Hye Sun Kim, Man-Jeong Paik, Chan Seo, Hyung Do Choi, Jeong-Ki Pack, Nam Kim & Young Hwan Ahn (2020) Influences of exposure to 915-MHz radiofrequency identification signals on serotonin metabolites in rats: A pilot study, International Journal of Radiation Biology, DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1844336
Abstract
Purpose
The influences of radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure on animal health, particularly on serotonin metabolism, are not well-elucidated. In this in vivo study, we studied the influences of exposure to radiofrequency identification (RFID) signals on serotonin metabolism.
Materials and methods
Twenty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham (n = 10) and RFID-exposed (n = 12) groups. Rats in the RFID-exposed group were exposed to RFID signals at an average whole-body specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg for 8 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks. Before and after RFID exposure, 24-h urine was collected from each rat. Urinary tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid concentrations were examined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and changes in the patterns of values were compared between the two groups.
Results
Urinary levels of serotonin decreased by 20% (p = 0.041, Student’s t-test) and 40% (p = 0.024, Student’s t-test) in both the sham and RFID-exposed groups, respectively. Level of 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid decreased by 30% in the RFID-exposed group (p = 0.039, Student’s t-test).
Conclusion
Our results indicate that exposure to RFID signals at a specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg is sufficient to alter serotonin metabolism in rats regardless of whether the exposure level is considered biohazardous.