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

Abstract

Overview

Numerous studies have highlighted the potential health risks associated with radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR). This study specifically investigates the impacts of 3500 MHz RF-EMR on guinea pigs, focusing on anxiety-like behaviors and changes in the auditory cortex (ACx).

Findings

• The study involved forty male guinea pigs divided into four groups, exposed to a continuous wave of 3500 MHz RF-EMF with an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 hours.
• Key metrics measured included malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, anxiety-like behavior, hearing thresholds, cellular ultrastructure, and apoptosis.
• No significant changes were observed in hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior (P > 0.05).
• Increases in MDA levels and decreases in antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were noted in the exposure groups compared to the control.
• Ultrastructural changes in the ACx, including swollen mitochondria and layered myelin sheaths, indicative of increased oxidative stress and potential damage, were documented.
• Increases in oxidative stress markers and apoptosis-related proteins, suggesting a mitochondria-dependent mechanism of cell damage, were also reported.

Conclusion

The findings underline that oxidative stress could be a significant result of RF-EMR exposure, causing structural damage to auditory cortex cells and inducing cell death through apoptosis, especially in a SAR-dependent manner. However, RF-EMR exposure did not correlate with changes in hearing thresholds or anxiety-like behaviors.