Effects of Intermediate Frequency (150 kHz) Electromagnetic Radiation on the Vital Organs of Female Sprague Dawley Rats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: With the proliferation of electronic appliances within the past 20 years, there has been increased exposure to intermediate frequency electromagnetic radiation (IF EMR) from numerous sources. There is now considerable interest in whether these frequencies have deleterious effects on biological systems. The objective of this project was to investigate the effects of 150 kHz IF EMR on haematological, biochemical, gross, and histological profiles of vital organs of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats using standard procedures. This study concluded that whole-body exposure to 150 kHz IF EMR for two months has no adverse effects on the major organs of SD rats except the liver and lungs. In addition, an increase in serum sodium levels and a decrease in serum urea levels were observed. ABSTRACT: Exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from intermediate frequency sources has increased exponentially in recent years. The consequences of this exposure on biological systems are prompting scientists to study the effects on human health. This current study aimed to determine the effects of intermediate frequency (150 kHz) EMR exposure on the vital organs of female Sprague Dawley rats. The EMR group (n = 10 animals) was exposed to a frequency of 150 kHz with an intensity of 65 ± 15 μW/cm(2) for two months. The control group (n = 10 animals) was exposed to an intensity of 35 ± 15 nW/cm(2). Haematological, histochemical, gross, and histopathological profiles of all major organs of all animals were then performed using standard procedures. All major organs generally showed no significant detectable effects in either the control or EMR groups. However, gross and histopathological examinations revealed the effects of EMR on the liver and lungs, which showed inflammatory changes without significant biochemical/haematological manifestations. In addition, a significant increase in serum sodium level and a decrease in serum urea level were also observed in the EMR group. It can be concluded that the current frequency and duration of exposure trigger the changes in the liver and lungs but are not sufficient to cause clinical and functional manifestations. Therefore, a long-term exposure study might be helpful to determine the effects of 150 kHz IF EMR on these organs.