1
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Sannino A, Romeo S, Scarfì MR, Pinchera D, Schettino F, Alonzo M, Allocca M, Zeni O. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency LTE signal and coexposure to mitomycin-C in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells. Bioelectromagnetics 2024; 45:97-109. [PMID: 37493434 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the cellular effects of radiofrequency exposure, 1950 MHz, long-term evolution (LTE) signal, administered alone and in combination with mitomycin-C (MMC), a well-known cytotoxic agent. Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells were exposed/sham exposed in a waveguide-based system under strictly controlled conditions of both electromagnetic and environmental parameters, at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg. Chromosomal damage (micronuclei formation), oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species [ROS] formation), and cell cycle progression were analyzed after exposure and coexposure. No differences between exposed samples and sham-controls were detected following radiofrequency exposure alone, for all the experimental conditions tested and biological endpoints investigated. When radiofrequency exposure was followed by MMC treatment, 3 h pre-exposure did not modify MMC-induced micronuclei. Pre-exposure of 20 h at 0.3 W/kg did not modify the number of micronuclei induced by MMC, while 1.25 W/kg resulted in a significant reduction of MMC-induced damage. Absence of effects was also detected when CW was used, at both SAR levels. MMC-induced ROS formation resulted significantly decreased at both SAR levels investigated, while cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were not affected by coexposures. The results here reported provide no evidence of direct effects of 1950 MHz, LTE signal. Moreover, they further support our previous findings on the capability of radiofrequency pre-exposure to induce protection from a subsequent toxic treatment, and the key role of the modulated signals and the experimental conditions adopted in eliciting the effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sannino
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Romeo
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Scarfì
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
| | - Daniele Pinchera
- Department of Electrical and Information Engineering "Maurizio Scarano" (DIEI), University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy
| | - Fulvio Schettino
- Department of Electrical and Information Engineering "Maurizio Scarano" (DIEI), University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy
| | - Mario Alonzo
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Allocca
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
| | - Olga Zeni
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), Naples, Italy
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2
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Wang H, Zhao H, Li C, Dong J, Zhao J, Yue H, Lai Y, Zhao L, Wang H, Zhang J, Xu X, Yao B, Zhou H, Nie B, Du X, Peng R. Disrupted Topological Organization of Brain Network in Rats with Spatial Memory Impairments Induced by Acute Microwave Radiation. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1006. [PMID: 37508937 PMCID: PMC10377161 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that microwave (MW) radiation with certain parameters can induce spatial memory deficits. However, the effect of MW on the topological organization of the brain network is still unknown. This work aimed to investigate the topological organization of the brain network in rats with spatial memory impairments induced by acute microwave (MW) radiation. The Morris water maze (MWM) test and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were performed to estimate the spatial memory ability and brain network topological organization of the rats after MW exposure. Compared with the sham group, the rats exposed to 30 mW/cm2 1.5 GHz MW radiation exhibited a significantly decreased normalized clustering coefficient (γ) (p = 0.002) 1 d after the exposure and a prolonged average escape latency (AEL) (p = 0.014) 3 d after the exposure. Moreover, after 10 mW/cm2 1.5 GHz MW radiation, a significantly decreased γ (p = 0.003) was also observed in the rats, without any changes in AEL. In contrast, no adverse effects on AEL or topological parameters were observed after 9.375 GHz MW radiation. In conclusion, the rats with spatial memory deficits induced by MW radiation exhibited disruptions in the topological organization of the brain network. Moreover, these topological organization disruptions emerged earlier than behavioral symptom onset and could even be found in the rats without a decline in the performance of the spatial memory task. Therefore, it is possible to use the topological parameters of the brain network as early and sensitive indicators of the spatial memory impairments induced by acute MW radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Haixia Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Chunfang Li
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
- Department of Radiology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ji Dong
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jianghao Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hanlin Yue
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yunfei Lai
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xinping Xu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Binwei Yao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Binbin Nie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiumin Du
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Ruiyun Peng
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
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3
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Yang L, Liu Q, Zhou Y, Wang X, Wu T, Chen Z. No Alteration Between Intrinsic Connectivity Networks by a Pilot Study on Localized Exposure to the Fourth-Generation Wireless Communication Signals. Front Public Health 2022; 9:734370. [PMID: 35096727 PMCID: PMC8793026 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.734370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurophysiological effect of human exposure to radiofrequency signals has attracted considerable attention, which was claimed to have an association with a series of clinical symptoms. A few investigations have been conducted on alteration of brain functions, yet no known research focused on intrinsic connectivity networks, an attribute that may relate to some behavioral functions. To investigate the exposure effect on functional connectivity between intrinsic connectivity networks, we conducted experiments with seventeen participants experiencing localized head exposure to real and sham time-division long-term evolution signal for 30 min. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected before and after exposure, respectively. Group-level independent component analysis was used to decompose networks of interest. Three states were clustered, which can reflect different cognitive conditions. Dynamic connectivity as well as conventional connectivity between networks per state were computed and followed by paired sample t-tests. Results showed that there was no statistical difference in static or dynamic functional network connectivity in both real and sham exposure conditions, and pointed out that the impact of short-term electromagnetic exposure was undetected at the ICNs level. The specific brain parcellations and metrics used in the study may lead to different results on brain modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Qingmeng Liu
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Wang
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tongning Wu
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiye Chen
- Hainan Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Hainan, China
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4
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Exposure to 1800 MHz LTE electromagnetic fields under proinflammatory conditions decreases the response strength and increases the acoustic threshold of auditory cortical neurons. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4063. [PMID: 35260711 PMCID: PMC8902282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07923-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased needs for mobile phone communications have raised successive generations (G) of wireless technologies, which could differentially affect biological systems. To test this, we exposed rats to single head-only exposure of a 4G long-term evolution (LTE)-1800 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) for 2 h. We then assessed the impact on microglial space coverage and electrophysiological neuronal activity in the primary auditory cortex (ACx), under acute neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide. The mean specific absorption rate in the ACx was 0.5 W/kg. Multiunit recording revealed that LTE-EMF triggered reduction in the response strength to pure tones and to natural vocalizations, together with an increase in acoustic threshold in the low and medium frequencies. Iba1 immunohistochemistry showed no change in the area covered by microglia cell bodies and processes. In healthy rats, the same LTE-exposure induced no change in response strength and acoustic threshold. Our data indicate that acute neuroinflammation sensitizes neuronal responses to LTE-EMF, which leads to an altered processing of acoustic stimuli in the ACx.
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5
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Hinrikus H, Koppel T, Lass J, Orru H, Roosipuu P, Bachmann M. Possible health effects on the human brain by various generations of mobile telecommunication: a review based estimation of 5G impact. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1210-1221. [PMID: 34995145 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2026516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The deployment of new 5G NR technology has significantly raised public concerns in possible negative effects on human health by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). The current review is aimed to clarify the differences between possible health effects caused by the various generations of telecommunication technology, especially discussing and projecting possible health effects by 5G. The review of experimental studies on the human brain over the last fifteen years and the discussion on physical mechanisms and factors determining the dependence of the RF EMF effects on frequency and signal structure have been performed to discover and explain the possible distinctions between health effects by different telecommunication generations. CONCLUSIONS The human experimental studies on RF EMF effects on the human brain by 2G, 3G and 4G at frequencies from 450 to 2500 MHz were available for analyses. The search for publications indicated no human experimental studies by 5G nor at the RF EMF frequencies higher than 2500 MHz. The results of the current review demonstrate no consistent relationship between the character of RF EMF effects and parameters of exposure by different generations (2G, 3G, 4G) of telecommunication technology. At the RF EMF frequencies lower than 10 GHz, the impact of 5G NR FR1 should have no principal differences compared to the previous generations. The radio frequencies used in 5G are even higher and the penetration depths of the fields are smaller, therefore the effect is rather lower than at previous generations. At the RF EMF frequencies higher than 10 GHz, the mechanism of the effects might differ and the impact of 5G NR FR2 becomes unpredictable. Existing knowledge about the mechanism of RF EMF effects at millimeter waves lacks sufficient experimental data and theoretical models for reliable conclusions. The insufficient knowledge about the possible health effects at millimeter waves and the lack of in vivo experimental studies on 5G NR underline an urgent need for the theoretical and experimental investigations of health effects by 5G NR, especially by 5G NR FR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiie Hinrikus
- Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Tarmo Koppel
- Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Lass
- Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Hans Orru
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Priit Roosipuu
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Maie Bachmann
- Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
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6
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Malik S, Pati AK, Parganiha A. Short- and long-duration exposures to cell-phone radiofrequency waves produce dichotomous effects on phototactic response and circadian characteristics of locomotor activity rhythm in zebrafish, Danio rerio. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2019.1665942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Malik
- Chronobiology and Animal Behavior Laboratory, School of Studies in Life Science, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | - Atanu Kumar Pati
- Chronobiology and Animal Behavior Laboratory, School of Studies in Life Science, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
- School of Zoology, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India
- Center for Translational Chronobiology, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | - Arti Parganiha
- Chronobiology and Animal Behavior Laboratory, School of Studies in Life Science, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
- Center for Translational Chronobiology, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
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7
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Hinrikus H, Lass J, Bachmann M. Threshold of radiofrequency electromagnetic field effect on human brain. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:1505-1515. [PMID: 34402382 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1969055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This review aims to estimate the threshold of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) effects on human brain based on analyses of published research results. To clarify the threshold of the RF EMF effects, two approaches have been applied: (1) the analyses of restrictions in sensitivity for different steps of the physical model of low-level RF EMF mechanism and (2) the analyses of experimental data to clarify the dependence of the RF EMF effect on exposure level based on the results of published original neurophysiological and behavioral human studies for 15 years 2007-2021. CONCLUSIONS The analyses of the physical model of nonthermal mechanisms of RF EMF effect leads to conclusion that no principal threshold of the effect can be determined. According to the review of experimental data, the rate of detected RF EMF effects is 76.7% in resting EEG studies, 41.7% in sleep EEG and 38.5% in behavioral studies. The changes in EEG probably appear earlier than alterations in behavior become evident. The lowest level of RF EMF at which the effect in EEG was detected is 2.45 V/m (SAR = 0.003 W/kg). There is a preliminary indication that the dependence of the effect on the level of exposure follows rather field strength than SAR alterations. However, no sufficient data are available for clarifying linearity-nonlinearity of the dependence of effect on the level of RF EMF. The finding that only part of people are sensitive to RF EMF exposure can be related to immunity to radiation or hypersensitivity. The changes in EEG caused by RF EMF appeared similar in the majority of analyzed studies and similar to these in depression. The possible causal relationship between RF EMF effect and depression among young people is highly important problem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaanus Lass
- Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
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8
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Yang L, Zhang C, Chen Z, Li C, Wu T. Functional and network analyses of human exposure to long-term evolution signal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:5755-5773. [PMID: 32974829 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10728-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by wireless communication systems has raised public concerns. There were claims of the potential association of some neurophysiological disorders with the exposure, but the mechanism is yet to be established. The wireless networks, recently, experience a transition from the 4th generation (4G) to 5th generation (5G), while 4G long-term evolution (LTE) is still the frequently used signal in wireless communication. In the study, exposure experiments were conducted using the LTE signal. The subjects were divided into sham and real exposure groups. Before and after the exposure experiments, they underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Within-session and between-session comparisons have been executed for functional connectivity and network properties. Individual specific absorption rate (SAR) was also calculated. The results indicated that acute LTE exposure beneath the safety limits modulated both the functional connection and graph-based properties. To characterize the effect of functional activity, SAR averaged over a certain tissue mass was not an appropriate metric. The potential neurophysiological effect of 5G exposure has also been discussed in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiye Chen
- Hainan Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Congsheng Li
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tongning Wu
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Beijing, China.
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9
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Spontaneous brain activity underlying auditory hallucinations in the hearing-impaired. Cortex 2021; 136:1-13. [PMID: 33450598 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Auditory hallucinations, the perception of a sound without a corresponding source, are common in people with hearing impairment. Two forms can be distinguished: simple (i.e., tinnitus) and complex hallucinations (speech and music). Little is known about the precise mechanisms underlying these types of hallucinations. Here we tested the assumption that spontaneous activity in the auditory pathways, following deafferentation, underlies these hallucinations and is related to their phenomenology. By extracting (fractional) Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation [(f)ALFF] scores from resting state fMRI of 18 hearing impaired patients with complex hallucinations (voices or music), 18 hearing impaired patients with simple hallucinations (tinnitus or murmuring), and 20 controls with normal hearing, we investigated differences in spontaneous brain activity between these groups. Spontaneous activity in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex of hearing-impaired groups was significantly higher than in the controls. The group with complex hallucinations showed elevated activity in the bilateral temporal cortex including Wernicke's area, while spontaneous activity of the group with simple hallucinations was mainly located in the cerebellum. These results suggest a decrease in error monitoring in both hearing-impaired groups. Spontaneous activity of language-related areas only in complex hallucinations suggests that the manifestation of the spontaneous activity represents the phenomenology of the hallucination. The link between cerebellar activity and simple hallucinations, such as tinnitus, is new and may have consequences for treatment.
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10
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Nakatani-Enomoto S, Yamazaki M, Nishiura K, Enomoto H, Ugawa Y. Effects of electromagnetic fields from long-term evolution on awake electroencephalogram in healthy humans. Neurosci Res 2020; 156:102-107. [PMID: 31991204 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Mobile phones are indispensable for daily life, and the adverse effects of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by mobile phones have been a great concern. We studied the effects of long-term evolution (LTE) -like EMF for 30 min on an awake electroencephalogram (EEG). Thirty-eight healthy volunteers, aged 20-36 years old, participated in this study. The maximum local SAR (specific absorption rate) averaged over 10-g mass was 2.0 W/kg. The EEG was recorded before and after real or sham exposures. The effects of exposure conditions (real or sham) and the recording time (before, during, and after exposure) on each EEG power spectrum of θ, α, and β frequency ranges were analyzed. The θ and α band waves were enhanced after both exposure conditions. These results may be explained by the participants' drowsiness during the EEG recording in both exposures. We conclude that an LTE-like exposure for 30 min in this study showed no detectable harmful effects on awake EEGs in healthy humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setsu Nakatani-Enomoto
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Madoka Yamazaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Health Science, Daito Bunka University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nishiura
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Enomoto
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Neuro-Regeneration, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Neuro-Regeneration, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Neurology, Aidu Chuo Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
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11
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Danker‐Hopfe H, Eggert T, Dorn H, Sauter C. Effects of RF-EMF on the Human Resting-State EEG-the Inconsistencies in the Consistency. Part 1: Non-Exposure-Related Limitations of Comparability Between Studies. Bioelectromagnetics 2019; 40:291-318. [PMID: 31215052 PMCID: PMC6619284 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The results of studies on possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) on human waking electroencephalography (EEG) have been quite heterogeneous. In the majority of studies, changes in the alpha-frequency range in subjects who were exposed to different signals of mobile phone-related EMF sources were observed, whereas other studies did not report any effects. In this review, possible reasons for these inconsistencies are presented and recommendations for future waking EEG studies are made. The physiological basis of underlying brain activity, and the technical requirements and framework conditions for conducting and analyzing the human resting-state EEG are discussed. Peer-reviewed articles on possible effects of EMF on waking EEG were evaluated with regard to non-exposure-related confounding factors. Recommendations derived from international guidelines on the analysis and reporting of findings are proposed to achieve comparability in future studies. In total, 22 peer-reviewed studies on possible RF-EMF effects on human resting-state EEG were analyzed. EEG power in the alpha frequency range was reported to be increased in 10, decreased in four, and not affected in eight studies. All reviewed studies differ in several ways in terms of the methodologies applied, which might contribute to different results and conclusions about the impact of EMF on human resting-state EEG. A discussion of various study protocols and different outcome parameters prevents a scientifically sound statement on the impact of RF-EMF on human brain activity in resting-state EEG. Further studies which apply comparable, standardized study protocols are recommended. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:291-318. © 2019 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Danker‐Hopfe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin FranklinCharité—Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Torsten Eggert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin FranklinCharité—Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Hans Dorn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin FranklinCharité—Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Cornelia Sauter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine at Campus Benjamin FranklinCharité—Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
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12
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Vecsei Z, Knakker B, Juhász P, Thuróczy G, Trunk A, Hernádi I. Short-term radiofrequency exposure from new generation mobile phones reduces EEG alpha power with no effects on cognitive performance. Sci Rep 2018; 8:18010. [PMID: 30573783 PMCID: PMC6301959 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36353-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although mobile phone (MP) use has been steadily increasing in the last decades and similar positive trends are expected for the near future, systematic investigations on neurophysiological and cognitive effects caused by recently developed technological standards for MPs are scarcely available. Here, we investigated the effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by new-generation mobile technologies, specifically, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE), on intrinsic scalp EEG activity in the alpha band (8–12 Hz) and cognitive performance in the Stroop test. The study involved 60 healthy, young-adult university students (34 for UMTS and 26 for LTE) with double-blind administration of Real and Sham exposure in separate sessions. EEG was recorded before, during and after RF exposure, and Stroop performance was assessed before and after EEG recording. Both RF exposure types caused a notable decrease in the alpha power over the whole scalp that persisted even after the cessation of the exposure, whereas no effects were found on any aspects of performance in the Stroop test. The results imply that the brain networks underlying global alpha oscillations might require minor reconfiguration to adapt to the local biophysical changes caused by focal RF exposure mimicking MP use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsanna Vecsei
- Department of Non-ionizing Radiation, National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balázs Knakker
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Hungary and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Juhász
- Department of Non-ionizing Radiation, National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Thuróczy
- Department of Non-ionizing Radiation, National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Trunk
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Hungary and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Sensorimotor Group, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - István Hernádi
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. .,Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Hungary and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. .,Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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13
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Wei Y, Yang J, Chen Z, Wu T, Lv B. Modulation of resting-state brain functional connectivity by exposure to acute fourth-generation long-term evolution electromagnetic field: An fMRI study. Bioelectromagnetics 2018; 40:42-51. [PMID: 30562416 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Wei
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology; Beijing China
- School of Electronic Engineering; Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; Beijing China
| | - Jiayi Yang
- Institute of Electrical Engineering; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Zhiye Chen
- Chinese PLA General Hospital; Beijing China
| | - Tongning Wu
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology; Beijing China
| | - Bin Lv
- China Academy of Information and Communications Technology; Beijing China
- Ping An Technology (Shenzhen); Shenzhen China
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Yang L, Chen Q, Lv B, Wu T. Long-Term Evolution Electromagnetic Fields Exposure Modulates the Resting State EEG on Alpha and Beta Bands. Clin EEG Neurosci 2017; 48:168-175. [PMID: 27118764 DOI: 10.1177/1550059416644887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Long-term evolution (LTE) wireless telecommunication systems are widely used globally, which has raised a concern that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted from LTE devices can change human neural function. To date, few studies have been conducted on the effect of exposure to LTE EMF. Here, we evaluated the changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) due to LTE EMF exposure. An LTE EMF exposure system with a stable power emission, which was equivalent to the maximum emission from an LTE mobile phone, was used to radiate the subjects. Numerical simulations were conducted to ensure that the specific absorption rate in the subject's head was below the safety limits. Exposure to LTE EMF reduced the spectral power and the interhemispheric coherence in the alpha and beta bands of the frontal and temporal brain regions. No significant change was observed in the spectral power and the inter-hemispheric coherence in different timeslots during and after the exposure. These findings also corroborated those of our previous study using functional magnetic resonant imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- 1 Bioelectromagnetic Lab, China Academy of Telecommunication Research of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghua Chen
- 2 Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Lv
- 1 Bioelectromagnetic Lab, China Academy of Telecommunication Research of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tongning Wu
- 1 Bioelectromagnetic Lab, China Academy of Telecommunication Research of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing, China
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15
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Zhang J, Sumich A, Wang GY. Acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phone on brain function. Bioelectromagnetics 2017; 38:329-338. [PMID: 28426166 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Due to its attributes, characteristics, and technological resources, the mobile phone (MP) has become one of the most commonly used communication devices. Historically, ample evidence has ruled out the substantial short-term impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) emitted by MP on human cognitive performance. However, more recent evidence suggests potential harmful effects associated with MP EMF exposure. The aim of this review is to readdress the question of whether the effect of MP EMF exposure on brain function should be reopened. We strengthen our argument focusing on recent neuroimaging and electroencephalography studies, in order to present a more specific analysis of effects of MP EMF exposure on neurocognitive function. Several studies indicate an increase in cortical excitability and/or efficiency with EMF exposure, which appears to be more prominent in fronto-temporal regions and has been associated with faster reaction time. Cortical excitability might also underpin disruption to sleep. However, several inconsistent findings exist, and conclusions regarding adverse effects of EMF exposure are currently limited. It also should be noted that the crucial scientific question of the effect of longer-term MP EMF exposure on brain function remains unanswered and essentially unaddressed. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:329-338, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, Tianjin City, China
| | - Alexander Sumich
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Grace Y Wang
- Department of Psychology, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
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16
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Zhou M, Hu X, Lu L, Zhang L, Chen L, Gong Q, Huang X. Intrinsic cerebral activity at resting state in adults with major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 75:157-164. [PMID: 28174129 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Numerous neuroimaging studies have been undertaken to detect cerebral intrinsic activity in major depressive disorder (MDD) with resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI). However, the inconsistent results have hindered our understanding of the exact neuropathology related to MDD. The current meta-analysis used state-of-the-art conjunction analysis techniques to systematically review and summarize all available neuroimaging studies using rs-fMRI with amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and/or fractional ALFF (fALFF) on MDD patients and further explored the effect of antidepressants on the intrinsic activity of the brain. The anisotropic effect size version of signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) was applied to investigate changes in ALFF/fALFF in depression. We performed a subgroup analysis and group comparison on medicated and drug naïve patients to detect drug effect on MDD patients and conjunction analysis to identify congruent results between the two methods. Meta-regression was used to explore the effects of demographics and clinical characteristics. Adult MDD patients showed a robust increase in intrinsic activity in the resting state in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in both ALFF (P<0.001) and fALFF (P<0.01) studies. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that the increased activity in the ACC was prominent in medicated patients only and not seen in drug-naïve MDD patients, while medication-naïve patients showed a specific decreased activity in the cerebellum (P<0.01). Group comparison showed that the intrinsic ACC activity is elevated in medicated MDD patients compared with drug naïve MDD patients. Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that the increased ACC activation was positively correlated with illness duration (P<0.001). Our findings suggest that increased activity of the ACC is more likely to be associated with antidepressant treatment, while decreased intrinsic activity of the cerebellum might be a specific biomarker for current MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhou
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lianqing Zhang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lizhou Chen
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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17
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Lv B, Shao Q, Chen Z, Ma L, Wu T. Effects of acute electromagnetic fields exposure on the interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity during resting state. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2016; 2015:1813-6. [PMID: 26736632 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7318732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we aimed to investigate the possible effects of acute radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity with resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. We designed a controllable LTE-related EMF exposure environment at 2.573 GHz and performed the 30 min real/sham exposure experiments on human brain under the safety limits. The resting state fMRI signals were collected before and after EMF exposure. Then voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity method was utilized to evaluate the acute effects of LTE EMF exposure on the homotopic functional connectivity between two human hemispheres. Based on our previous research, we further demonstrated that the 30 min short-term LTE EMF exposure would modulate the interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity in resting state around the medial frontal gyrus and the paracentral lobule during the real exposure.
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18
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Lv B, Su C, Yang L, Xie Y, Wu T. Whole brain EEG synchronization likelihood modulated by long term evolution electromagnetic fields exposure. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2015; 2014:986-9. [PMID: 25570126 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2014.6943758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we aimed to investigate the possible interactions between human brain and radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) with electroencephalogram (EEG) technique. Unlike the previous studies which mainly focused on EMF effect on local brain activities, we attempted to evaluate whether the EMF emitted from Long Term Evolution (LTE) devices can modulate the functional connectivity of brain electrical activities. Ten subjects were recruited to participate in a crossover, double-blind exposure experiment which included two sessions (real and sham exposure). In each session, LTE EMF exposure (power on or off) lasted for 30 min and the EEG signals were collected with 32 channels throughout the experiment. Then we applied the synchronization likelihood method to quantify the neural synchronization over the whole brain in different frequency bands and in different EEG record periods. Our results illustrated that the short-term LTE EMF exposure would modulate the synchronization patterns of EEG activation across the whole brain.
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Yao Z, Yan R, Wei M, Tang H, Qin J, Lu Q. Gender differences in brain activity and the relationship between brain activity and differences in prevalence rates between male and female major depressive disorder patients: A resting-state fMRI study. Clin Neurophysiol 2014; 125:2232-2239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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20
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Saikhedkar N, Bhatnagar M, Jain A, Sukhwal P, Sharma C, Jaiswal N. Effects of mobile phone radiation (900 MHz radiofrequency) on structure and functions of rat brain. Neurol Res 2014; 36:1072-9. [DOI: 10.1179/1743132814y.0000000392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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