Wireless radiation exposure during pregnancy leads to brain damage in rats, study finds

Wireless radiation exposure during pregnancy leads to brain damage in rats, study finds
by Katherine McMahonTheodora Scarato, ehn.org, Apr 11, 2025

A recent study published in the International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience found that rats exposed to wireless radiation in utero experienced impacts to their hippocampus, a region of the brain critical for learning and memory.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplas

In short:

• The neurons of exposed rats became darkly stained and shrunken, indicating cellular damage.
• Exposed rats also had higher levels of proteins associated with cell death in regions of the hippocampus that play an important role in memory formation, spatial navigation, and cognitive flexibility.
• These effects were found in rats exposed during a critical stage of pregnancy when neurogenesis - the formation of new neurons - takes place, suggesting that wireless exposure may disrupt normal brain development

Key quote:

“This could potentially lead to long-term deficits in cognitive abilities, raising concerns about the potential impact of EMF exposure on brain health, especially during early development.”

Why this matters:

Everyday exposure to wireless radiation - from cell phones and laptops to Wi-Fi routers and cell towers- is steadily increasing, starting even before birth. This study adds to the growing body of evidence documenting wireless impacts to brain development, highlighting pregnancy as a particularly vulnerable period. However, U.S. safety limits remain unchanged since 1996 and scientists caution that they do not protect public health and wildlife. “To protect the most vulnerable—pregnant women and children—we must bring our standards into the 21st century. Science has moved forward. Policy must follow” stated Theodora Scarato, Director of the Wireless and EMF Program at Environmental Health Sciences. Minimizing wireless exposure during pregnancy can help safeguard brain development. Practical steps include distancing cell phones and laptops away from the abdomen and minimizing wireless use by preferring corded and ethernet connections.

Tüfekci, Kiymet et al. for International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience vol. 85, 1. Feb. 18, 2025

More resources:Safety Tips for reducing cell phone and wireless radiation exposure
WATCH: The science behind cell phone and wireless radiation health impacts

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https://www.ehn.org/brain-damage-wireless-radiation