Abstract
Installation of mobile phone base stations in residential areas has initiated public debate about possible adverse effects on human health. This study aimed to determine the association of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation (RF-EMFR) generated by mobile phone base stations with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. For this study, two different elementary schools (school-1 and school-2) were selected. We recruited 159 students in total; 96 male students from school-1, with age range 12–16 years, and 63 male students with age range 12–17 years from school-2. Mobile phone base stations with towers existed about 200 m away from the school buildings. RF-EMFR was measured inside both schools. In school-1, RF-EMFR was 9.601 nW/cm2 at frequency of 925 MHz, and students had been exposed to RF-EMFR for a duration of 6 h daily, five days in a week. In school-2, RF-EMFR was 1.909 nW/cm2 at frequency of 925 MHz and students had been exposed for 6 h daily, five days in a week. 5–6 mL blood was collected from all the students and HbA1c was measured by using a Dimension Xpand Plus Integrated Chemistry System, Siemens. The mean HbA1c for the students who were exposed to high RF-EMFR was significantly higher (5.44 ± 0.22) than the mean HbA1c for the students who were exposed to low RF-EMFR (5.32 ± 0.34) (p = 0.007). Moreover, students who were exposed to high RF-EMFR generated by MPBS had a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.016) relative to their counterparts who were exposed to low RF-EMFR. It is concluded that exposure to high RF-EMFR generated by MPBS is associated with elevated levels of HbA1c and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Highlights
During the last two decades, the use of mobile phones has increased spectacularly among individuals of all age groups in both developing and developed countries
The mean Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for the students who were exposed to high radiofrequency electromagnetic field radiation (RF-EMFR) (9.601 nW/cm2 at frequency of 925 MHz) was significantly higher (5.4%) than the mean HbA1c for the students who had been exposed to low RF-EMFR (1.909 nW/cm2 at frequency of 925 MHz) generated by mobile phone base stations (MPBS)
The results show students who were exposed to high RF-EMFR have significantly impaired HbA1c (30, 31.25%) than the students who exposed to low RF-EMFR
Summary
During the last two decades, the use of mobile phones has increased spectacularly among individuals of all age groups in both developing and developed countries. Mobile phones have become a prevalent means of communication and a part of everyday life [1]. Mobile phones are low power radio devices, transmit and receive radio frequency radiation, and are considered the strongest source of human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation RF-EMFR. The RF-EMFR generated by mobile phone base stations ranges between 400 MHz and 3 GHz [3,4,5]. The extensive increase and development of new mobile phone technologies resulted in a major change of radiofrequency electromagnetic field radiation (RF-EMFR) exposure patterns in everyday settings [6,7]. RF-EMFR promotes cancer development via stimulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis inhibition [11]
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