Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone on trace elements levels in fetal rats

Objective: The present study was assigned to investigate the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile phone on trace element levels in brain tissue and serum of the fetal rats. Material and methods: 32 pregnant Wistar rats weighing 256 +/- 2.69 g were equally divided into four groups: control group (GC), low-intensity group (GL), middle-intensity group (GM), and high-intensity group (GH). Except for GC group, pregnant rats in GL, GM and GH groups were placed in an experimental cage and exposed to RF-EMR emitted by mobile phone each time for 10, 30, and 60 min, respectively. The exposure was carried out 3 times daily from the first pregnant day for consecutive 20 days. In the 21st day, the fetal rats were taken, sacrificed and their brain tissues and sera were collected for the measurement of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), Manganese (Mn). Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Se concentration was measured by atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Results: In brain tissue Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Se concentrations in the three experimental groups were found lower than control group. The decrease of five trace elements contents was found to be of statistical significance in the GH group, but only the differences of Fe, Zn, and Mn contents were significant in GM group when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The RF-EMR exposure during pregnancy could also cause a decrease of trace element levels in the fetus' serum. The significant content differences of Fe, Zn, Cu and Se were found in fetal serum between GH and GC groups (p < 0.05), while only Fe, Zn and Se concentrations in the GM group showed of significant differences when compared to GC group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that mobile phone-induced RF-EMR exposure to pregnant rats could decrease the concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Se in the fetal brain tissue and serum, and the influence seems to be related with the radiation intensity.