Effect of Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on Body Temperature in Anesthetized and Non-Anesthetized Rats.

PAPER pubmed Bioelectromagnetics 2020 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/bem.22236 PMID: 31828817 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Exposure to a radiofrequency (RF) signal at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg can increase the body temperature by more than 1 °C. In this study, we investigated the effect of anesthesia on the body temperature of rats after exposure to an RF electromagnetic field at 4 W/kg SAR. We also evaluated the influence of body mass on rats' body temperature. Rats weighing 225 and 339 g were divided into sham- and RF-exposure groups. Each of the resulting four groups was subdivided into anesthetized and non-anesthetized groups. The free-moving rats in the four RF-exposure groups were subjected to a 915 MHz RF identification signal at 4 W/kg whole-body SAR for 8 h. The rectal temperature was measured at 1-h intervals during RF exposure using a small-animal temperature probe. The body temperatures of non-anesthetized, mobile 225 and 339 g rats were not significantly affected by exposure to an RF signal. However, the body temperatures of anesthetized 225 and 339 g rats increased by 1.9 °C and 3.3 °C from baseline at 5 and 6 h of RF exposure, respectively. Three of the five 339 g anesthetized and exposed rats died after 6 h of RF exposure. Thus, anesthesia and body mass influenced RF exposure-induced changes in the body temperature of rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41:104-112. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Rats (225 g and 339 g; anesthetized and non-anesthetized; sham and RF-exposed)

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF RF identification signal · 915 MHz · 4 W/kg · 8 h

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Free-moving (non-anesthetized) rats (225 g and 339 g) were not significantly affected in body temperature by 915 MHz RF exposure at 4 W/kg whole-body SAR. In anesthetized rats, body temperature increased from baseline by 1.9 °C (225 g) and 3.3 °C (339 g) at 5–6 h of RF exposure, and 3 of 5 anesthetized 339 g exposed rats died after 6 h.

Outcomes measured

Rectal body temperature during exposure
Mortality in exposed anesthetized rats

Limitations

Total sample size not reported in the abstract (only a subgroup count is given for one group)
Findings are from rats and may not generalize to humans
Exposure conditions are specific (915 MHz, 4 W/kg whole-body SAR, 8 h)

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "RF identification signal",
        "frequency_mhz": 915,
        "sar_wkg": 4,
        "duration": "8 h"
    },
    "population": "Rats (225 g and 339 g; anesthetized and non-anesthetized; sham and RF-exposed)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Rectal body temperature during exposure",
        "Mortality in exposed anesthetized rats"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Free-moving (non-anesthetized) rats (225 g and 339 g) were not significantly affected in body temperature by 915 MHz RF exposure at 4 W/kg whole-body SAR. In anesthetized rats, body temperature increased from baseline by 1.9 °C (225 g) and 3.3 °C (339 g) at 5–6 h of RF exposure, and 3 of 5 anesthetized 339 g exposed rats died after 6 h.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Total sample size not reported in the abstract (only a subgroup count is given for one group)",
        "Findings are from rats and may not generalize to humans",
        "Exposure conditions are specific (915 MHz, 4 W/kg whole-body SAR, 8 h)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF",
        "915 MHz",
        "RFID",
        "specific absorption rate",
        "SAR",
        "whole-body exposure",
        "anesthesia",
        "body temperature",
        "rectal temperature",
        "rats",
        "mortality"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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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