No effects of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz electromagnetic field emitted from cellular phone on nocturnal serum melatonin levels in rats

In this study, the effects of exposure to a 900 MHz and 1800 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) on serum nocturnal melatonin levels of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Thirty rats were used in three independent groups, 10 of which were exposed to 900 MHz, 10 of which were exposed to 1800 MHz and 10 of which were sham-exposed (control). The exposures were performed 30 min/day, for five days/week for four weeks to 900 MHz or 1800 MHz EMF. Control animals were kept under the same environmental conditions as the study groups except with no EMF exposure. The concentration of nocturnal melatonin in the rat serum was measured by using a radioimmunoassay method. There were no statistically significant differences in serum melatonin concentrations between the 900 MHz EMF group and the sham-exposed group (P > 0.05). The values at 12:00 pm were 39.11 +/- 6.5 pg/mL in the sham-exposed group and 34.97 +/- 5.1 pg/mL in the 900 MHz EMF-exposed group. Also, there were no statistically significant differences in serum melatonin concentrations between the sham-exposed group and the 1800 MHz EMF-exposed group (P > 0.05). The values at 12:00 pm were 39.11 +/- 6.5 pg/mL in the sham-exposed group and 37.96 +/- 7.4 pg/mL in the exposed group. These results indicate that mobile phones, emitting 900 and 1800 MHz EMF, have no effect on nocturnal serum melatonin levels in rats. Toxicology and Industrial Health 2005; 21: 27-31.