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Radio signals from
cell phones caused cells in three areas of rats’ brains
to die.
The three affected
areas were the cortex, which plays a role in high-level mental
function; the hippocampus, which is important in learning;
and the basal ganglia, which plays a role in the experience
of sensation.
Researchers exposed
three groups of rats to different intensity radio frequency
electromagnetic fields for a period of two hours. Rats that
received more intense exposure had more dead and damaged neurons.
Damage to neurons
appear to be selective, however, as damaged cells were often
surrounded by normal cells. The reasons for the selectivity,
along with the mechanism causing the neuron death, are not
known.
Researchers say
that the study does not demonstrate cell phone use is harmful
to people, but recommend the use of a hands-free device to
keep the cell phone as far from the brain as possible, adding
that the use of cell phones is a "huge biological experiment."
United
Press International February 4, 2003
Environmental
Health Perspectives January 29, 2003
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