The effects of short-term and long-term 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation on adult rat auditory brainstem response

PAPER manual Open Chemistry 2025 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1515/chem-2025-0173 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Category: Neuroscience Tags: radiofrequency radiation, auditory brainstem response, electromagnetic fields, oxidative stress, UMTS, SAR, animal study DOI: 10.1515/chem-2025-0173 URL: degruyterbrill.com Overview Mobile phones utilizing radiofrequency radiation (RFR) are ubiquitous in modern life, yet concerns regarding their possible adverse health impacts persist. Notably, effects such as headaches, sleep disorders, dizziness, reduced sperm quality, altered brain potentials, increased oxidative stress, and decreased antioxidant parameters have been reported in association with mobile phone usage. Study Aim & Methods This study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of 2100 MHz RFR exposure on the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in adult rats. Experiments involved four groups of rats (n=10 each): two sham groups (1- and 10-week exposures without RFR) and two experimental groups exposed to 2100 MHz RFR for 1 week or 10 weeks (2 hours/day, 5 days/week). ABR measurements were taken, with additional biochemical and ultrastructural brain analyses. Findings - Acute 2100 MHz RFR exposure resulted in prolonged ABR wave latencies compared to controls. - Significant increases in brain 4-hydroxynonenal, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and protein carbonyl content were observed, alongside decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in the acute exposure group. - Structural brain changes included neuronal edema, astrocyte swelling, disrupted astrocytic end-feet, and mitochondrial damage in astrocytes. Conclusion The data indicate that acute exposure to 2100 MHz RFR may adversely impact the auditory system in rats, suggesting a clear link between EMF exposure and neural/oxidative stress responses. Chronic exposure, with rest days, did not show harmful effects under these experimental conditions.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Adult rats

Sample size

Exposure

RF mobile phone (UMTS) · 2100 MHz · 1 week or 10 weeks; 2 hours/day, 5 days/week

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In rats, acute (1-week) 2100 MHz RFR exposure was associated with prolonged ABR wave latencies versus controls and with increased oxidative stress markers alongside decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity; ultrastructural brain changes were also reported. The 10-week exposure condition (with rest days) was reported as not showing harmful effects under these experimental conditions.

Outcomes measured

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave latencies
Brain oxidative stress markers (4-hydroxynonenal, TBARS, protein carbonyl content)
Antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase)
Brain ultrastructural changes (neuronal/astrocytic/mitochondrial alterations)

Limitations

SAR not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Results described for acute exposure; chronic exposure reported as not harmful, suggesting outcome dependence on exposure duration/conditions
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones (0.9)
Study evaluates 2100 MHz (UMTS) radiofrequency radiation associated with mobile phone use.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone (UMTS)",
        "frequency_mhz": 2100,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 week or 10 weeks; 2 hours/day, 5 days/week"
    },
    "population": "Adult rats",
    "sample_size": 40,
    "outcomes": [
        "Auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave latencies",
        "Brain oxidative stress markers (4-hydroxynonenal, TBARS, protein carbonyl content)",
        "Antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase)",
        "Brain ultrastructural changes (neuronal/astrocytic/mitochondrial alterations)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In rats, acute (1-week) 2100 MHz RFR exposure was associated with prolonged ABR wave latencies versus controls and with increased oxidative stress markers alongside decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity; ultrastructural brain changes were also reported. The 10-week exposure condition (with rest days) was reported as not showing harmful effects under these experimental conditions.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "SAR not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Results described for acute exposure; chronic exposure reported as not harmful, suggesting outcome dependence on exposure duration/conditions",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "2100 MHz",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "RFR",
        "UMTS",
        "mobile phone",
        "auditory brainstem response",
        "ABR",
        "oxidative stress",
        "4-hydroxynonenal",
        "TBARS",
        "protein carbonyl",
        "catalase",
        "superoxide dismutase",
        "astrocyte swelling",
        "mitochondrial damage",
        "rat"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study evaluates 2100 MHz (UMTS) radiofrequency radiation associated with mobile phone use."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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