The effect of microwave radiation on rabbit’s hearing

Background: Regarding the rapid development in technology of mobile communication and increasing growth in number of users, the radiation of these waves has become as one of the concerns of today’s society. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the potential changes in auditory system of rabbit following exposure to microwave. Methods: This was an experimental study carried out at two auditory centers of Tarbiat Modaress University and Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran (Iran) in 2005. White Newsealand male rabbits were the experimental animals used in our study and the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) as the method to evaluate the possible changes following exposure to radiation. The latency time of the fifth wave of ABR was measured and recorded pre- and post-exposure using two stimuli (Click and Tone burst) at different frequencies and two intensities of 70 and 100 dB. Findings: The latency time of wave V was increased for different frequencies used in our experiment. An increase of more than 0.2 ms was noticed especially at two frequencies of 2000 & 8000 Hz. Statistical analysis of results was indicative of no significant change between latency times of wave V (ms) pre- and post-exposure. Conclusion: The results of audiometry provided evidences regarding the effect of microwave radiation at the levels produced by mobile phones on rabbit’s auditory system. Our data suggest the prudent use of mobile phones