In today’s world, the prevalence of wireless communication technologies and mobile phones has led to increased exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 3.5 GHz RFR on skeletal muscle tissue and biomechanical properties of the tibias in diabetic and healthy rats. The results of the study have potential implications for human health, especially for those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Implications for Bone Biomechanics
The research found that exposure to 3.5 GHz RFR for 2 hours daily for 30 days decreased the Young modulus values in healthy rats, causing a decrease in bone flexibility. The maximum load and stress values of bones in healthy rats exposed to RFR were found to be considerably higher compared to diabetic rats, indicating that RFR increased the damage caused to bones by diabetes. RFR at 3.5 GHz was found to cause decreased bone strength.
Both diabetes and RFR were found to negatively affect bone strength, with lower values of displacement, yield point, maximum load, maximum stress, and modulus of elasticity observed in diabetic rats compared to healthy rats. Furthermore, the 3.5 GHz RFR was found to reduce bone mineral density (BMD), leading to bone loss.
Potential Effects on Muscle Oxidative Stress Parameters
Exposure to 3.5 GHz RFR was found to cause a significant increase in ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) values in both healthy and diabetic rats, indicating oxidative stress in skeletal muscles. RFR exposure also resulted in significantly higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the muscle tissues of healthy rats.
The study found that 3.5 GHz RFR triggered increases in glutathione (GSH) levels in both healthy and diabetic rats and decreases in catalase (CAT) levels in healthy rats. This may be due to increases in the amounts of reactive oxygen species in these animals.
Conclusion and Further Research
The results of this study suggest that exposure to 3.5 GHz RFR can have negative effects on bone biomechanics in rats, leading to a reduction in flexibility and maximum force, and an increase in maximum displacement. Diabetic rats may be more susceptible to the hazardous effects of RFR, with significant alterations observed in oxidative stress parameters.
These observations imply that exposure to 3.5 GHz RFR could potentially jeopardize bone quality and structural integrity, as well as affect muscle oxidative stress parameters in rats. More research is required to investigate the potential impacts of RFR on human health, especially for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. It is crucial to understand how radiofrequency radiations affect parameters such as collagen in bones or muscles, necessitating more detailed studies in the future.
What the Science Tells Us!
This study aimed to investigate the effects of 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR), a frequency used in 5G technology, on bone biomechanics and skeletal muscle tissues in diabetic and healthy rats. The rats were exposed to 3.5 GHz RFR for 2 hours per day for 30 days, and the whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) was found to be 37 mW/kg.
The results showed that RFR exposure had adverse effects on bone biomechanics, including decreased elasticity coefficient and Young’s modulus, increased maximum displacement, and decreased maximum force. Additionally, oxidative stress parameters in diabetics were altered to a greater extent by 3.5 GHz RFR compared to healthy rats.
In conclusion, the study suggests that 3.5 GHz RFR may have the potential to alter bone quality and structural integrity, including muscle oxidative stress parameters in rats. The observed changes were more obvious in diabetic rats, and the changes observed in healthy and diabetic rats exposed to RFR showed a statistically significant difference compared to the sham groups.
However, it’s essential to note that this study was conducted on rats, and the direct implications of the findings on human cells or health are not yet clear. Further research, especially on human cells or tissues, is needed to better understand the potential effects of 3.5 GHz RFR on bone and muscle health in humans.