Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to DAMPS and GSM signals on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity: II. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells med./bio.

By: Billaudel B, Taxile M, Poulletier de Gannes F, Ruffie G, Lagroye I, Veyret B

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2009; 85 (6): 519-522

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effects of microwave exposure on the enzyme activity of ornithine decarboxylase and to extend a previous confirmation study of the same authors (Billaudel et al. 2009) to human neuroblastoma cells.

Background/further details

In previous studies, an increase in ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity was found in L929 murine fibroblast cells after exposure to a digital cellular telephone signal (see "related articles"). This result was not confirmed by several other studies, including the paper of Billaudel et al. 2009.

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 8 h or 24 h	SAR: 0.99 W/kg (during 8 h exposure) SAR: 2.48 W/kg (during 8 h exposure) SAR: 1 W/kg (during 24 h exposure) SAR: 2.49 W/kg (during 24 h exposure)
Exposure 2: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h or 24 h	SAR: 0.99 W/kg (during the 8 h exposure) SAR: 2.49 W/kg (during the 8 h exposure) SAR: 1 W/kg (during the 24 h exposure) SAR: 2.51 W/kg (during the 24 h exposure)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	835 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 8 h or 24 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	-	during 8 h exposure
SAR	2.48 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 8 h exposure
SAR	1 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 24 h exposure
SAR	2.49 W/kg	-	measured	-	during 24 h exposure

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 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	0.99 W/kg	-	measured	-	during the 8 h exposure
SAR	2.49 W/kg	-	measured	-	during the 8 h exposure
SAR	1 W/kg	-	measured	-	during the 24 h exposure
SAR	2.51 W/kg	-	measured	-	during the 24 h exposure

Reference articles

Schuderer J et al. (2004): High Peak SAR Exposure Unit With Tight Exposure and Environmental Control for In Vitro Experiments at 1800 MHz
Schuderer J et al. (2004): In Vitro Exposure Systems for RF Exposures at 900 MHz

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y)

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:

cell lysates

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The results showed that, irrespective of the signal used (D-AMPS-835 or GSM-1800) and exposure conditions (duration and SAR value), human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells did not exhibit any alteration in ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity. In conclusion, this work did not show a significant effect of mobile phone radiofrequency exposure on ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity in neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y).

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

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: I. L-929 mouse fibroblasts
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. (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. (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

Effects of exposure to DAMPS and GSM signals on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity: II. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells 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

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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