Effect of Radiofrequency Waves Emitted from Conventional WIFI Devices on Rat Kidney

Effect of radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional WIFI devices on rat

kidney

1,* 2 1 1 Heba M Fahmy , Faten F Mohammed , Radwa T abdelrahman , Mariem M Abu el_fetoh , Yomna

1 A Mohammed ,

1Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Wireless fidelity (WIFI) network involves short-range communication between an access point and many personal devices (e.g., computers, printers, gaming devices). Widely used laptop computers and wireless networks emit 2.45 GHz Microwave radiation (MWR) which may result in exposure in a low level EMF during data transfer. They may affect organ systems in the body because of near field and chronic exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional WIFI devices on rat kidney. Twenty four female Wistar rats were divided into experimental and control groups. Standard access point communicating at 2.45 GHz was used as radio frequency wave source. The experimental group was exposed to radiofrequency energy for 24 hours a day for 40 consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the study. Blood samples were collected for measuring urea and creatinine levels in the serum. Rats’ kidneys were dissected for biochemical analysis of some oxidative and anti-oxidative parameters. Exposure to radiofrequency radiation decreased the malondialdehyde levels and the glutathione-S-transferase and catalase activities. Indeed, the activity of superoxide dismutase showed significant increase in WIFI-exposed group relative to control group. Moreover, kidney function was not affected. In addition, no significant histological alterations in kidneys were detected in WIFI-exposed group. These results indicate that WIFI exposure conditions used in the present study didn’t elicit oxidative stress in rat kidneys, in addition, it enhanced the antioxidant mechanisms exhibited by rat kidneys.

Keywords: Radio-frequency; WIFI; oxidative stress, kidney, Wistar rat.

Presenting author details Full name: Radwa Tarek Abdelrahman 4th year student, Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Contact number: +201114798868 Email: [email protected]