Purpose: To investigate oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme status in the liver of guinea pigs exposed to mobile phone-like radiofrequency radiation (RFR) and the potential protective effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) on the oxidative damage. Materials and methods: Nine groups of guinea pigs were used to study the effects of exposure to an 1800-MHz Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-modulated signal (average whole body Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 0.38 W/kg, 10 or 20 min per day for seven days) and treatment with antioxidants. Results: Significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) and total nitric oxide (NO_x) levels and decreases in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were observed in the liver of guinea pigs after RFR exposure. Only NAC treatment induces increase in hepatic GSH-Px activities, whereas EGCG treatment alone attenuated MDA level. Extent of oxidative damage was found to be proportional to the duration of exposure (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Mobile phone-like radiation induces oxidative damage and changes the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver. The adverse effect of RFR may be related to the duration of mobile phone use. NAC and EGCG protect the liver tissue against the RFR-induced oxidative damage and enhance antioxidant enzyme activities.

The effect of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and lipid damage in non-pregnant and pregnant rabbits and their newborns

Purpose: Environmental electromagnetic fields originate from man-made sources, such as mobile phones and base stations, and have led to increasing public concern about their possible adverse health effects. We aimed to investigate the possible effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) generated from these devices on oversensitive animals, such as pregnant rabbits. Materials and methods: In the present study, the effects of whole body 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-like RFR exposure for 15 min/day for seven days on blood chemistry and lipid peroxidation levels in both non-pregnant and pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were investigated. Thirteen-month-old rabbits were studied in the following four groups: Non-pregnant control, non-pregnant RFR-exposed, pregnant control and pregnant RFR-exposed. Results: Lipid peroxidation, namely malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, did not change after RFR exposure. However, blood chemistry parameters, such as cholesterol (CHO), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), uric acid, creatinin and creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase-myocardial band isoenzyme (CK-MB) changed due to both pregnancy and RFR exposure.Conclusion: Our investigations have been shown that no indication for oxidative stress was detected in the blood of pregnant rabbits upon RF exposure at specific conditions employed in the present study. Minor changes in some blood chemistry parameters were detected but CK-MB and CK increases were found remarkable. Studies on RFR exposure during pregnancy will help establish international standards for the protection of pregnant women from environmental RFR.

Purpose: We aimed to design a prolonged radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure and investigate in an animal model, possible bio-effects of RF radiation on the ongoing developmental stages of children from conception to childhood. Materials and methods: A total of 72 New Zealand female and male white rabbits aged one month were used. Females were exposed to RF radiation for 15 min/day during 7 days, whereas males were exposed to the same level of radiation for 15 min/day during 14 days. Thirty-six female and 36 male infant rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: Group I [Intrauterine (IU) exposure (−); Extrauterine (EU) exposure (−)]: Sham exposure which means rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM)-like RF signals neither in the IU nor in the EU periods. Group II [IU exposure (−); EU exposure (+)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals when they reached one month of age. Group III [IU exposure (+); EU exposure (−)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals in the IU period (between 15th and 22nd days of the gestational period). Group IV [IU exposure (+); EU exposure (+)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals both in the IU period (between 15th and 22nd days of the gestational period) and in the EU period when they reached one month of age. Biochemical analysis for lipid peroxidation and DNA damage were carried out in the livers of all rabbits. Results: Lipid peroxidation levels in the liver tissues of female and male infant rabbits increased under RF radiation exposure. Liver 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels of female rabbits exposed to RF radiation were also found to increase when compared with the levels of non-exposed infants. However, there were no changes in liver 8-OHdG levels of male rabbits under RF exposure. Conclusion: Consequently, it can be concluded that GSM-like RF radiation may induce biochemical changes by increasing free radical attacks to structural biomolecules in the rabbit as an experimental animal model.