Hypothesis: ultrasonography can document dynamic in vivo rouleaux formation due to mobile phone exposure

Abstract

Overview

Carrying a cellphone against the body has become commonplace in our world replete with smartphones. Acute and chronic health effects caused by these devices emitting radiofrequency radiation from multiple antennas have not been well evaluated.

Study Design

• The popliteal vein of a healthy volunteer was imaged with ultrasonography prior to and following the placement of an idle, but active smartphone against her knee for 5 minutes.
• Pre-exposure longitudinal sonographic images demonstrated a normal anechoic lumen to the popliteal vein.
• Images obtained 5 minutes after direct skin exposure to the smartphone showed dramatic changes in the acoustic appearance of the vessel, becoming coarsely hypoechoic with sluggish flow—a typical sonographic sign of rouleaux formation.
• A follow up examination performed 5 minutes after the subject walked around still showed rouleaux formation in the popliteal vein, though less marked than immediately post exposure.

Findings

The study presents evidence that 5 minutes of exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted by a smartphone can cause abnormal erythrocyte aggregation ("rouleaux formation") in vivo, associated with sluggish venous flow, as documented by real-time diagnostic ultrasound.

Health Risk Connection

• This abnormality is transient but could become chronic with habitual cellphone usage, leading to repeated and sustained red blood cell aggregation.
• Chronic, long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation may cause recurrent RBC aggregation and increased blood viscosity, potentially causing significant morbidity, especially in patients with diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular insufficiency, prethrombotic states, and peripheral vascular disease.

Conclusion

Recognizing the potential for red blood cell aggregation from radiofrequency radiation to occur in the general population is crucial. Further studies are needed to assess the incidence of this phenomenon and to define which power densities and frequencies put individuals at risk. This method can provide a unique biomarker of exposure and may help predict morbidity.