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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 = .041, Student's t-test) and 40% (p = .024, Student's t-test) in both the sham and RFID-exposed groups, respectively. The level of 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid decreased by 30% in the RFID-exposed group (p = .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.

Affiliations

Hye Sun Kim 1 2, Man-Jeong Paik 3, Chan Seo 3, Hyung Do Choi 4, Jeong-Ki Pack 5, Nam Kim 6, Young Hwan Ahn 1 2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
2Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
3College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea.
4Radio Technology Research Department, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
5Department of Radio Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
6School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.