 hours. The exposure caused oxidative stress in brain tissue, damaging brain cells through increased harmful molecules and reduced protective antioxidants. When mice were given vitamin E beforehand, it protected them from these harmful effects.
Zeng L et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed male rats to intense electromagnetic pulses (100,000 volts per meter) and examined effects on their reproductive systems. The study found that while sperm count and basic sperm health remained normal, the electromagnetic exposure damaged testicular tissue and disrupted important antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from damage. The findings suggest that electromagnetic pulses may harm male fertility by interfering with the body's natural defense systems against cellular damage.
Ghodbane S et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to strong magnetic fields for five days and found the exposure depleted selenium levels and disrupted protective antioxidant enzymes in organs. However, selenium supplements prevented this damage, suggesting proper nutrition may help protect against magnetic field-induced cellular stress.
Ghodbane S et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to static magnetic fields (128 mT) for one hour daily over five days and found significant depletion of antioxidant vitamins A and E in the blood, indicating oxidative stress. However, when rats were pre-treated with selenium supplements for 30 days, these harmful effects were prevented. This suggests that magnetic field exposure can overwhelm the body's natural antioxidant defenses, but proper nutrition may offer protection.
Chu LY et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed mice to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for 3 hours and found significant oxidative stress in the cerebellum, the brain region controlling movement and coordination. The magnetic field exposure increased harmful molecules called free radicals while depleting protective antioxidants like vitamin C. This suggests that magnetic fields from power lines and electrical devices may damage brain cells through oxidative stress.
Shin EJ, Nguyen XK, Nguyen TT, Pham DT, Kim HC. · 2011
Researchers exposed mice to magnetic fields from power lines for one hour daily over two weeks. The exposure caused hyperactivity and altered brain chemistry in areas controlling movement and reward, with changes lasting up to a year, suggesting these fields can permanently affect brain function.
Frilot C 2nd, Carrubba S, Marino AA. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to magnetic fields from power lines and measured brain activity using glucose uptake imaging. The magnetic fields increased brain activity in the hindbrain region, but only at specific angles, suggesting brains contain specialized detectors that respond to magnetic field exposure.
Chu LY et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed mouse brain tissue to 60 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for three hours and found significant oxidative stress in the cerebellum, including harmful free radicals and depleted vitamin C, suggesting these common electrical frequencies may damage brain cells.
Trosić I et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (915 MHz) for one hour daily over two weeks. DNA damage was found in liver and kidney cells using comet assay testing. This suggests short-term radiofrequency exposure at cell phone levels can cause genetic damage in organs.
Sirav B, Seyhan N · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (0.9 GHz) for 20 minutes to test brain protection. The radiation made the blood-brain barrier leaky in male rats only, allowing blood proteins into brain tissue. This suggests phone radiation may compromise brain defenses differently between sexes.
Ntzouni MP, Stamatakis A, Stylianopoulou F, Margaritis LH. · 2011
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation at human-level intensities and tested their memory recognition abilities. Mice showed significant memory problems, especially when exposed during the 17-day period when memories form. This suggests mobile phone radiation may interfere with the brain's memory formation processes.
Masuda H et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rat brains to cell phone-frequency radiation and found it increased both brain temperature and blood flow. Higher radiation levels caused greater effects. This shows radiofrequency radiation triggers measurable biological changes in brain tissue, including the brain's natural response to heating.
Liu ML, Wen JQ, Fan YB. · 2011
Researchers exposed rat brain neurons to 1800 MHz cell phone radiation for 24 hours and found it caused significant cell death. However, when they treated the neurons with green tea polyphenols (natural compounds found in green tea), the protective compounds prevented much of the radiation-induced damage. This suggests that certain natural antioxidants might help protect brain cells from the harmful effects of cell phone radiation.
Kesari KK, Kumar S, Behari J. · 2011
Researchers exposed young rats to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation (the same frequency used by many cell phones) for 2 hours daily over 45 days. They found significant brain changes including increased oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules), decreased antioxidant protection, and elevated markers associated with cell death. The study suggests that prolonged mobile phone radiation exposure may harm brain tissue through oxidative damage.
Dragicevic N et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed mice to 918 MHz electromagnetic fields daily for one month. The treatment dramatically boosted brain cell energy production by 50-150% in Alzheimer's mice and improved function in normal mice, suggesting EMFs might protect against cognitive decline.
Carballo-Quintás M et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone-level 900 MHz radiation for 2 hours, then gave them a seizure-inducing drug called picrotoxin. They found that the combination of radiation and the drug caused significantly more brain cell activation and inflammatory responses than either exposure alone. This suggests that EMF radiation may make the brain more vulnerable to other toxic substances.
Trosić I et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (915 MHz) for one hour daily over two weeks and measured DNA damage in brain, liver, and kidney cells using the comet assay. They found measurable DNA breaks in liver and kidney cells, with slight increases in brain cells compared to unexposed control animals. This suggests that repeated exposure to cell phone-type radiation can cause genetic damage at the cellular level.
Takahashi S et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 2.14 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell tower signals) for 20 hours daily throughout pregnancy and nursing. They found no harmful effects on the mothers, their offspring, or the next generation, examining everything from growth and development to memory and reproductive function. This suggests that exposure levels similar to those from cell towers may not cause developmental problems in mammals.
Sambucci M et al. · 2010
Italian researchers exposed pregnant mice to WiFi signals (2.45 GHz) for 2 hours daily during pregnancy to study effects on birth outcomes and immune system development in offspring. They found no differences in pregnancy success, birth weight, or immune function (specifically B-cells that produce antibodies) when offspring were tested at 5 weeks and 26 weeks of age. This suggests that prenatal WiFi exposure at these levels may not significantly impact reproductive outcomes or immune system development.
Lee HJ et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed male rats to cell phone radiation at 848.5 MHz for 12 weeks to study effects on sperm production and testicular health. They found no changes in sperm count, testicular tissue structure, or markers of cellular damage compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that exposure to this specific frequency and power level did not harm male reproductive function in rats.
Gurbuz N, Sirav B, Yuvaci HU, Turhan N, Coskun ZK, Seyhan N. · 2010
Turkish researchers exposed rats to 1800 MHz cell phone radiation (the same frequency used by GSM networks) for 20 minutes daily over a month to test for DNA damage in bladder cells. They found no increase in micronuclei (cellular markers of genetic damage) compared to unexposed control rats. This suggests that short-term exposure to GSM radiation at these levels did not cause detectable genetic damage to bladder cells.
Finnie JW, Cai Z, Manavis J, Helps S, Blumbergs PC. · 2010
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for either one hour or repeatedly over two years, then examined their brains for signs of microglial activation (immune cells that respond to brain stress or damage). They found no evidence that either short-term or long-term radiofrequency exposure activated these immune cells, even though the same cells responded strongly when brain tissue was physically damaged. This suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels may not trigger the brain's stress response mechanisms.
Markkanen A, Naarala J, Juutilainen J · 2010
Finnish researchers tested whether 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) could amplify DNA damage from UV radiation in mouse cells. They exposed cells to magnetic fields of 100-300 microTesla during or before UV exposure and measured cellular oxidative stress. The study found no evidence that magnetic fields increased UV-induced damage, contradicting their hypothesis about how magnetic fields might affect cellular chemistry.
O'Connor RP, Madison SD, Leveque P, Roderick HL, Bootman MD · 2010
Researchers exposed three types of cells (including human blood vessel cells and brain cells) to 900 MHz cell phone radiation at various power levels to see if it affected calcium levels inside the cells. Calcium is crucial for cell function and communication. They found no changes in calcium activity, even at radiation levels higher than typical phone exposure, suggesting that GSM cell phone signals don't disrupt this fundamental cellular process.