# WEB-054 — 3.5 GHz: thyroid hormones and oxidative markers in rats

Why this matters
Endocrine effects can matter even when an exposure study is framed around a possible protective compound. The exposure-only comparison here reported thyroid hormone and oxidative changes. Those findings can be examined separately from the uncertain benefit of the proposed intervention.

Id: WEB-054

Author: Bektas et al.

Full Authors: Hava Bektas; Burcu Buse Bese Akgun; Serife Cakir; Semih Dogu; Bedia Ahnas

Year: 2025

Title: Protective effects of quercetin against 3.5 GHz RF radiation-induced thyroid dysfunction and oxidative stress in rats

Journal: Electromagnetic biology and medicine

Citation: Hava Bektas; Burcu Buse Bese Akgun; Serife Cakir; Semih Dogu; Bedia Ahnas. Protective effects of quercetin against 3.5 GHz RF radiation-induced thyroid dysfunction and oxidative stress in rats. Electromagnetic biology and medicine. 2025. doi:10.1080/15368378.2025.2528732.

Doi: 10.1080/15368378.2025.2528732

Pmid: 40625224

Topic: Endocrine and thyroid responses; Oxidative responses; 3.5 GHz physiological responses

Verification Group: Original abstract reviewed

Record Role: Original abstract reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 3.5 GHz, reported transmitter power 2 W; 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 30 days; simulated thyroid average SAR 1.128 W/kg.

Design: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats; sham, RF, quercetin and combined groups; thyroid oxidative markers and serum hormones.

Finding: RF exposure reduced T3/T4, increased TSH and shifted oxidative markers. Quercetin-associated reversals were not consistently statistically significant.

Statistics: See the original results; effect sizes were not independently recalculated.

Boundary: Original abstract only. Full waveform, thermometry, blinding and statistical methods not audited. Rodent biochemical findings do not establish human thyroid disease or justify supplement advice.

Related: Bektas/Van programme; separate reported experiment from the prenatal and DRG studies.

Protection Question: Which exposure conditions reproduce this finding, and what would establish its relevance beyond the experimental model?

Access: Original abstract and bibliographic identity reviewed; full methods, dosimetry and statistics not audited.

Locator: Original abstract

Notice: Linked Europe PMC/PubMed notice fields checked 21 October 2026; no correction/retraction surfaced for this record. Publisher/citation screening is not exhaustive.

Funding: Not established from the retrieved original abstract.

Conflicts: Not established from the retrieved original abstract.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1080/15368378.2025.2528732

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1080/15368378.2025.2528732 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40625224/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Discovery Id: TARGETED-20261021-27

Technology Tracks: 5g

Technology Connection: Relevant carrier-frequency research; the record distinguishes actual 5G modulation from other laboratory waveforms.

Publication Type: Original journal research

Study Setting: Animals

Browse Categories: cells