Effects of Acute Exposure to 3500 MHz (5G) Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Anxiety‐Like Behavior and the Auditory Cortex in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF‐EMR) may negatively affect human health. We detected the effect of 3500 MHz RF‐EMR on anxiety‐like behavior and the auditory cortex (ACx) in guinea pigs. Forty male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to a continuous wave of 3500 MHz RF‐EMF at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h. After exposure, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, anxiety‐like behavior, hearing thresholds, cell ultrastructure, and apoptosis were detected. Our results revealed that hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior did not change significantly after exposure (P > 0.05). However, the MDA levels of ACx were increased (P < 0.05), and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐px) activities were decreased (P < 0.05) in the exposure groups compared to the sham group. Ultrastructural changes of ACx, including swollen mitochondria and layered myelin sheaths, were observed. Cytochrome‐c relocalization, caspase‐9, and cleaved caspase‐3 activation were detected in the exposure groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that oxidative stress is an important mechanism underlying the biological effects of RF‐EMR, which can induce ultrastructural damage to the ACx and cell apoptosis through a mitochondria‐dependent mechanism. Moreover, oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and ultrastructural damage increase in a SAR‐dependent manner. However, RF‐EMR does not increase hearing thresholds or induce anxiety. Bioelectromagnetics. 43:106–118, 2022. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Effects of 5G-modulated 3.5 GHz radiofrequency field exposures on HSF1, RAS, ERK, and PML activation in live fibroblasts and keratinocytes cells

“…Yang et al assessed the effect of unmodulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMF exposure with a SAR of 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h on anxiety-like behavior and the auditory cortex (ACx) in guinea pigs. This study pointed to a SAR-dependent increase in oxidative stress, apoptosis induction, and ultrastructural damage in ACx with no increase in animals’ anxiety and hearing thresholds 11 . Finally, Bektas et al assessed whether GSM-modulated 3.5 GHz signal induced a change in energy homeostasis and redox balance in the brains of diabetic and healthy rats exposed for 2 h a day for 30 days at a calculated SAR of 0.323 W/kg in the brain 12 .…”

Evaluation of mitochondrial stress following ultraviolet radiation and 5G radiofrequency field exposure in human skin cells

“…Exposure of diabetic and healthy rats brains revealed an increase in appetite, energy metabolism, and oxidative stress (Bektas et al, 2022). Finally, no effect on anxiety‐like behavior, but a SAR‐dependent increase in different oxidative stress parameters were found in the guinea pig auditory cortex (Yang et al, 2022). Unfortunately, all these studies are highly heterogeneous in terms of endpoints, biological systems, and SAR levels, making it impossible to draw firm conclusions about the effects of 3.5 GHz signals on human health.…”