Work

Effects of prolonged exposure to 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields on mouse health over a 5-month period

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: With the ubiquitous and prolonged nature of human exposure to S-band electromagnetic fields (EMF, 2.45 GHz), concerns regarding its potential health impacts are growing. However, existing preclinical evidence is inconsistent, and a comprehensive assessment of its effects across multiple physiological systems is lacking. This study aimed to perform an integrated evaluation of the biological consequences of prolonged 2.45 GHz EMF exposure in mice, focusing on the reproductive, immune, metabolic, and hematopoietic systems. We established a murine model of prolonged EMF exposure, wherein mice were subjected to 2.45 GHz radiation (whole-body average specific absorption rate, SAR 15 W/kg) for 5 months. A combination of physiological monitoring, functional sperm analysis, comprehensive flow cytometry, hematopoietic stem cell functional assays, and metabolic challenge tests insulin tolerance test (ITT) and pyruvate tolerance test (PTT) was employed to assess systemic impacts. Our findings revealed a system-specific pattern of responses. Notably, prolonged EMF exposure did not induce measurable adverse effects on core physiological parameters, sperm functional integrity (kinematics and morphology), immune cell populations and distribution, or hematopoietic competence. In stark contrast, it significantly disrupted systemic glucose homeostasis, leading to elevated fasting blood glucose and impaired insulin sensitivity. This study demonstrates that biological effects of prolonged 2.45 GHz EMF exposure are not monolithic but exhibit distinct organ susceptibility. We identified a selective vulnerability in metabolic regulation, while reproductive, immune, and hematopoietic systems remained resilient under our specific exposure conditions. These findings challenge the universality of generalized toxicity claims, underscore the critical role of exposure parameters, and highlight metabolic dysfunction as a potential risk for prolonged EMF exposure, providing crucial insights for future risk assessment.

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120106