title: Electromagnetic fields from mobile phones do not affect the inner auditory system of Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: The auditory system is the first biological structure facing the electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cochlear functionality of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to electromagnetic fields at the typical frequencies of GSM mobile phones (900 and 1800 MHz) by distortion product otoacoustic emissions, which are a well-known indicator of the status of the cochlea's outer hair cells. A population of 48 rats was divided into exposed and sham-exposed groups. Three sets of four loop antennas, one for sham-exposed animals and two for exposed animals, were used for the local exposures. Rats were exposed 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks at a local SAR of 2 W/kg in the ear. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions tests were carried out before, during and after the exposure. The analysis of the data shows no statistically significant differences between the audiological signals recorded for the different groups.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Biomedical Sciences Unit, ENEA Casaccia, 0060 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galloni
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Giorgio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lovisolo
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognola
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravazzani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040421:Cell Phone; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley