REVIEW The proposed mechanisms of radio frequency waves (RFWs) on nervous system functions impairment Abolfazl Akbari 1 & Gholamali Jelodar 1 & Saeed Nazifi 2 Received: 21 November 2014 /Accepted: 17 March 2015 /Published online: 31 March 2015 # Springer-Verlag London 2015 Abstract There is a general concern regarding the haz- ardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency waves (RFWs) emitted from wireless communication devices. RFWs generated by base transceiver station (BTS) and/ or mobile phone have been reported to generate deleteri- ous effects on nervous system, possibly through the non- thermal effects and thermal effects. However, most stud- ies have focused on the non-thermal effects of RFW. In this review, we will consider effects of radiofrequency waves on impairment of nervous system functions. Avail- able data indicate that RFW of relatively low intensity (specific absorption rate (SAR) <2 W/kg) can affect the nervous system. Parameters of RFW exposure, such as frequency, duration, waveform, frequency and amplitude modulation, etc., are important determinants of biological responses. Changes in electrophysiology, blood-brain bar- rier, morphology, neurotransmitter functions, structural and functional changes in the cell membrane (i.e., NADH oxidase, phosphatidylserine, and voltage-gated calcium channels), genetic effects, and oxidative stress as an im- portant factor have recently been reported in the brain of animals and humans after exposure to RFWs. These changes can lead to functional changes in the nervous system. Keywords Nervous system . Radio frequency waves (RFWs) . Oxidative stress . Blood-brain barrier . Electrophysiology Comprehensive definition of the term RFWs Radio frequency waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths around 1 mm and frequencies 3 KHz to 300 GHz. Radio frequency waves in the electromagnetic spec- trum are longer than infrared light. General concepts of RFW physics and biological effects A base transceiver station (BTS) is a technical apparatus which includes the antennas and their transmitter/receiver blocks and manages the area corresponding to a geographical cell. By means of electromagnetic wave propagation, the BTS antennas can receive or transmit suitable signals to mobile phones. A base transceiver station emits radiofrequency waves (RFWs) to nearby relay base stations or antennas (Jelodar et al. 2013a). The frequencies of these radio waves fall in the low-frequency microwave range (800–2200 MHz); therefore, this radiation is of non-ionizing type as the energy emitted is too low to break chemical bonds in biological sys- tem. On the other hand, the energy carried in extremely high- frequency (1,000,000 MHz) electromagnetic fields such as X- rays is so intense that the electromagnetic particles have suf- ficient power to break chemical bonds and cause serious dam- age to human tissue; this type of radiation is known as ionizing radiation (Agarwal et al. 2011). However, expanding telecom- munication technologies have become by far the most impor- tant source of non-ionizing high-frequency electromagnetic * Saeed Nazifi nazifi@shirazu.ac.ir 1 Department of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran 2 Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Comp Clin Pathol (2016) 25:1289–1301 DOI 10.1007/s00580-015-2096-x