No Thermal Effect of GSM Electromagnetic Waves Exposure on Slow‐Type Skeletal Muscles in Female Rats

Abstract

The concern from the increase of population exposure to electromagnetic fields from various sources has been addressed by the World Health Organization and other international organizations and institutions. The study of the effect of GSM‐signals on mammalian skeletal muscle is encouraging because muscles are extremely plastic and are capable of modifying their structure in coordination with the activity they develop. Our results show that 6 weeks of continuous exposure to GSM electromagnetic waves (900 MHz, Eeff= 25V/m) for 24 hours a day induce an increase by 15% in muscle mass. Such an increase in muscle mass observed could be related to modification in water content and/or in the proteins synthesis. In fact, 6 weeks of continuous electromagnetic waves exposure induces an increase by 42% and 32% in percentage of water content and were observed respectively. Moreover, no significant effect was observed in total testosterone level after GSM wave's exposure period (control: 2.01 ± 0.28 ng/ml, Exposed: 2.12 ± 0.31 ng/ml, n=20).These results suggest that continuous exposure to GSM relay antenna can induce a morphological modification in slow‐ type skeletal muscle of female rats which could have an effect on functional characteristics as well as Excitation‐Contraction Coupling mechanism.