Cognitive impairment and neurogenotoxic effects in rats exposed to low-intensity microwave radiation.

Abstract

The health hazard of microwave radiation (MWR) has become a recent subject of interest as a result of the enormous increase in mobile phone usage. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-intensity microwave exposure on cognitive function, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and DNA damage in rat brain. Experiments were performed on male Fischer rats exposed to MWR for 180 days at 3 different frequencies, namely, 900, 1800 MHz, and 2450 MHz. Animals were divided into 4 groups: group I: sham exposed; group II: exposed to MWR at 900 MHz, specific absorption rate (SAR) 5.953 × 10(-4) W/kg; group III: exposed to 1800 MHz, SAR 5.835 × 10(-4) W/kg; and group IV: exposed to 2450 MHz, SAR 6.672 × 10(-4) W/kg. All the rats were tested for cognitive function at the end of the exposure period and were subsequently sacrificed to collect brain. Level of HSP70 was estimated by enzyme-linked immunotarget assay and DNA damage was assessed using alkaline comet assay in all the groups. The results showed declined cognitive function, elevated HSP70 level, and DNA damage in the brain of microwave-exposed animals. The results indicated that, chronic low-intensity microwave exposure in the frequency range of 900 to 2450 MHz may cause hazardous effects on the brain.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Male Fischer rats exposed for 180 days to low-intensity microwave radiation at 900, 1800, or 2450 MHz (SARs ~5.835×10^-4 to 6.672×10^-4 W/kg) showed declined cognitive function, elevated brain HSP70 levels, and increased DNA damage in brain compared with sham-exposed rats.

Outcomes measured

• Cognitive function
• Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) level in brain
• DNA damage in brain (alkaline comet assay)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract.
• Exposure source/setup details beyond frequency and SAR not described in abstract.
• Only male rats studied; generalizability to other sexes/species not addressed in abstract.
• Cognitive testing methods not specified in abstract.

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.55)
  Motivated by increased mobile phone usage and uses 900/1800 MHz bands commonly associated with mobile communications.
• wi-fi (0.35)
  Includes 2450 MHz exposure, a frequency used by Wi‑Fi, though the exposure source is not specified as Wi‑Fi.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "mobile phone usage (context); experimental microwave exposure",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "180 days (chronic)"
    },
    "population": "Male Fischer rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Cognitive function",
        "Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) level in brain",
        "DNA damage in brain (alkaline comet assay)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Male Fischer rats exposed for 180 days to low-intensity microwave radiation at 900, 1800, or 2450 MHz (SARs ~5.835×10^-4 to 6.672×10^-4 W/kg) showed declined cognitive function, elevated brain HSP70 levels, and increased DNA damage in brain compared with sham-exposed rats.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract.",
        "Exposure source/setup details beyond frequency and SAR not described in abstract.",
        "Only male rats studied; generalizability to other sexes/species not addressed in abstract.",
        "Cognitive testing methods not specified in abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "RF exposure",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "2450 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "rats",
        "cognitive impairment",
        "HSP70",
        "DNA damage",
        "comet assay",
        "brain"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.5500000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Motivated by increased mobile phone usage and uses 900/1800 MHz bands commonly associated with mobile communications."
        },
        {
            "slug": "wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Includes 2450 MHz exposure, a frequency used by Wi‑Fi, though the exposure source is not specified as Wi‑Fi."
        }
    ]
}

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