To study the effects of microwaves emitted by mobile phones on gene expression patterns in human cells.
Six human cell types, immortalized cell lines and primary cells, were exposed. Immortalized cell lines can be standardized, but they are different from primary cells or even genetically instable. This can lead to changes in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation.
The work is part of the REFLEX project (Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards From Low Energy Electromagnetic Field Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), funded by the European Union.
Exposure | Parameters |
---|---|
Exposure 1:
1,800 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off, for 24 h
NB69 cells
|
|
Exposure 2:
1,800 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
continuous for 1 h
E.A.hy926 cells
|
|
Exposure 3:
1,800 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
intermittent, 10 min on/20 min off, for 44 h
|
|
Exposure 4:
1,800 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
intermittent, 5 min on/5 min off, for 24 h
|
|
Exposure 5:
1,800 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
continuous for 24 h
|
|
Exposure 6:
900 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
continuous for 1 h
E.A.hy926 cells
|
|
Exposure 7:
900 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
continuous for 1 h
U937 and CHME5 cells
|
|
Frequency | 1,800 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off, for 24 h |
Additional info | NB69 cells |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Chamber | Two single-mode cavities equipped with a fan were placed inside a CO2 incubator. Exposure and sham conditions were blindly assigned by the computer-controlled signal unit. Monopole antennas were integrated to monitor and control the incident field. |
Setup | Six 35-mm Petri dishes were placed in each waveguide in a dish holder holding them in the H-field maximum of the standing wave. The system enabled the exposure of monolayers of cells with an SAR non-uniformity of less than 30%. |
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Additional info | The air flow temperature monitored with accurate Pt100 probes showed differences of less than 0.1°C between exposed and sham waveguides. A numerical heat flow analysis showed that hot spots inside the medium could be excluded. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 2 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | - |
Frequency | 1,800 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | continuous for 1 h |
Additional info | E.A.hy926 cells |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 2.5 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | 1.8-2.5 W/kg |
Frequency | 1,800 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | intermittent, 10 min on/20 min off, for 44 h |
Additional info | T-lymphocytes |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 1.4 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | - |
Frequency | 1,800 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | intermittent, 5 min on/5 min off, for 24 h |
Additional info | HL-60 cells |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 1 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | - |
Frequency | 1,800 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | continuous for 24 h |
Additional info | HL-60 cells |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 1.3 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | - |
Frequency | 900 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | continuous for 1 h |
Additional info | E.A.hy926 cells |
Exposure source |
|
---|---|
Chamber | The exposure chamber was positioned vertically inside a cell culture incubator. |
Setup | Two 55-mm glass Petri dishes were placed in such a way that the E-field vector was parallel to the plane of the culture medium. |
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Additional info | Temperature-controlled water was circulated through a thin (9 mm) rectangular glass fibre moulded waterbed underneath the Petri dishes [Leszczynski et al., 2002]. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 2.5 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | 1.8-2.5 W/kg |
Frequency | 900 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Charakteristic |
|
Exposure duration | continuous for 1 h |
Additional info | U937 and CHME5 cells |
Exposure source | |
---|---|
Setup | The wire patch cell (WPC) accommodated eight 3.5-cm Petri dishes in the following way: Each Petri dish was positioned inside a 5-cm outer dish filled with distilled water. Two of these double Petri dishes were piled up, and four of these stacks were placed in the WPC. |
Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAR | 2 W/kg | - | measured and calculated | - | - |
Exposed CHME5 microglial cells, NB69 neuroblastoma cells, and T lymphocytes did not show significant changes in gene expression.
In HL-60 leukemia cells, EA.hy926 endothelial cells, and U937 lymphoblastoma cells between 12 and 34 up-regulated or down-regulated genes were found. Changes depended on cell type and radiofrequency electromagnetic field signal. Analysis of the affected gene families did not point towards a stress response. However, following microwave irradiation, some but not all human cells might react with an increase in expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and therefore up-regulating the cellular metabolism.
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