Abstract:
Effects of electromagnetic energy radiated from mobile phones (MPs) on heart is one of the research interests.
The current study was designed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from thirdgeneration
(3G) MP on the heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and ECG parameters and also to investigate
whether exogenous melatonin can exert any protective effect on these parameters. In this study 36 rats were
randomized and evenly categorized into 4 groups: group 1 (3G-EMR exposed); group 2 (3G-EMR exposed þ
melatonin); group 3 (control) and group 4 (control þ melatonin). The rats in groups 1 and 2 were exposed to
3G-specific MP’s EMR for 20 days (40 min/day; 20 min active (speech position) and 20 min passive (listening
position)). Group 2 was also administered with melatonin for 20 days (5 mg/kg daily during the experimental
period). ECG signals were recorded from cannulated carotid artery both before and after the experiment, and
BP and HR were calculated on 1st, 3rd and 5th min of recordings. ECG signals were processed and statistically
evaluated. In our experience, the obtained results did not show significant differences in the BP, HR and ECG
parameters among the groups both before and after the experiment. Melatonin, also, did not exhibit any additional
effects, neither beneficial nor hazardous, on the heart hemodynamics of rats. Therefore, the strategy
(noncontact) of using a 3G MP could be the reason for ineffectiveness; and use of 3G MP, in this perspective,
seems to be safer compared to the ones used in close contact with the head. However, further study is needed
for standardization of such an assumption.
