Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of long-term exposure to 900 megahertz electromagnetic field on heart morphology and biochemistry of male adolescent rats med./bio.

Published in: Biotech Histochem 2016; 91 (7): 445-454

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of adolescent rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on morphology and oxidative stress in the heart should be investigated.

Background/further details

Male 21-day-old rats were divided into 3 groups (n=8 each): 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field, 2) sham exposure and 3) cage control. All rats were killed on postnatal day 60 and hearts were investigated.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: 1 h/day between postnatal days 21 and 59

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 1 h/day between postnatal days 21 and 59
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber plexiglass cage (42 cm length x 30 cm width x 50 cm height)
Setup half-wave dipole antenna was made of 1 mm wide x 15 cm long copper plate and was inserted into the central area of the plexiglass cage, approximately 11 cm inside the opening; rats could move freely during exposure; temperature during exposure was 21.43°C ± 1.07°C and humidity was 59.8% ± 4.11%
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info all groups were kept in the same room in separate cages under the same environmental conditions, except during sham and EMF exposure; temperature during sham exposure was 21.30°C ± 1.08°C and humidity was 59.7% ± 4.34%
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 300 mW - - - approximate output power
electric field strength 7 V/m mean measured - on the outside the empty plexiglass cage floor
electric field strength 9.54 V/m mean measured - on the inside the empty plexiglass cage floor
electric field strength 5.4 V/m mean measured - with rats in cage on the outside the plexiglass cage floor
electric field strength 8.4 V/m mean measured - with rats in cage on the inside the plexiglass cage floor; rat exposure value
power density 0.187 W/m² mean - - rat exposure value
SAR 0.0093 W/kg - calculated whole body -

Reference articles

  • Odaci E et al. (2015): Exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field for 1 hour a day over 30 days does change the histopathology and biochemistry of the rat testis
  • Turedi S et al. (2015): The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-day-old male rat heart
  • Topal Z et al. (2015): The effects of prenatal long-duration exposure to 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-day-old newborn male rat liver
  • Hanci H et al. (2013): The effect of prenatal exposure to 900-megahertz electromagnetic field on the 21-old-day rat testicle

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Apoptosis and lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in the exposure group (group 1) compared to the sham exposure group (group 2). Additionally, in comparison to the cage control (group 3), the superoxide dismutase enzyme activity was significantly increased and the enzyme activity of catalase and the amount of glutathione were significantly decreased in the exposure group. However, in the sham exposure group, apoptosis and all oxidative stress parameters except lipid peroxidation were significantly different compared to the cage control as well.
In histology and ultrastructure, the sham exposure and cage control showed no histopathological changes, while the exposure group exhibited structural changes and capillary congestion in the myocardium, decreased myofilaments and pronounced vacuolization.
There were no significant differences in body or heart weights between the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of adolescent rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field might induce oxidative stress causing morphological alterations in the heart.

Study character:

Study funded by

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