Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

GSM 900 MHz Microwave Radiation-Induced Alterations of Insulin Level and Histopathological Changes of Liver and Pancreas in Rat med./bio.

By: Mortazavi SM, Owji SM, Shojaei-fard MB, Ghader-Panah M, Mortazavi SA, Tavakoli-Golpayegani A, Haghani M, Taeb S, Shokrpour N, Koohi O
Published in: J Biomed Phys Eng 2016; 6 (4): 235-242
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) on the insulin level in the blood and histopathological changes of liver and pancreas should be investigated.

Background/further details

42 female rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field for 6 hours/day for one week (n=14), 2) sham exposure for 6 hours/day for one week (n=7), 3) exposure to the electromagnetic field for 3 hours/day for one week (n=14), 4) sham exposure for 3 hours/day for one week (n=7). For histopathological analysis, both sham exposure groups were pooled. All animals were killed on day 9 after the beginning of the exposure.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 6 hours/day for one week
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 hours/day for one week

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 6 hours/day for one week
Additional info GSM talk mode
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 5 cm
Chamber plexiglass restrainers
Setup the mobile phone in talk mode was used for exposure; the distance between the antenna of the mobile phone and the head of the animals was 5 cm; during the exposure, animals were immobilized by placing their body in plexiglas restrainers
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 3 hours/day for one week
Additional info GSM talk mode
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 5 cm
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There were no significant differences on the insulin level found in the exposure groups (groups 1 and 3) compared to the respective sham exposure groups.
In the liver of animals from group 1 (exposure for 6 h/day), severe infiltration of mononuclear cells into the portal spaces of the hepatic lobules with penetration of the cells into the limiting plate was observed. Only mild mononuclear cellular infiltration in the portal spaces with no penetration into the limiting plates was found in group 3 (exposure for 3 h/day) and no histopathological abnormalities were found in the sham exposure groups.
In the pancreas of animals from group 1, dissociation and in group 3 mild dissociation of most of the Langerhans islets was observed, while there were no histopathological abnormalities found in the sham exposure groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) could induce histopathological changes in the liver and pancreas. (remark EMF-Portal: This conclusion corresponds to the abstract. The conclusion presented at the end of the article shows no logical association to the rest of the article and does therefore probably not belong to the study).

Study character:

Study funded by

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