GSM base station electromagnetic radiation Reduces Antioxidant Glutathione Significantly

Electromagn Biol Med. 2006;25(3):177-88.

GSM base station electromagnetic radiation and oxidative stress in rats.

Yurekli AI,
Ozkan M ,
Kalkan T ,
Saybasili H ,
Tuncel H ,
Atukeren P ,
Gumustas K ,
Seker S .
Tubitak-Uekae, EMC TEMPEST Test Center, Gebze-Kocaeli, Turkey. yurekli@uekae.tubitak.gov.tr

The ever increasing use of cellular phones and the increasing number of associated base stations are becoming a widespread source of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation. Some biological effects are likely to occur even at low-level EM fields. In this study, a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cell was used as an exposure environment for plane wave conditions of far-field free space EM field propagation at the GSM base transceiver station (BTS) frequency of 945 MHz, and effects on oxidative stress in rats were investigated. When EM fields at a power density of 3.67 W/m2 (specific absorption rate = 11.3 mW/kg), which is well below current exposure limits, were applied, MDA (malondialdehyde) level was found to increase and GSH (reduced glutathione) concentration was found to decrease significantly (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was a less significant (p = 0.0190) increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity under EM exposure.

PMID: 16954120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]