Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of in utero wi-fi exposure on the pre- and postnatal development of rats med./bio.

Published in: Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol 2012; 95 (2): 130-136

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of in utero exposure to a 2450 MHz WiFi signal on pregnant rats and their pups.

Background/further details

Dams were divided into five groups (20 animals/group): cage control, sham exposure group and three different exposure groups (with SAR levels of 0.08, 0.4 and 4 W/kg). Five dams per group were sacrificed and five female fetuses were investigated on day 20 of pregnancy (one day before expected delivery). Additionally, 15 dams per group and their offspring were observed for 28 days after delivery.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2,450 MHz
Exposure duration: 2 h/day, 6 days/week for 18 days
  • SAR: 0.08 W/kg average over mass (whole body) (corresponds to public limit for RF exposure)
  • SAR: 0.4 W/kg average over mass (whole body) (corresponds to occupational limit for RF exposure)
  • SAR: 4 W/kg average over mass (whole body) (corresponds to critical level)

General information

Female rats were randomly distributed into five groups with 20 animals per group.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2,450 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 2 h/day, 6 days/week for 18 days
Exposure setup
Chamber cubic reverberation chamber (150 x 150 x 150 cm)
Setup six antennas (70 W) provided uniform exposure; cages were placed in a 40 x 40 x 40 cm³ volume at the center of the chamber
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.08 W/kg average over mass - whole body corresponds to public limit for RF exposure
SAR 0.4 W/kg average over mass - whole body corresponds to occupational limit for RF exposure
SAR 4 W/kg average over mass - whole body corresponds to critical level

Reference articles

  • Wu T et al. (2010): Whole-body new-born and young rats' exposure assessment in a reverberating chamber operating at 2.4 GHz

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

For all experimental conditions, no abnormalities were noted in the pregnant rats and no significant signs of toxicity were observed in the prenatal and postnatal development of the pups, even at the highest level of 4 W/kg. In conclusion, no teratogenic effect of repeated exposures to the WiFi wireless communication signal was found.

Study character:

Study funded by

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