Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to 2100MHz GSM-like radiofrequency electromagnetic field on auditory system of rats med./bio.

By: Çeliker M, Özgür A, Tümkaya L, Terzi S, Yilmaz M, Kalkan Y, Erdoğan E

Published in: Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2017; 83 (6): 691-696

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 2100 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) on the auditory system should be investigated.

Background/further details

The cochlear nuclei, which were investigated in this study, are two nerve nuclei in the brain stem, which carry information from the hair cells in the inner ear to the brain.
Rats were divided into 2 groups (n=7 each): 1) exposure group and 2) control group.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: auditory system

Exposure

- 2,100 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2,100 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 30 days	power: 3.47 mW

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2,100 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 days
Additional info	simulated talk mode of a mobile phone

Exposure setup

Exposure source	rod antenna
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	20 cm
Chamber	plastic rat cage
Setup	a 15 cm long rod antenna connected to an EMF generator was placed below the rat cage and was positioned parallel to the short axis of the cage; rats could move freely at a maximum distance of 20 cm to the antenna

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	3.47 mW	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

morphol./histopathol. changes: histopathology (signs of degeneration, e.g. the presence of red neurons, vacuolization, cellular degeneration, edema, or pyknotic cells; hematoxylin-eosin stain, light microscopy) and apoptosis (TUNEL assay) in cochlear nuclei
effects on the neurological system: acoustic evoked brainstem potentials (under anesthesia, latency of wave V and interpeak latency of waves I-V for both ears; EEG)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Histopathologic analysis showed significantly increased signs of degeneration and significantly more apoptotic cells in the exposure group compared to the control group.
There were no significant differences in acoustic evoked brainstem potentials between the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 2100 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) might cause degeneration in the cochlear nuclei.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Comments on this article

Mortazavi SMJ et al. (2018): Effects of exposure to 2100MHz GSM-like radiofrequency electromagnetic field on auditory system of rats

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