HISTOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF SMARTPHONE EXPOSURE ON TISSUE GROWTH IN CHILDREN
Downloads
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the histological and developmental impacts of RF-EMF exposure from smartphones on the nervous system tissues in an experimental design that mimicked the neurodevelopment of children. Method: A controlled laboratory experimental study was performed using immature Wistar rats, whose level of development is equivalent to children between the ages of 3-10 years. The animals were randomly assigned to one control group and three exposure groups, exposed to 900-1800 MHz RF-EMF for 1, 2, or 4 hours per day over 30 days. The microstructure of nervous tissue (hippocampus and cerebral cortex) was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative analysis of neuronal density and tissue organization was conducted. Results: Chronic exposure led to a significant duration-related decrease in neuronal density and neural tissue disorder when compared to the controls. Novelty: This study is one of the first controlled histological studies to associate smartphone-RF-EMF exposure with structural changes in growing nervous tissue. Unlike other studies that focus on behavioral or epidemiological outcomes, this study provides direct microscopic evidence of decreased neuronal density and tissue disorganization during early developmental stages. The study also provides a translational framework for evaluating digital exposure risks using ethically accepted animal models that replicate pediatric neurodevelopment (3-10 years).
A. Huss, N. A. H. Poulsen, D. C. Sauter, M. Scarfi, and R. Pinto, “Recent research on electromagnetic fields and health risk: Nineteenth report from SSM’s Scientific Council on EMF (Report No. 2025:04),” Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://www.stralsakerhetsmyndigheten.se/contentassets/ee726076bcf44346932723fed140ed69/202504-recent-research-on-electromagnetic-fields-and-health-risk-nineteenth-report-from-ssms-scientific-council-on-electromagnetic-fields-2024.pdf
A. A. Tekanyi, A. H. Umar, A. Binhambali, and Y. Yusha’u, “Histological and biochemical assessment of hippocampal structure, neurotransmitters, and oxidative stress markers in mice following mobile phone radiation,” Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-025-01369-5.
H. Y. Kim, Y. Son, Y. J. Jeong, S. H. Lee, and N. Kim, “Effects of 4G long-term evolution electromagnetic fields on thyroid hormone dysfunction and behavioral changes in adolescent male mice,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 25, no. 20, p. 10875, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252010875.
Ö. G. Deniz, G. Altun, and S. Kaplan, “Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field,” Biomolecules and Biomedicine, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12461266/
E. R. Lai, “Critical thinking: A literature review,” 2011.
J. Li, Z. Liu, and J. Liu, “Bibliometric analysis highlights racial diversity of type 2 diabetes research: Global trends from 2010 to 2024,” AIMS Public Health, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 289–305, 2026, doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026016.
R. Bodin, F. Robidel, S. Rodrigues, and A. Lecomte, “Delayed growth in immature male rats exposed to 900 MHz radiofrequency,” Applied Sciences, vol. 14, no. 16, p. 6978, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/app14166978.
M. Eskandarpour and A. Nooramin, “Potential impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the central nervous system, brain neurotransmitter dynamics and reproductive system,” AUT Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://eej.aut.ac.ir/article_5734.html
L. Liu, B. Huang, Y. Lu, Y. Zhao, X. Tang, and Y. Shi, “Interactions between electromagnetic radiation and biological systems,” iScience, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)00422-X
A. Crane-Molloy, “Investigating non-thermal effects of RF-EMF on human health: A comprehensive review,” Preprint, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378184218
M. Azimzadeh and M. Noorbakhshnia, “Maternal linalool treatment protects against radiofrequency wave-induced deteriorations in adolescent rats: A behavioral and electrophysiological study,” Sci. Rep., vol. 14, p. Article 68103, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68103-5.
J. Mehta, R. Khira, S. Fumakiya, and P. Sharma, “Wi-Fi RF-EMR exposure effects on reproduction and development in zebrafish,” Science of the Total Environment, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725026221
M. Eskandarpour and A. Nooramin, “Potential impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the central nervous system, brain neurotransmitter dynamics and reproductive system,” AUT Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://eej.aut.ac.ir/article_5734.html
S. Schmitz, K. Brzozowska, M. Pinkawa, M. Eble, and R. Kriehuber, “Chromosomal radiosensitivity analyzed by fish in lymphocytes of prostate cancer patients and healthy donors,” Radiat. Res., vol. 180, no. 5, pp. 465–473, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1667/rr3239.1.
Y. (Linda) Reid Chassiakos et al., “Children and adolescents and Digital Media,” Pediatrics, vol. 138, no. 5, 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2593.
G. C. Smith and J. P. Pell, “Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to Gravitational Challenge: Systematic review of Randomised Controlled Trials,” BMJ, vol. 327, no. 7429, pp. 1459–1461, 2003, doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7429.1459.
J. P. Ioannidis, “Correction: Why most published research findings are false,” PLoS Med., vol. 19, no. 8, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004085.
C. Matesz, A. Kulik, and T. Bácskai, “Ascending and descending projections of the lateral vestibular nucleus in the frog rana esculenta,” Journal of Comparative Neurology, vol. 444, no. 2, pp. 115–128, 2002, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.10137.
A. B. L. Tort, R. Scheffer-Teixeira, B. C. Souza, A. Draguhn, and J. Brankačk, “Theta-associated high-frequency oscillations (110–160hz) in the hippocampus and neocortex,” Prog. Neurobiol., vol. 100, pp. 1–14, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.09.002.
T. TWMA, “WMA - The World Medical Association-WMA Declaration of Helsinki – ethical principles for medical research involving human participants,” The World Medical Association, 2026, [Online]. Available: https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/
J. D. Hahn and L. W. Swanson, “Distinct patterns of neuronal inputs and outputs of the juxtaparaventricular and suprafornical regions of the lateral hypothalamic area in the male rat,” Brain Res. Rev., vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 14–103, 2010, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresrev.2010.02.002.
I. Bystron, C. Blakemore, and P. Rakic, “Development of the human cerebral cortex: Boulder Committee revisited,” Nat. Rev. Neurosci., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 110–122, 2008, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2252.
J. J. Going, A. R. Williams, A. H. Wyllie, T. J. Anderson, and J. Piris, “Optimal Preservation of p21 ras immunoreactivity and morphology in paraffin‐embedded tissue,” J. Pathol., vol. 155, no. 3, pp. 185–190, 1988, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/path.1711550302.
S. Miltenyi, W. Müller, W. Weichel, and A. Radbruch, “High gradient magnetic cell separation with Macs,” Cytometry, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 231–238, 1990, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.990110203.
E. Ball, J. Bulmer, S. Ayis, F. Lyall, and S. Robson, “Late sporadic miscarriage is associated with abnormalities in spiral artery transformation and trophoblast invasion,” J. Pathol., vol. 208, no. 4, pp. 535–542, 2006, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/path.1927.
Y. A. Kram, S. Mantey, and J. C. Corbo, “Avian cone photoreceptors tile the retina as five independent, self-organizing mosaics,” PLoS One, vol. 5, no. 2, 2010, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008992.
J. Schindelin et al., “Fiji: An open-source platform for biological-image analysis,” Nat. Methods, vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 676–682, 2012, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.2019.
P. A. Melrose, C. Pickel, H. S. Cheramie, W. G. Henk, M. A. Littlefield‐Chabaud, and D. D. French, “Distribution and morphology of immunoreactive gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (gnrh) neurons in the basal forebrain of ponies,” Journal of Comparative Neurology, vol. 339, no. 2, pp. 269–287, 1994, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903390207.
D. G. Altman and J. M. Bland, “Standard deviations and standard errors,” BMJ, vol. 331, no. 7521, p. 903, 2005, doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7521.903.
R. L. Wasserstein and N. A. Lazar, “The ASA statement on p-values: Context, process, and purpose,” Am. Stat., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 129–133, 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00031305.2016.1154108.
L. Goldschmidt, G. A. Richardson, M. D. Cornelius, and N. L. Day, “Prenatal marijuana and alcohol exposure and academic achievement at age 10,” Neurotoxicol. Teratol., vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 521–532, 2004, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2004.04.003.
G. G. Mittelbach et al., “Evolution and the latitudinal diversity gradient: Speciation, extinction and Biogeography,” Ecol. Lett., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 315–331, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01020.x.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hawraa Sabeeh Tayeh
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
