Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Mobile phone radiation might alter protein expression in human skin med./bio.

By: Karinen A, Heinävaara S, Nylund R, Leszczynski D

Published in: BMC Genomics 2008; 9: 77

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was conducted to determine whether a local exposure of human skin to radiofrequency electromagnetic field induces any changes in protein expression and whether it is possible to find common proteins that respond to radiofrequency electromagnetic field in all volunteers.

Background/further details

A small area of forearm's skin in 10 female volunteers was exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic field at a specific absorption rate of 1.3 W/kg. This specific absorption rate is below the ICNIRP safety guidelines (2.0 W/kg). Punch biopsies were collected from exposed and sham exposed areas of the skin.

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h	SAR: 1.3 W/kg (in the skin)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	dipole antenna cellular phone half-wave
Chamber	The experimental setup has been described in detail elsewhere [Toivonen et al., 2007].
Setup	The GSM phone was computer controlled.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	A small area of the right forearm was irradiated, and the other, non-irradiated forearm was used as sham control.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.3 W/kg	-	-	-	in the skin

Reference articles

Toivonen T et al. (2008): Setup and dosimetry for exposure of human skin in vivo to RF-EMF at 900 MHz

Exposed system:

human
partial body: small area of forearm's skin

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA

Investigated organ system:

skin

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Eight differentially expressed proteins were identified. Two proteins were present in all 10 volunteers thus showing that it is possible to find common, radiofrequency electromagnetic field responding proteins among the all volunteers.
These results suggest that human skin might respond to radiofrequency electromagnetic field and change protein expression profile. Whether these changes might have impact on skin physiology has to be further investigated.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
pilot/exploratory/preliminary study
blind study

Study funded by

STUK (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority), Helsinki, Finland
Tekes (National Technology Agency), Finland

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