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Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat

Author

Listed:
  • Nihal S. Ouadah

    (Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Institut National de l’Environnement Industriel et des Risques, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
    Unité mixte PERITOX UMI-01 INERIS CHU Amiens-Picardie Hôpital Sud, 80480 Salouël, France)

  • Kelly Blazy

    (Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Institut National de l’Environnement Industriel et des Risques, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
    Unité mixte PERITOX UMI-01 INERIS CHU Amiens-Picardie Hôpital Sud, 80480 Salouël, France)

  • Anne-Sophie Villégier

    (Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Institut National de l’Environnement Industriel et des Risques, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
    Unité mixte PERITOX UMI-01 INERIS CHU Amiens-Picardie Hôpital Sud, 80480 Salouël, France)

Abstract

The World Health Organization and the French Health Safety Agency (ANSES) recognize that the expressed pain and suffering of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) people are a lived reality requiring daily life adaptations to cope. Mechanisms involving glutamatergic N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors were not explored yet, despite their possible role in hypersensitivity to chemicals. Here, we hypothesized that radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures may affect pain perception under a modulatory role played by the NMDA receptor. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF for four weeks (five times a week, at 0 (sham), 1.5 or 6 W/kg in restraint) or were cage controls (CC). Once a week, they received an NMDA or saline injection before being scored for their preference between two plates in the two-temperatures choice test: 50 °C (thermal nociception) versus 28 °C. Results in the CC and the sham rats indicated that latency to escape from heat was significantly reduced by −45% after NMDA, compared to saline treatment. Heat avoidance was significantly increased by +40% in the 6 W/kg, compared to the sham exposed groups. RF-EMF effect was abolished after NMDA treatment. In conclusion, heat avoidance was higher after high brain-averaged specific absorption rate, affording further support for possible effect of RF-EMF on pain perception. Further studies need to be performed to confirm these data.

Suggested Citation

  • Nihal S. Ouadah & Kelly Blazy & Anne-Sophie Villégier, 2020. "Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-11, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7563-:d:430672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zsuzsanna Vecsei & György Thuróczy & István Hernádi, 2018. "The Effect of a Single 30-Min Long Term Evolution Mobile Phone-Like Exposure on Thermal Pain Threshold of Young Healthy Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, August.
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