Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Do cellular phones alter blood parameters and birth weight of rats? med./bio.

By: Dasdag S, Akdag Z, Ayyildiz O, Demirtas OC, Yayla M, Sert C
Published in: Electro Magnetobiol 2000; 19 (1): 107-113
Download citation in RIS format

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effects of microwaves emitted by cellular phones on peripheral blood parameters and birth weights of rats.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 890–915 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure for 3 x 1 min during 2 h/day, see add. information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 890–915 MHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure for 3 x 1 min during 2 h/day, see add. information
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 577 µs
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 0.5 cm
Chamber anechoic chamber 70 cm x 47 cm x 47 cm built with styrofoam blocks
Setup Rats were individually placed in methacrylate cages of 20 cm x 10.5 cm x 10 cm and oriented parallel to the electric vector but normal to the magnetic and pointing vector of the EMF. The mobile phones were placed 0.5 cm under the cages.
Additional info Females were exposed until they gave birth. Males were exposed for 1 month. When the offspring became sexually adult, the experiment was repeated on them. Animals in the sham groups were treated identically but no EMF was emitted from the mobile phones.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 2 W peak value - - -
SAR 0.155 W/kg mean measured - -
Measurement and calculation details

The equivalent SAR was determined from in vivo temperature measurements using a nonperturbing probe during a 2-h exposure by mobile phones.

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure of normal and pregnant rats to low-level 915-MHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR) did not cause detectable shifts of erythrocyte or leukocyte numbers in peripheral blood, nor did it influence the course and the outcome of pregnancy. The only consistent finding related to the RFR exposure was lowered birth weigth, which was overcome in postnatal development during a 3-month period.

Study character:

Study funded by

Related articles