Effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields exposure on cochlear cells' functionality in rats: Evaluation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions

Abstract

In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has been accompanied by public debate about possible adverse consequences on human health. The auditory system is a major target of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular telephones; the aim of this study was the evaluation of possible effects of cellular phone-like emissions on the functionality of rat's cochlea. Distortion Products OtoAcoustic Emission (DPOAE) amplitude was selected as cochlea's outer hair cells (OHC) status indicator. A number of protocols, including different frequencies (the lower ones in rat's cochlea sensitivity spectrum), intensities and periods of exposure, were used; tests were carried out before, during and after the period of treatment. No significant variation due to exposure to microwaves has been evidenced.

Review of possible modulation‐dependent biological effects of radiofrequency fields

“…According to the authors' interpretation, the increased body mass results from absorption of RF energy (less energy from food is needed to maintain body temperature), and the differences between the frequencies are related to different absorption patterns (more superficial absorption at 1800 MHz). Galloni et al [2005] studied possible effects of RF field exposure on the functioning of the auditory system by measuring distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOE) in three experiments with different exposure characteristics. In the first experiment, rats were wholebody exposed to a 936 MHz CW field or head-only exposed to a 923 MHz CW field.…”

Auditory Brainstem Response Changes during Exposure to GSM-900 Radiation: An Experimental Study

“…On the other hand, no harmful effects of mobile phone usage have been reported regarding hearing, tinnitus and balance in a student population detected by a self-report method [Davidson and Lutman, 2007]. After Grisanti's first reported changes in distortion product otoacoustic emissions attributed to mobile phone use, many researchers failed to find any significant effect of mobiles on distortion product otoacoustic emissions [Grisanti et al, 1998;Aran et al, 2004;Monnery et al, 2004;Galloni et al, 2005;Janssen et al, 2005;Parazzini et al, 2005;Mora et al, 2006]. Recently, in a case-control study, no significant transient evoked otoacoustic emission changes from baseline to postexposure recording for any of the subjects, nor any significant differences in the transient evoked otoacoustic emission change from baseline to postexposure between cases and controls were reported [Bamiou et al, 2008].…”

Characterization of biological effect of 1763 MHz radiofrequency exposure on auditory hair cells

“…In the European project 'GUARD', Parazzini et al monitored the auditory function of young adults after exposure to GSM mobile phone signals, but there were no effects on hearing function (Parazzini et al 2007). In an evaluation of the effects of cellular phones on the function of rat cochlea, no significant variation due to exposure to 900 MHz RF has been found (Galloni et al 2005). In our experiments, we used HEI-OC1 cells under nonpermissive conditions for RF exposure.…”