Alterations in body weight and blood glucose level of female hamsters exposed to electromagnetic fields of cell phones

Microwaves such as those emitted from electromagnetic fields of cell phones can penetrate live tissues and results in changes of ion distribution in membranes and may interfere with metabolic reactions. Considering the increasing use of cell phones, in the present study the effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields of cell phones on body weight and blood glucose concentration of adult hamsters were investigated. Seventy two female hamsters were randomly allocated into three experimental groups. Group 1 served as the control group without the effect of electromagnetic field. Group 2 was exposed to electromagnetic field emitted by cell phones for 10 days (short term) and group 3 for 50 day (long term). In the latter groups, the exposure was 1 hour per day. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were weighed and blood glucose concentrations were determined by obtaining blood samples from 8 randomly selected hamsters in each group. The blood glucose level was significantly higher in long-term exposed group in comparison with the control and short-term exposed groups (175, 11.6 and 107 mg/dl, respectively) (