Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones on animal behavior, specifically focusing on behavioral patterns in rats. The growing use of mobile phones worldwide, despite potential health risks, underscores the importance of this research.

Background and Aim

• Cell phone radiation has various recognized harmful effects on human health.
• This study aims to explore how such radiation affects the behavior of animals, using a controlled experimental setup with white outbred rats.

Materials and Methods

Experiments were performed on 90 rats, observing the impact of EMR from Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini and Xiaomi Redmi S2 on their behavior via the open field method.

Findings

• Locomotion: Significantly reduced locomotion in rats exposed to EMR, with a reduction by 30% in movement and 23% in time spent moving compared to control.
• Motor Activity: Suppressed vertical motor activities including support stand, with reductions of 61% in number and 47.2% in act time.
• Sniffing Behavior: Decrease in sniffing frequency by 26%, though time spent sniffing remained consistent with control levels.

Conclusion

The exposure to EMR notably suppressed the motor component of behavior while seemingly enhancing the sensory component (sniffing) under stress conditions. This suggests adaptational changes in how animals interact with their environment when exposed to stressors like EMR.