Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone on the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in four different areas of rat brain med./bio.

By: Aboul Ezz HS, Khadrawy YA, Ahmed NA, Radwan NM, El Bakry MM

Published in: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2013; 17 (13): 1782-1788

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of an exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on the concentrations of neurotransmitters in the rat brain.

Background/further details

4 groups of rats were sacrified and examined after: 1.) daily exposure for one month, 2.) daily exposure for two month, 3.) daily exposure for four month and 4.) daily exposure for four month and afterwards 1 month without exposure. Control groups were daily sham exposed in similar containers for the same periods (remark EMF-Portal: no information about number of animals).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: level of neurotransmitters in the brain (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin)

Exposure

- 1,800 MHz
- PW pulsed wave
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 1 h/day for 1, 2 or 4 month	SAR: 0.843 W/kg power density: 0.02 mW/cm²

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Waveform	pulsed
Exposure duration	1 h/day for 1, 2 or 4 month

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.843 W/kg	-	-	-	-
power density	0.02 mW/cm²	-	-	-	-

Reference articles

Khadrawy VA et al. (2009): Effect of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone on the levels of cortical amino acid neurotransmitters in adult and young rats

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: level of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the 4 brain areas (HPLC, fluorescence spectrometry)
weight of brain areas

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
homogenates of hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain and medulla oblongata

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In the exposed groups, the level of serotonin was sometimes significantly increased compared to the corresponding control group (in hippocampus in groups 1, 2 and 4; in hypothalamus in groups 3 and 4; in midbrain in group 3).
Additionally, differences occurred regarding the level of dopamine, but sometimes the level in the exposed group was significantly decreased (in hippocampus in group 2 and 4; in hypothalamus in group 2; in midbrain in group 4) and sometimes significantly increased (in hypothalamus in group 3) in comparison to the control group.
Also in the case of norepinephrine, significantly increased (in hippocampus in group 3) and decreased levels (in midbrain in group 2 and 4) were found in comparison to the control group.
The authors conclude that exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones could alter the level of neurotransmitters in the rat brain.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt

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