The Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Generated from 1800 MHz Cell Phones on Erythrocyte Rheological Parameters and Zinc Level in Rats

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the electromagnetic field generated from the 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation (EF) on erythrocyte rheological parameters and erythrocyte zinc levels. Material and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar Albino rats were randomly grouped as follows: 1) two control groups and 2) study groups: i) Group A: EF exposed group (2.5 h/day for 30 days, the phone on stand-by), and ii) Group B: EF exposed group (2.5 min/day for 30 days, the phone ringing in silent mode). At the end of the experimental period erythrocyte rheological parameters such as erythrocyte deformability and aggregation were determined by an ectacytometer. Erythrocyte zinc level, which affects hemorheological parameters, was also measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Erythrocyte deformability was decreased in both study groups but the decrease in group A was not statistically significant. Exposure to EF did not have any significant effect on erythrocyte aggregation. On the other hand, erythrocyte zinc level was significantly reduced in both study groups. Conclusion: Exposure to EF may have decreased tissue oxygenation due to reduced erythrocyte deformability. Decrease in erythrocyte zinc level may have caused the impairment in erythrocyte deformability. Turkish Baslik: 1800 MHz Radyofrekans Radyasyondan Kaynaklanan Elektromanyetik Alanin Eritrositlerin Reolojik Parametreleri ve Cinko Seviyeleri Uzerindeki Etkisi Anahtar Kelimeler: Elektromanyetik alan, eritrosit agregasyonu, eritrosit deformabilitesi, cep telefonu, eser element Giris: Bu calismanin amaci 1800 MHz radyofrekans radyasyondan kaynaklanan elektromanyetik alanin (EF) eritrositlerin reolojik parametreleri ve cinko seviyeleri uzerindeki etkilerini arastirmaktir. Gerec ve Yontemler: Yirmi dort adet erkek Wistar Albino sican, rastgele olarak asagidaki gruplara ayrildi: 1) Iki kontrol grubu ve 2) Calisma gruplari: i) A grubu: EFa#39; ye maruz kalan grup (Telefon stand-by pozisyonundayken, 30 gun boyunca 2.5 saat/gun), ve ii) B grubu: EFa#39; ye maruz kalan grup (Telefon sessiz modda calarken, 30 gun boyunca 2.5 dakika/gun). Deneysel priyodun sonunda, eritrosit deformabilitesi ve agregasyonu gibi, eritrosit reolojik parametreleri bir ektasitometre araciligiyla saptandi. Hemoreolojik parametreleri etkileyebilen eritrosit cinko seviyeleri ise atomik absorbsiyon spektrofotometresiyle olculdu. Sonuclar: Eritrosit deformabilitesi tum gruplarda kontrole gore azaldi. Fakat bu azalma A grubu icin istatistiksel olarak anlamli duzeyde degildi. EFa#39; ye maruziyet eritrosit agregasyonu uzerinde anlamli bir degisiklige yol acmadi. Diger taraftan eritrosit cinko duzeyleri tum calisma gruplarinda kontrole gore anlamli duzeyde azalmis bulundu. Tartisma: EFa#39; ye maruziyet eritrosit deformabilitesini dusurerek doku oksijenasyonunu azaltmis olabilir. Eritrosit deformabilitesindeki bozulma ise eritrosit cinko seviyesindeki dususten kaynaklanmis olabilir.