Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to DAMPS and GSM signals on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity: I. L-929 mouse fibroblasts med./bio.

By: Billaudel B, Taxile M, Ruffie G, Veyret B, Lagroye I

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2009; 85 (6): 510-518

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effects of microwave exposure on the enzyme activity of ornithine decarboxylase and to confirm previous data (see "replication study"), where a temporary increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity was found in lysed L-929 fibroblasts after exposure to the microwaves emitted by D-AMPS.

Background/further details

In the first phase the same signal (50-Hz modulated D-AMPS-835) was used as in the study of Penafiel et al. 1997 (see also "replication studies"), while in the second part other signals were used (GSM-900 and GSM-1800). Moreover, several exposure set-ups were used in both phases. Additionally, ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity was measured in live L-929 cells in the first experimental phase and in lysed cells in the second phase (GSM exposure).

Endpoint

cell function: enzyme activity of ornithine decarboxylase

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM
- D-AMPS

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 835 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 7 h	SAR: 2.48 W/kg SAR: 5.97 W/kg
Exposure 2: 835 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h	SAR: 0.99 W/kg SAR: 2.48 W/kg
Exposure 3: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h, 8 h or 24 h	SAR: 2.48 W/kg (during 2 h exposure) SAR: 2.49 W/kg (during 8 h exposure) SAR: 2.5 W/kg (during 24 h exposure)
Exposure 4: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h	SAR: 0.5 W/kg SAR: 1 W/kg SAR: 2.5 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	835 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 7 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	50 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	TEM cell
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	2.48 W/kg	-	measured	-	-
SAR	5.97 W/kg	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	835 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 8 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	50 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	waveguide
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.99 W/kg	-	measured	-	-
SAR	2.48 W/kg	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 h, 8 h or 24 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	waveguide
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	2.48 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 2 h exposure
SAR	2.49 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 8 h exposure
SAR	2.5 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 24 h exposure

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 8 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	wire-patch antenna
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.5 W/kg	-	measured	-	-
SAR	1 W/kg	-	measured	-	-
SAR	2.5 W/kg	-	measured	-	-

Reference articles

Nikoloski N et al. (2005): Reevaluation and improved design of the TEM cell in vitro exposure unit for replication studies
Schuderer J et al. (2004): In Vitro Exposure Systems for RF Exposures at 900 MHz
Laval L et al. (2000): A new in vitro exposure device for the mobile frequency of 900 MHz
Penafiel LM et al. (1997): Role of modulation on the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity in L929 cells

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
murine L929 fibroblast cells (L-929-NCTC)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell function: enzyme activity of ornithine decarboxylase (measurement of ¹⁴CO₂ release of ¹⁴C-labeled L-ornithine; liquid scintillation counting)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
cell lysates

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In conclusion, the exposure to various mobile phone signals (D-AMPS- 835, GSM-900 or GSM-1800) using different set-ups had no significant influence on ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity, irrespective of the exposure and cell conditions (live or lysed L-929 cells). Previously published observations by Litovitz et al. (1993, 1997) and Penafiel et al. 1997 (see "replication study") were thus not reproduced under these well-controlled experimental conditions.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Aquitaine Research Council, France
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS; French National Center for Scientific Research), France
École Pratique des Hautes Etudes, France
European Project PERFORM-B
GSM Association, UK/Ireland
Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium

Replicated studies

Penafiel LM et al. (1997): Role of modulation on the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity in L929 cells
Litovitz TA et al. (1997): Bioeffects induced by exposure to microwaves are mitigated by superposition of ELF noise
Litovitz TA et al. (1993): The role of coherence time in the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity

Fortune JA et al. (2010): Radio frequency radiation causes no nonthermal damage in enzymes and living cells
Billaudel B et al. (2009): Effects of exposure to DAMPS and GSM signals on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity: II. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells
Höytö A et al. (2007): Ornithine decarboxylase activity of L929 cells after exposure to continuous wave or 50 Hz modulated radiofrequency radiation--a replication study
Höytö A et al. (2007): Ornithine decarboxylase activity is affected in primary astrocytes but not in secondary cell lines exposed to 872 MHz RF radiation
Höytö A et al. (2006): Modest increase in temperature affects ODC activity in L929 cells: Low-level radiofrequency radiation does not
Naarala J et al. (2004): Cellular effects of electromagnetic fields
Desta AB et al. (2003): Non-thermal exposure to radiofrequency energy from digital wireless phones does not affect ornithine decarboxylase activity in L929 cells
Litovitz TA et al. (1997): Bioeffects induced by exposure to microwaves are mitigated by superposition of ELF noise
Penafiel LM et al. (1997): Role of modulation on the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity in L929 cells
Litovitz TA et al. (1993): The role of coherence time in the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity

Effects of exposure to DAMPS and GSM signals on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity: I. L-929 mouse fibroblasts med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

Replicated studies

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