Influences of exposure to 915-MHz radiofrequency identification signals on serotonin metabolites in rats: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

The influences of radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure on animal health, particularly on serotonin metabolism, are not well-elucidated. In this in vivo study, we studied the influences of exposure to radiofrequency identification (RFID) signals on serotonin metabolism.

Materials and methods

Twenty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to sham (n = 10) and RFID-exposed (n = 12) groups. Rats in the RFID-exposed group were exposed to RFID signals at an average whole-body specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg for 8 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks. Before and after RFID exposure, 24-h urine was collected from each rat. Urinary tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid concentrations were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and changes in the patterns of values were compared between the two groups.

Results

Urinary levels of serotonin decreased by 20% (p = .041, Student’s t-test) and 40% (p = .024, Student’s t-test) in both the sham and RFID-exposed groups, respectively. The level of 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid decreased by 30% in the RFID-exposed group (p = .039, Student’s t-test).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that exposure to RFID signals at a specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg is sufficient to alter serotonin metabolism in rats regardless of whether the exposure level is considered biohazardous.

Keywords:

• Electromagnetic fields
• rats
• serotonin

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ICT R&D program of MSIT/IITP (2019-0-00102, A Study on Public Health and Safety in a Complex EMF Environment); and Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education [NRF-2018R1A6A3A11047957].

Notes on contributors

Hye Sun Kim

Hye Sun Kim has a PhD degree in neuroscience and planned and performed the animal experiments.

Man-Jeong Paik

Man-Jeong Paik has a PhD degree in pharmacy and contributed to the metabolomics analyses.

Chan Seo

Chan Seo has a PhD degree in pharmacy and contributed to the metabolomics analyses.

Hyung Do Choi

Hyung Do Choi has a PhD degree in material engineering and calculated the EMF strengths and SARs.

Jeong-Ki Pack

Jeong-Ki Pack supervised the construction of the RF chamber.

Nam Kim

Nam Kim supervised the construction of the RF chamber.

Young Hwan Ahn

Young Hwan Ahn is a neurosurgeon with a PhD degree in medicine and directed and planned this study.