Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice

Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice

Tamir S. Aldad1,2, Geliang Gan2, Xiao-Bing Gao2,3 & Hugh S. Taylor1,2,4

1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, 2Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, 3Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, 4Environment and Human Health, New Haven, CT.

ABSTRACT

Neurobehavioral disorders are increasingly prevalent in children, however their etiology is not well understood. An association between prenatal cellular telephone use and hyperactivity in children has been postulated, yet the direct effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure on neurodevelopment remain unknown. Here we used a mouse model to demonstrate that in-utero radiofrequency exposure from cellular telephones does affect adult behavior. Mice exposed in-utero were hyperactive and had impaired memory as determined using the object recognition, light/dark box and step-down assays. Whole cell patch clamp recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) revealed that these behavioral changes were due to altered neuronal developmental programming. Exposed mice had dose-responsive impaired glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto layer V pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex. We present the first experimental evidence of neuropathology due to in-utero cellular telephone radiation. Further experiments are needed in humans or non-human primates to determine the risk of exposure during pregnancy.

"Overall, the mice exposed in-utero to radiation were hyperactive, had decreased memory, and decreased anxiety."

"The exposure to cellular telephones in pregnancy may have a comparable effect on the fetus and similar implications for society as do exposures to other common neurodevelopmental toxicants. "

"This is the first study to specifically identify effects of radio- frequency exposure on the mouse fetus. During critical windows in neurogenesis the brain is susceptible to numerous environmental insults; common medically relevant exposures include ionizing radiation, alcohol, tobacco, drugs and stress. The effects of these agents are dependent on dose and timing of exposure. Even small exposures during periods of neurogenesis have a more profound effect than exposure as an adult."

""To date, 3–7% of school-aged children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)1. Children

diagnosed with ADHD are at greater risk for low academic achievement, poor school performance, and 2,3

delinquent behavior inconsistent with their developmental level. The diagnosis of ADHD has increased at an average rate of 3% per year since 1997, making the condition a growing public health concern1. The behavioral problems in ADHD have been associated with neuropathology localized primarily to the prefrontal cortex. Children with ADHD have a reduction in prefrontal cortex volume, a reduction in gray and white matter, and asymmetry4,5. These children also have a deficit in working memory associated with inattention and controlled by activity of neurons in the prefrontal cortex6. A recent study showed that poor attention and low working memory capacity may be due to the inability to override the involuntary capture of attention by irrelevant information7. This too is controlled by the prefrontal cortex, as the shifting of one’s attention voluntarily is driven by ‘‘top- down’’ signals in the prefrontal cortex while the involuntary capture of attention depends on ‘‘bottom-up’’ signals from both subcortical structures and the visual cortex7."

"This is the first study to specifically identify effects of radio- frequency exposure on the mouse fetus. During critical windows in neurogenesis the brain is susceptible to numerous environmental insults; common medically relevant exposures include ionizing radiation, alcohol, tobacco, drugs and stress. The effects of these agents are dependent on dose and timing of exposure. Even small exposures during periods of neurogenesis have a more profound effect than exposure as an adult.exposed during pregnancy had impaired memory, were hyperactive, and had decreased anxiety, indicating that in-utero exposure to radiofrequency is a potential cause of neurobehavioral disorders. We further demonstrated impairment of glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex associated with these behavioral changes, suggesting a mechanism by which in- utero cellular telephone radiation exposure may lead to the increased prevalence of neurobehavioral disorders."

"In summary, we demonstrate that fetal radiofrequency radiation exposure led to neurobehavioral disorders in mice. We anticipate these findings will improve our understanding of the etiology of neurobehavioral disorders. The rise in behavioral disorders in developed countries may be, at least in part, due to a contribution from fetal cellular telephone radiation exposure. Further testing is warranted in humans and non-human primates to determine if the risks are similar and to establish safe exposure limits during pregnancy."