Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Behavior and memory evaluation of Wistar rats exposed to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation med./bio.

Published in: Neurol Res 2014; 36 (9): 800-803

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of an acute whole body exposure of rats to an 1.8 GHz GSM electromagnetic field from a mobile phone on the behavior should be investigated.

Background/further details

12 rats were randomly and equally separated into the following two groups: 1) sham exposure and 2) exposure.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: intermittent for 3 days (25 s phone calls every 2 min)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,800 MHz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent for 3 days (25 s phone calls every 2 min)
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup freely moving animals were exposed in cages (40 x 60 x 35 cm) covered with aluminium foil; the lid was perforated with several 0.5 mm holes for ventilation and one larger hole in the center for a polyvinyl chloride pipe with an internal diameter of 17 cm; the mobile phone was placed inside the pipe together with a the trigger mechanism, which let the mobile phone automatically establish a call for 25 seconds every 2 minutes.
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 2 V/m mean measured - during call
electric field strength 0.1 V/m mean measured - mobile phone in standby mode

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A significant increase of the immobility time and rearing rate was observed in exposed animals compared to sham exposure, which was interpreted as stress behavior. All other parameters of the open field test and the examination of the working memory in the object recognition test did not show any significant differences.
The authors conclude that an acute whole body exposure of rats to a 1.8 GHz GSM electromagnetic field from a mobile phone could cause stress and that further research is needed on this topic.

Study character:

Study funded by

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