Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Does 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Exposure Affect Rat Brain? med./bio.

By: Dasdag S, Akdag Z, Aksen F

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2004; 23 (3): 201-214

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of cell phone exposure on the fatty acid composition in phospholipids, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity and histological structure of the rat brain.

Background/further details

It is suggested that p53 immune reactivity may be related to the change of fatty acid composition in phospholipids. The loss of p53 appears to sensitize cells to fatty acid synthase inhibitors, and raises the possibility that these agents may be clinically useful against malignancies.
Malondialdehyde is a marker for lipid peroxidation, free radical damage, and oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation may induce p53 immune reactivity.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: fatty acid composition in phospholipids, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity and histological structure of the brain

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 890–915 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day for 1 month	power: 2 W peak value power: 250 mW mean electric field strength: 13.59 V/m mean power density: 0.047 mW/cm² mean SAR: 3.13 W/kg effective value (1 g) SAR: 0.52 W/kg effective value (whole body) (0.29-0.87 W/kg)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	890–915 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day for 1 month

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Additional info	DTX (discontinuous transmission mode) was activated. The phones were in speech condition sending a tape of human speech to the base station.

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	0.5 cm
Chamber	The rats were confined in Plexiglas cages (20 cm x 10.5 cm x 10 cm) with ventilation holes, and the cellular phones were placed 0.5 cm under the cages.
Setup	Exposure began after the rats had selected a fixed location and settled into a prone position. The feed point of the antenna was placed under the cage against the brain.
Additional info	For sham exposure, the setup was identical, except that the phone was switched off.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-
power	250 mW	mean	-	-	-
electric field strength	13.59 V/m	mean	measured	-	-
power density	0.047 mW/cm²	mean	measured	-	-
SAR	3.13 W/kg	effective value	calculated	1 g	-
SAR	0.52 W/kg	effective value	measured and calculated	whole body	0.29-0.87 W/kg

Additional parameter details

Measured background levels of EMF were 0.22 V/m and 0.0001 mW/cm².

Measurement and calculation details

The FDTD method was used to calculate the SAR. The simulation was performed using Finite Integration Technique (FIT) which in the time domain case is similar to FDTD. The FCC recommended parameters for average muscle dielectric constant and conductivity at 900 MHz were used to simulate the rat model which was an ellipsoid with 100 mm and 28 mm semi axis. The phone model was a metallic box of 90 mm x 40 mm x 15 mm mounted with a monopole antenna of 80 mm. Distance between the rat model and the phone model was 5 mm. Taking into account the very simple shape of the model used in this simulation, the SAR values are approximate. In addition, due to the adaptive power control of the base station, the radiated power was variable during the study. Therefore, minimum and maximum SAR levels were measured. Average electric field and power density were measured by a radiation meter. An equipment called ''cell sensor'' was used for checking the availability of the signal.

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: malondialdehyde concentration
effects on the immune system: p53 immune reactivity (immunohistochemistry)
morphol./histopathol. changes: histological structure (hematoxylin-eosin stain; light microscopy)
effects on the neurological system: fatty acid composition (see "others"), malondialdehyde content (see "molecular biosynthesis"), p53 immune reactivity (see "effects on immunological system") and histological structure (see "morphol./histopathol. changes") of the brain
fatty acid composition in phospholipids (gas chromatography)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
brain homogenates

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Histological alteration and changes in brain phospholipid fatty acids composition were not found in the brains. p53 immune reactivity was not affected by cell phone exposure. Malondialdehyde concentration in exposed brains was significantly higher than in sham-exposed brains. The alteration in malondialdehyde does not appear sufficient to induce histological changes in brain tissue.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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