Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

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) med./bio.

Published in: Radiat Res 2009; 171 (6): 743-751

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of radiofrequency irradiation at 900 MHz on DNA damage in human dermal fibroblasts from a healthy subject and from a subject affected by Turner's syndrome (to study cells believed to be particularly sensitive to weak genotoxic agents).

Background/further details

The radiofrequency exposure was carried out alone or in combination with 3-chloro-4-dichloromethyl-5-hydroxy-2-5H-furanone (MX; 25 µM; administration one hour after exposure), a well-known mutagen and carcinogen produced during the chlorination of drinking water.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h or 24 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 1 h or 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Additional info

GSM-like signal

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup wire patch cell shielded by a metal grid box and absorbers, placed inside a CO2 incubator
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1 W/kg - measured and calculated - -

Reference articles

  • Palumbo R et al. (2008): Exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation induces caspase 3 activation in proliferating human lymphocytes
  • Scarfi MR et al. (2006): Exposure to radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz, GSM signal) does not affect micronucleus frequency and cell proliferation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: an interlaboratory study
  • Laval L et al. (2000): A new in vitro exposure device for the mobile frequency of 900 MHz

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data revealed no genotoxic and cytotoxic effects from radiofrequency irradiation alone in either cell type. MX treatment alone induced an increase in DNA migration in the comet assay (positive control), but no enhancement of the MX-induced DNA damage was observed in the cells exposed to radiofrequency irradiation (co-exposure). In the Turner syndrome fibroblasts exposed to radiofrequency irradiation for 24 h, all parameters in the comet assay were higher in the "MX+radiofrequency" exposed cultures than in the MX-exposed cultures. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

Study character:

Study funded by

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