Effects of exposure to EMF from 915 MHz RFID system on circulating blood cells in the healthy adult rat

Abstract

Effects of exposure to EMF from 915 MHz RFID system on circulating blood cells in the healthy adult rat Kim HS, Park JS, Jin YB, Do Choi H, Kwon JH, Pack JK, Kim N, Ahn YH. Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field from 915 MHz radiofrequency identification system on circulating blood cells in the healthy adult rat. Bioelectromagnetics. 2017 Nov 24. doi: 10.1002/bem.22093. Abstract We investigated whether exposure to the 915 MHz radiofrequency identification (RFID) signal affected circulating blood cells in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to RFID at a whole-body specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg for 8 h per day, 5 days per week, for 2 weeks. Complete blood counts were performed after RFID exposure, and the CD4+ /CD8+ ratio was determined by flow cytometry. The number of red blood cells (RBCs) and the values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC indices were increased in the RFID-exposed group compared with those in the cage-control and sham-exposed groups (P < 0.05). However, the RBCs and platelet numbers were within normal physiologic response ranges. The number of white blood cells, including lymphocytes, was decreased in RFID-exposed rats. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the sham- exposed and RFID-exposed groups in terms of T-cell counts or CD4+ /CD8+. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts A period of 2 weeks in rats corresponds to 1.5 years in human if calculated based on a human life expectancy of 80 years. 2 W/kg is about five times the occupational exposure limit 0.4 W/kg of ICNIRP/IEEE guidelines at the distance of 12 cm from RFID antenna. As RF-EMF exposure can affect body temperature, we measured rectal temperature before and after RFID exposure; no statistically significant changes in temperature were found in our exposure system .... ... although circulating blood cell counts were significantly affected by exposure to 915 MHz RFID at a whole- body SAR of 2 W/kg for 2 weeks, these changes do not necessarily indicate that RFID exposure is harmful, as values remained within normal physiological response ranges.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Rats exposed to 915 MHz RFID at a whole-body SAR of 2 W/kg showed increased RBC count and related indices (hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC indices) compared with cage-control and sham groups (P<0.05), while RBC and platelet numbers remained within normal physiologic ranges. White blood cells (including lymphocytes) were decreased in RFID-exposed rats. There were no statistically significant differences between sham and RFID groups for T-cell counts or CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and rectal temperature did not change significantly.

Outcomes measured

• Complete blood count parameters (RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC indices, platelet count, WBC count including lymphocytes)
• T-cell counts
• CD4+/CD8+ ratio
• Rectal temperature

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
• Short exposure duration (2 weeks)
• Animal study; generalizability to humans is uncertain
• Some outcomes differed versus cage-control and sham, while key immune markers (T-cell counts, CD4+/CD8+) did not differ versus sham

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.35)
  Abstract notes SAR relative to occupational exposure limits (ICNIRP/IEEE) for RFID, though the study is in rats.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "RFID system",
        "frequency_mhz": 915,
        "sar_wkg": 2,
        "duration": "8 h/day, 5 days/week, for 2 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Complete blood count parameters (RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC indices, platelet count, WBC count including lymphocytes)",
        "T-cell counts",
        "CD4+/CD8+ ratio",
        "Rectal temperature"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 915 MHz RFID at a whole-body SAR of 2 W/kg showed increased RBC count and related indices (hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC indices) compared with cage-control and sham groups (P<0.05), while RBC and platelet numbers remained within normal physiologic ranges. White blood cells (including lymphocytes) were decreased in RFID-exposed rats. There were no statistically significant differences between sham and RFID groups for T-cell counts or CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and rectal temperature did not change significantly.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Short exposure duration (2 weeks)",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans is uncertain",
        "Some outcomes differed versus cage-control and sham, while key immune markers (T-cell counts, CD4+/CD8+) did not differ versus sham"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "915 MHz",
        "RFID",
        "radiofrequency",
        "SAR 2 W/kg",
        "Sprague-Dawley rat",
        "complete blood count",
        "red blood cells",
        "white blood cells",
        "lymphocytes",
        "CD4/CD8",
        "flow cytometry",
        "temperature"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Abstract notes SAR relative to occupational exposure limits (ICNIRP/IEEE) for RFID, though the study is in rats."
        }
    ]
}

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