1800 MHz radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation induces oxidative stress in rat liver, kidney and brain tissues

INTRODUCTION: Radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) represents one of the environment factor that influence animal organism that that conduct the organism to stress. In this study we determined the oxidative stress parameters from rat liver, kidney and brain tissues that were exposed to chronic 1800 MHz RF-EMR.
METHODS: Our study was designed in 3 groups as 9 animals in each group. These are; control, sham and RF-EMR exposed group. The control group was not exposed to any procedure; sham group was housed in the same room under the same conditions with equal time period, except that the generator was turned off. RF-EMR exposed group was subjected to 1800 MHz RF-EMR emitted from the signal generator for 2 h per day for eight weeks. All animals that completed the experimental period were sacrificed and liver, kidney and brain tissues of all rats were isolated for analyzing malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities.
RESULTS: Liver, kidney and brain MDA and NO levels were higher and GSH level and SOD and catalase activities were significantly lower in RF-exposed group than control and sham groups (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in terms of tissue MDA, GSH and NO levels and SOD and catalase activities between control and sham groups in each tissue.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of our study shows that RF-EMR may act as an environmental stressor and cause oxidative and nitrosative damage in liver, kidney and brain tissues.