Mobile Phone Exposure Causes Brain Damage in Rats

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29 January 2003 919-653-2585 Mobile Phone Exposure Causes Brain Damage in

Rats

 

Study Published Today in Environmental Health Perspectives Finds Significant

Impact and Raises Questions about Use

 

[RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC] A study published today in the online edition

of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) found

for the first time that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by certain

mobile phones damaged neurons in the brains of rats.

 

The researchers studied 12- to 26-week-old rats because their developmental

age is comparable to that of human teenagers, who are some of the heaviest

users of mobile phones.

 

" The situation of the growing brain might deserve special concern, " the

study authors wrote, " since biological and maturational processes are

particularly vulnerable. We cannot exclude that after some decades of often

daily use, a whole generation of users may suffer negative effects as early

as middle age. "

 

Three groups of rats were exposed for 2 hours to GSM mobile phone EMFs of

different strengths. GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile

Communications, is the main standard for mobile phones used in Europe, as

well as in many countries in the Middle East and Asia. GSM is one of several

standards by which mobile phones in the United States operate.

 

The study found that EMF exposure was associated with leakage of albumin

through the blood-brain barrier and neuronal damage that increased in

response to the amount of exposure. The authors acknowledged that the study

sample was small, but stated that " the combined results are highly

significant and exhibit a clear dose-response relation. "

 

Earlier EMF studies have focused on whether exposure might cause cancer,

with some studies finding increased risk but most showing no effects or even

decreased risk.

 

" Scientists have been looking for some time at the possible effects of

exposure to the energy coming out of cell phones, " says Dr. Jim Burkhart,

science editor for Environmental Health Perspectives. " These scientists

decided to look in a new place, studying potential nerve damage, rather than

cancer growth. Their results suggest a strong need for further study as we

all rely on cell phones more and more. "

 

The study team was headed by Leif G. Salford of the Department of Neurology

at Lund University in Sweden. Other authors include Arne E. Brun, Jacob L.

Eberhardt, Lars Malmgren, and Bertil R. R. Persson. The study will appear in

a future print issue of EHP.

 

EHP is the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences, part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. More

information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org/.

 

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Editor's note: A full copy of the report is available by fax or e- mail (PDF

format) to media at no charge. Go to www. ehponline. org/press call

919-653-2585