Comparison of effects of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and mobile phone exposure on human placenta and cord blood

Figures & data

Table 1. Key anamnesis parameters of women, pregnancies and newborns according to the groups.

	Control (n: 20)	(Mobile phone) Group 1 (n: 48)	(Wi-Fi) Group 2 (n: 17)	(Mobile phone + Wi-Fi) Group 3 (n: 64)	p
Talking duration (minutes)	0.00000 ± 0.00000	33.75958 ± 29.50369	0.00000 ± 0.00000	44.85111 ± 35.10301	0.065
Maternal age	28.40000 ± 5.344944	29.37500 ± 5.502901	27.47059 ± 5.197567	28.31746 ± 4.788512	0.549
Paternal age	31.50000 ± 5.093856	32.62500 ± 5.483534	30.82353 ± 5.198982	32.14286 ± 5.009208	0.621
Weight gain during pregnancy (maternal) (kg)	9.50000 ± 4.135851	11.04167 ± 5.090493	12.58824 ± 6.175140	10.69048 ± 4.320272	0.269
Number of visits to gynaecologist	6.750000 ± 2.935715	9.000000 ± 5.251140	9.529412 ± 3.502100^a	9.349206 ± 2.294163^a	0.047
Birth weight (gram)	3118.250 ± 511.8112	2992.500 ± 477.3040	3182.059 ± 442.9696	3145.873 ± 438.8020	0.291
Baby head circumference (cm)	35.64000 ± 0.678543	35.35833 ± 0.862168	35.46471 ± 0.803073	35.42540 ± 0.617740	0.549
Baby height (cm)	50.86000 ± 0.707404	50.72292 ± 0.754346	50.82353 ± 0.727607	50.69048 ± 0.856985	0.821
SAR value (W/kg)	0.00000 ± 0.00000	0.569375 ± 0.209817	0.630000 ± 0.257026^a	0.619524 ± 0.228631^a	0.007

SAR: Specific Absorption Rate.

^a Significant difference from control group.

Table 2. Additional anamnesis parameters of women, pregnancies and newborns according to the groups.

Groups Variables		Control (n: 20)	(Mobile phone) Group 1 (n: 48)	(Wi-Fi) Group 2 (n: 17)	(Mobile phone + Wi-Fi) Group 3 (n: 64)	p
Baby gender	Male	10 (50.0%)	18 (37.5%)	9 (52.9%)	28 (43.9%)	0.659
	Female	10 (50.0%)	30 (62.5%)	8 (47.1%)	36 (56.3%)
Birth	Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery	11 (55.0%)	25 (52.1%)	8 (47.1%)	28 (43.8%)	0.413
	Emergency caesarean spinal anaesthesia	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.3%)	1 (5.9%)	2 (3.1%)
	Emergency caesarean general anaesthesia	0 (0.0%)	6 (12.5%)	1 (5.9%)	8 (12.5%)
	Elective caesarean spinal anaesthesia	6 (30.0%)	5 (10.4%)	6 (35.3%)	13 (20.3%)
	Elective caesarean general anaesthesia	3 (15.0%)	9 (18.8%)	1 (5.9%)	13 (20.3%)
Foetal distress	Present	1 (5.0%)	13 (27.1%)	2 (11.8%)	13 (20.3%)	0.071
	Absent	17 (85.0%)	34 (70.8%)	15 (88.2%)	51 (79.7%)
	Not evaluated	2 (10.0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)
Meconium	Present	1 (5.0%)	11 (22.9%)	2 (11.8%)	5 (7.8%)	0.068
	Absent	19 (95.0%)	37 (77.1%)	15 (88.2%)	59 (92.2%)
Consanguineous marriages	Absent	5 (25.0%)	18 (37.5%)	12 (70.6%)	40 (62.5%)	0.016
	First degree consanguinity	12 (60.0%)	21 (43.8%)	5 (29.4%)	19 (29.7%)
	Second degree consanguinity	2 (10.0%)	7 (14.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.1%)
	Distant relatives	1 (5.0%)	2 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.7%)
Birth week	Term (37%–42%)	14 (70.0%)	34 (70.8%)	12 (70.6%)	45 (70.3%)	0.868
	Post-term(after 42 weeks%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.1%)
	Premature (29%–32%)	1 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)
	Borderline premature (33%–37%)	5 (25.0%)	13 (27.1%)	5 (29.4%)	17 (26.6%)
Infant weight	AGA (Appropriate for gestational age%)	16 (80.0%)	40 (83.3%)	15 (88.2%)	858 (90.6%)	0.556
	LGA (Large for gestational age%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.1%)
	SGA (Small for gestational age%)	4 (20.0%)	7 (14.6%)	2 (11.8%)	4 (6.3%)
Hypertension	Preeclampsia	8 (44.4%)	10 (22.2%)	4 (30.8%)	11 (19.0%)	0.021
	Eclampsia	2 (11.1%)	11 (24.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.9%)
	Not evaluated	2 (11.1%)	3 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.4%)
	Absent	6 (33.3%)	21 (46.7%)	9 (69.2%)	41 (70.7%)
Systemic disease	Diabetes mellitus	1 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0.345
	Hyperthyroidism	1 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)
	Vasculitis	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)
	Absent	18 (90.0%)	46 (95.8%)	17 (100.0%)	62 (96.9%)
Toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, HIV	Absent	18 (90.0%)	48 (100.0%)	17 (100.0%)	64 (100.0%)	NC
	Not evaluated	2 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)
Upper respiratory infections	Present	9 (45.0%)	20 (41.7%)	6 (35.3%)	24 (37.5%)	0.900
	Absent	11 (55.0%)	28 (58.3%)	11 (64.7%)	40 (62.5%)
Urinary tract infections	Present	11 (55.0%)	24 (50.0%)	8 (47.1%)	34 (53.1%)	0.957
	Absent	9 (45.0%)	24 (50.0%)	9 (52.9%)	30 (46.9%)
Vaginitis	Present	9 (45.0%)	22 (45.8%)	6 (35.3%)	29 (45.3%)	0.904
	Absent	11 (55.0%)	26 (54.2%)	11 (64.7%)	35 (54.7%)
Placental disease	Absent	19 (95.0%)	44 (91.7%)	16 (94.1%)	59 (92.2%)	0.412
	Placenta previa	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)
	Placental insufficiency	1 (5.0%)	4 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.8%)
Amniotic fluid	Polyhydramnios	1 (5.0%)	3 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0.051
	Oligohydramnios	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.3%)	2 (11.8%)	1 (1.6%)
	Normal	19 (95.0%)	41 (85.4%)	15 (88.2%)	63 (98.4%)
Multiple pregnancy	Absent	20 (100.0%)	48 (100.0%)	17 (100.0%)	64 (100.0%)	NC
Smoking habit	Not smoking	13 (70.0%)	32 (66.7%)	12 (70.6%)	43 (67.2%)	1.000
	Smoking	7 (30.0%)	16 (33.3%)	5 (29.4%)	21 (32.8%)
Number of cigarettes	0	13 (65%)	33 (68.8%)	12 (70.6%)	43 (67.2%)	0.988
	1–3 cigarettes	3 (15%)	7 (14.6%)	2 (11.8%)	11 (17.2%)
	4–10 cigarettes	4 (20%)	7 (14.6%)	3 (17.6%)	10 (15.6%)
	More than 10	0 (0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy	Drinking	1 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0.248
	Not drinking	19 (95.0%)	48 (100.0%)	17 (100.0%)	64 (100.0%)
Wi-Fi at home	Available	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (70.6%)	40 (62.5%)	<0.001
	Not available	20 (100.0%)	48 (100.0%)	1 (5.9%)	2 (3.1%)
	Available in the building	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (23.5%)	22 (34.4%)
Wi-Fi exposure at home	Open less than 2 h a day	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (5.9%)	0 (0%)	<0.001
	Open more than 2 h a day	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	15 (88.2%)	57 (89.1%)
	Absent	20 (100%)	48 (100%)	1 (5.9%)	7 (10.9%)
Wi-Fi in workplace	Available	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (29.4%)	23 (36.5%)	<0.001
	Not available	20 (100.0%)	48 (100.0%)	12 (70.6%)	40 (63.5%)
Wi-Fi exposure in workplace	Open less than 2 h a day	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	2 (11.8%)	1 (1.6%)	<0.001
	Open more than 2 h a day	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	3 (17.6%)	23 (36.5%)
	Absent	20 (100%)	48 (100%)	12 (70.6%)	39 (61.9%)
Vitamin usage	Not used	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0.032
	Irregular usage	14 (70.0%)	23 (47.9%)	4 (23.5%)	27 (42.2%)
	Regular usage	6 (30.0%)	23 (47.9%)	13 (76.5%)	37 (57.8%)

NC: Not calculated.

Table 3. Comet assay findings in lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood.

Lymphocytes	Control (n: 20)	(Mobile phone) Group 1 (n: 48)	(Wi-Fi) Group 2 (n: 17)	(Mobile phone + Wi-Fi) Group 3 (n: 64)	p
Tail intensity	24.72955 ± 2.79449	46.13002 ± 11.50257^a	23.76200 ± 4.45289^b	46.86076 ± 11.47941^a^,^c	<0.001
Tail moment	41.3229 ± 10.09878	106.9553 ± 71.78970^a	38.1318 ± 7.87293^b	127.8285 ± 81.01049^a^,^c	<0.001

^a Significant difference from control group.

^b Significant difference from Group 1.

^c Significant difference from Group 2.

Table 4. 8-OHdG, MDA, PCO, TAS, TOS and OSI findings in cord blood.

Cord blood	Control (n: 20)	(Mobile phone) Group 1 (n: 48)	(Wi-Fi) Group 2 (n: 17)	(Mobile phone + Wi-Fi) Group 3 (n: 64)	p
8-OHdG (ng/mL)	81.63550 ± 9.87941	96.11158 ± 13.84800^a	80.43941 ± 11.44760^b	99.77741 ± 15.12398^a^,^c	<0.001
MDA (nmol/mL)	10.35460 ± 7.86654	25.45302 ± 15.47587^a	11.87518 ± 7.55306^b	27.48351 ± 12.03887^a^,^c	<0.001
PCO (ng/mL)	62.54700 ± 16.28469	82.92677 ± 17.01314^a	68.46571 ± 11.93756^b	86.68276 ± 13.22829^a^,^c	<0.001
TAS (mmol/L)	1.280050 ± 0.488033	0.894771 ± 0.377831^a	1.097294 ± 0.435418	0.919175 ± 0.417570^a	<0.001
TOS (µmol/L)	9.08855 ± 1.940754	11.30110 ± 2.116981^a	10.18394 ± 1.869079	10.96379 ± 2.157406^a	<0.001
OCI	8.29960 ± 3.954663	14.65458 ± 5.619678^a	10.45606 ± 3.676169	14.62333 ± 7.444033^a	<0.001

^a Significant difference from control group.

^b Significant difference from Group1.

^c Significant difference from Group 2.

Table 5. 8-OHdG, MDA, PCO, TAS, TOS and OSI findings in placenta.

Placenta	Control (n: 20)	(Mobile phone) Group 1 (n: 48)	(Wi-Fi) Group 2 (n: 17)	(Mobile phone + Wi-Fi) Group 3 (n: 64)	p
8-OHdG (ng/ml)	68.39710 ± 9.14412	90.59917 ± 13.58303^a	68.14447 ± 12.27792^b	94.56463 ± 14.66638^a^,^c	<0.001
MDA (nmol/ml)	12.88065 ± 7.64414	30.75248 ± 16.64219^a	17.05176 ± 7.41858^b	34.76579 ± 12.79696^a^,^c	<0.001
PCO (ng/ml)	56.92160 ± 15.63014	76.29560 ± 14.98233^a	62.59476 ± 12.55616^b	81.00340 ± 13.82716^a^,^c	<0.001
TAS (mmol/L)	1.146900 ± 0.456885	0.897771 ± 0.399989	1.329176 ± 0.466903^b	0.883730 ± 0.418490^c	<0.001
TOS (µmol/L)	10.39555 ± 2.203754	11.24592 ± 2.075945	10.25771 ± 2.288172	11.54397 ± 2.245704	0.067
OSI	10.25130 ± 4.048792	14.89819 ± 6.703951^a	8.71618 ± 3.753837^b	15.54092 ± 6.568665^a^,^c	<0.001

^a Significant difference from control group.

^b Significant difference from Group 1.

^c Significant difference from Group 2.