Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Transient DNA damage induced by high-frequency electromagnetic fields (GSM 1.8GHz) in the human trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cell line evaluated with the alkaline comet assay med./bio.

Published in: Mutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanism of Mutagenesis 2010; 683 (1-2): 35-42

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To determine whether radiofrequency electromagnetic fields could induce genotoxic effects in trophoblast cells. Possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA integrity were evaluated in the same cell model as in a previous study (Valbonesi et al. 2008) after intermittent exposure to 1.8 GHz continuous wave and to two different GSM signals (GSM-217 and GSM-Talk) for 4, 16, and 24 h.

Background/further details

To study whether radiofrequency electromagnetic fields have no significant effects or whether cells are able to compensate the potential consequences, the authors also investigated the ability of the cells to repair the potential DNA alterations within a post-irradiation recovery period of 30 and 120 min (DNA repair).
Hydrogen peroxide treatment was used for the positive control.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1.8 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr
Exposure 2: 1.8 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr
Exposure 3: 1.8 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.8 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 128.5 mm x 65 mm x 424 mm brass single-mode waveguide resonator inside an incubator; plastic holder for hosting the petri dishes in two stacks placed in the rsonator; dishes positioned in the H-field maximum of the standing wave inside the waveguide
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.8 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr
Additional info GSM-217
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Pulse type rectangular
Additional info

modulation frequency: 8 Hz

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 1.8 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 5 min on / 10 min off - for 4 hr, 16 hr or 24 hr
Additional info GSM-Talk
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Pulse type rectangular
Additional info

combination of GSM-217 und GSM-DTX modulation frequencies: 2 Hz, 8 Hz and 217 Hz

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - - - -

Reference articles

  • Schönborn F et al. (2000): Design, optimization, realization, and analysis of an in vitro system for the exposure of embryonic stem cells at 1.71 GHz

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The amplitude modulated signals GSM-217 and GSM-Talk induced a significant increase in the comet assay parameters in trophoblast cells, while the un-modulated continuous wave exposure was ineffective. However, alterations were rapidly recovered and the DNA integrity of exposed cells was similar to that of sham exposed cells within two hours of recovery in the absence of irradiation.
The data suggest that radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure with a carrier frequency and modulation scheme typical of the GSM signal may affect the DNA integrity.

Study character:

Study funded by

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