Medical/biological study (experimental study)

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

By: de Caires Jr LC, da Silveira Goulart Guimarães E, Manso Musso C, Stabler CT, Garcia RMG, Mourao Jr CA, Andreazzi AE

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

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: effects on anxiety, working memory and stress

Exposure

- 1,800 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: intermittent for 3 days (25 s phone calls every 2 min)	electric field strength: 2 V/m mean (during call) electric field strength: 0.1 V/m mean (mobile phone in standby mode)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
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	cellular phone
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

Additional parameter details

no electric field strength could be measured inside the cage of sham exposure during exposure; cage control was kept 3 m away from exposed animals

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: stress and anxiety testing (immobility time, number of squares explored, rearing, time spend in the center of the arena; open field test), working memory (object recognition test (recognition of plastic cylinders; time animals spent exploring new objects)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

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:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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