Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of chronic exposure of electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on hearing in rats med./bio.

Published in: Auris Nasus Larynx 2003; 30 (3): 239-245

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted from mobile phones on the inner ear of adult and developing rats.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day for 30 days
  • SAR: 0.95 W/kg maximum (obtained on the internet)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day for 30 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Additional info

GSM

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 4 cm
Chamber The custom-made exposure system was similar to the one described in the reference article.
Setup The mobile phone was positioned vertically in the center of the exposure platform. The rats were placed on a carousel and oriented radially in tube cells restricting their movements, with their snouts towards a central antenna the distance from which to the proximal edge of the tube was 4 cm.
Additional info Seven of the 14 adult rats and 4 newborn rats were exposed while the other 7 adult rats were sham exposed. Sham exposures were done in an identical platform. The newborns were exposed in a smaller platform.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.95 W/kg maximum cf. remarks - obtained on the internet

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No measurable electromagnetic field associated alterations in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) either in adult or developing rat inner ears were revealed. It was concluded that chronic exposure of electromagnetic fields emitted from a mobile phone did not cause any hearing deterioration in adult and developing rats, at least at outer and middle ear and cochlear levels.

Study character:

Study funded by

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