Effect of chronic exposure to cellular telephone electromagnetic fields on hearing in rats.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of the electromagnetic field emitted by cellular telephones upon the inner ear of rats, using distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

METHODS

Forty Wistar Albino rats were used. Twenty newborn and 20 adult rats were divided into two groups of 10, one to participate in the study and one as a control. The rats were exposed to the electromagnetic field for 6 hours per day, for 30 consecutive days. Before and after the 30 day exposure period, distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured in each group and a signal-to-noise ratio calculated, which was later used in statistical analysis.

RESULTS

For both the newborn and adult rat groups, there was no significant difference in distortion product otoacoustic emissions recorded before and after exposure to the cellular telephone electromagnetic field (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by cellular telephones, for 6 hours a day for 30 consecutive days, had no effect on the hearing of newborn or adult rats, at the outer ear, middle ear or cochlear level.