Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Oxidative stress induced by 1.8 GHz radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and effects of garlic extract in rats med./bio.

By: Avci B, Akar A, Bilgici B, Tuncel OK

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2012; 88 (11): 799-805

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the oxidative damage induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure emitted by mobile telephones and the protective effect of a garlic extract used as an antioxidant.

Background/further details

66 rats were divided into three groups (n=22 per group): 1.) exposure group, 2.) exposure + garlic administration (500 mg/kg/d) and 3.) control group. At the end of the study, blood and brain tissues were collected.

Endpoint

oxidative stress in blood and brain

Exposure

- 1,750–1,850 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM
- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,750–1,850 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h/day during 3 weeks	power: 1 W (output power) SAR: 0.4 W/kg electric field strength: 17.23 V/m average over time (± 1.48 V/m)

General information

Rats were divided into the following three groups: i) EMF exposure ii) EMF exposure + daily treatment with 500 mg/kg body weight garlic extract iii) control

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,750–1,850 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h/day during 3 weeks

Modulation

Modulation type	cf. additional info
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	monopole GSM simulator
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	6 cm
Setup	rats kept during exposure in plastic constrainers positioned radially around a 15 cm high antenna
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	1 W	-	-	-	output power
SAR	0.4 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	-
electric field strength	17.23 V/m	average over time	measured	-	± 1.48 V/m

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

oxidative stress: levels of malondialdehyde, "advanced oxidation protein product", nitric oxide, paraoxonase (enzyme (ester hydrolase) which protects lipoproteins from oxidation) in brain homogenates and blood serum (commercial kits + spectrophotometry), protein amount in brain homogenates (Lowry method, spectroscopic method to determine the total protein concentration of a sample)

Investigated system:

blood serum, brain homogenates

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No differences among the groups with regard to the malondialdehyde levels in serum and brain tissue were detected. Although the serum "advanced oxidation protein products" levels did not differ among the groups, the "advanced oxidation protein products" levels in the brain homogenates of the exposed group were higher than those of the control group. In the exposed group with garlic administration, there was a statistically significant decrease in the "advanced oxidation protein products" levels compared to the exposed group. There was no statistically significant difference between the control group and the exposed group with garlic administration. The serum nitric oxide levels increased significantly in the exposed group and in the exposed group with garlic administration compared with the control group. However, there was no difference between the exposed group and the exposed group with garlic administration regarding the serum nitric oxide levels. No differences were found in the serum levels of paraoxonase among the groups. No paraoxonase was found in the brain homogenates.
The authors summarize that the exposure to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field at 1.8 GHz did not cause lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide increase but led to protein oxidation in the brain tissue and an increase in serum nitric oxide level. Furthermore, an administration of garlic reduced the protein oxidation in the brain tissue but did not have any effects on serum nitric oxide levels.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey

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