Mobile
Telephones Cause Brain Damage in Rats
Worklife Newsletter (Article No: 1375)
June 28, 2001
Research at Lund University Hospital shows that radiation from mobile telephones causes brain-cell damage in rats.
The damage
is caused by trace elements such as albumins in the blood, which, when
exposed to radiation penetrates the barrier to brain cells, collect there
and cause cell changes. Up to now, research on risks associated with mobile
telephones has focused on the risk of tumours.
"I hope we are wrong, but the effect can be the same in humans. There is a
risk that brain cell capacity can be reduced, that the brain's reserve
capacity becomes smaller and degenerative changes occur in the brain cells"
says Professor Arne Bruun.
According to his fellow-researcher, Professor Bertil Persson, cell changes
and cell death in the brain are clearly visible under a microscope after
exposure to radiation from mobile telephones. One hypothesis is that heavy
metals follow the albumin into the brain cells. Possible effects include
disturbed memory functions and premature ageing.
An interesting finding is that the leakage is greatest at very low radiation
levels, less than 2 W per kilo, and at very high radiation levels,
the latter probably being attributable to increased temperature. Leakage of
albumin into brain cells can also occur during long periods of severe
stress.
"Because the human brain has so many cells to use, the effects may not
become visible until mobile telephones have been in use for 30 years. It is
therefore important that current research can identify and describe the
long-term risks" says Bertil Persson.
The tests carried out by the researchers in Lund are now being repeated by
others, including the US Air Force in Texas.