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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.

RF 전자파를 일주일에 5일 2주간 노출시키고 (whole body SAR 2W/kg), 소변 내 세로토닌 대사체의 변화 여부를 관찰하였다. 두 군에서, 실험 후 5-MIAA가 감소하였으나, 세로토닌 수치는 RF 노출군에서만 의미 있게 감소한 소견을 확인하였다 (*p < 0.05, Student’s t-test). 무선 주파수 대역 전자파 노출에 의한 세로토닌 대사 영향 가능성을 제시하였다

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
1 Department of Neurosurgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
2 Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
3 College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea.
4 Radio Technology Research Department, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
5 Department of Radio Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
6 School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.