Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro assessment of clastogenicity of mobile-phone radiation (835 MHz) using the alkaline comet assay and chromosomal aberration test med./bio.

By: Kim JY, Hong SY, Lee YM, Yu SA, Koh WS, Hong JR, Son T, Chang SK, Lee M

Published in: Environ Toxicol 2008; 23 (3): 319-327

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 835 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for up to 48 h	SAR: 4 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	835 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	guided field
Exposure duration	continuous for up to 48 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	TEM cell
Chamber	The TEM exposure system was placed inside a CO₂ incubator at 37°C.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	4 W/kg	-	measured	-	-

Additional parameter details

The TEM exposure system ensured that the radiation was uniform to all cells and produced no significant temperature changes during the experiments (37.0 ± 0.3°C).

Measurement and calculation details

The temperature and the SAR were monitored at the location of the culture dishes during exposure.

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
L5178Y (mouse leukemic cell line (heterozygous at the thymidine kinase gene locus)); CHL (Chinese hamster lung) cells

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (alkaline comet assay); chromosome aberration
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell number; cell viability (Trypan blue exclusion test)

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data suggest that in the chromosome aberration assay the 835 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field did not induce any direct clastogenic effect alone or in combination with the model clastogenic agents, while in the alkaline comet assay the presence of an applied radiofrequency electromagnetic field statistically significantly enhanced the clastogenic activity of model clastogens.
Thus, the authors cannot exclude any possibility of an increased risk of genetic damage, with important implications for the possible health effects of exposure to 835 MHz electromagnetic fields.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

BIT Wireless Communication Devices Research Centre, Soonchunhyang University, Korea

Perrin A et al. (2010): Evaluation of the co-genotoxic effects of 1800 MHz GSM radiofrequency exposure and a chemical mutagen in cultured human cells
Sannino A et al. (2009): Human fibroblasts and 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation: evaluation of DNA damage after exposure and co-exposure to 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5h)-furanone (MX)
Schwarz C et al. (2008): Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes
Valbonesi P et al. (2008): Evaluation of HSP70 expression and DNA damage in cells of a human trophoblast cell line exposed to 1.8 GHz amplitude-modulated radiofrequency fields
Koyama S et al. (2007): Effects of 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on bacterial and HPRT gene mutations
Lixia S et al. (2006): Effects of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field on DNA damage and expression of heat shock protein 70 in human lens epithelial cells
Chang SK et al. (2005): Genotoxicity evaluation of electromagnetic fields generated by 835-MHz mobile phone frequency band
Zeni O et al. (2005): Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human peripheral blood leukocytes following an acute in vitro exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency fields
d'Ambrosio G et al. (2002): Cytogenetic damage in human lymphocytes following GMSK phase modulated microwave exposure
Tice RR et al. (2002): Genotoxicity of radiofrequency signals. I. Investigation of DNA damage and micronuclei induction in cultured human blood cells
Maes A et al. (2001): Cytogenetic effects of 900 MHz (GSM) microwaves on human lymphocytes
Li L et al. (2001): Measurement of DNA damage in mammalian cells exposed in vitro to radiofrequency fields at SARs of 3-5 W/kg
Maes A et al. (1996): 954 MHz microwaves enhance the mutagenic properties of mitomycin C
Eberle P et al. (1996): [Cell proliferation, sister chromatid exchanges, chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, and mutation rate of HGPRT-locus]
Maes A et al. (1995): Cytogenetic Effects of Microwaves from Mobile Communication Frequencies (954 MHz)
Chen KM et al. (1974): Chromosomal aberrations of living cells induced by microwave radiation