Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Influence of smartphone Wi-Fi signals on adipose-derived stem cells med./bio.

By: Lee SS, Kim HR, Kim MS, Park S, Yoon ES, Park SH, Kim DW

Published in: J Craniofac Surg 2014; 25 (5): 1902-1907

Cells were divided into three groups: 1) exposure to the 2.4 GHz electromagnetic field, 2) control group incubated at 37°C, 3) control group incubated at 39°C. Two control groups were used because in a preliminary test a temperature rise of about 2°C was measured in the exposed cell culture. Thus, the 39°C control group should account for possible thermal effects.

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.4 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 10 hours/day for 5 days	SAR: 240 mW/kg power density: 26 µW/cm² mean

Frequency	2.4 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 10 hours/day for 5 days
Additional info	WiFi

Exposure source	cellular phone SHW-M110S, Samsung
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	2 cm
Chamber	culture plates in a CO₂ incubator
Setup	cells were incubated under a smartphone connected to a WiFi local area network (IEEE 802.11 g); the smartphone worked actively, uploading files at 600-KB/s or 4.8 Mbps (remark EMF-Portal: contradictory specifications) speed to a laptop connected to a wireless router; temperature in incubator was maintained at 37°C and CO₂ 5%
Additional info	(remark EMF-Portal: it was not stated whether other potential EMF sources of the smartphone (e.g. GSM, Bluetooth) or MF of the incubator were deactivated during exposure)

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	240 mW/kg	-	calculated	-	-
power density	26 µW/cm²	mean	-	-	-

Exposed system:

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

Cell proliferation was significantly increased in the exposure group and in the 39°C control group compared to the 37°C control group.
All other parameters did not show any significant differences between the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of human adipose derived stem cells to a 2.4 GHz electromagnetic field (WiFi) has no effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation apart from thermal effects.

Study character:

Wang C et al. (2015): Effects of Pulsed 2.856 GHz Microwave Exposure on BM-MSCs Isolated from C57BL/6 Mice
Hou Q et al. (2015): Oxidative changes and apoptosis induced by 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation in NIH/3T3 cells
Esmekaya MA et al. (2013): Investigation of the effects of 2.1 GHz microwave radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), apoptotic activity and cell viability in human breast fibroblast cells
Liu YX et al. (2012): Exposure to 1950-MHz TD-SCDMA Electromagnetic Fields Affects the Apoptosis of Astrocytes via Caspase-3-Dependent Pathway
Trosic I et al. (2009): Disturbance of cell proliferation in response to mobile phone frequency radiation
Lee JJ et al. (2008): Acute radio frequency irradiation does not affect cell cycle, cellular migration, and invasion
Hoyto A et al. (2008): Radiofrequency radiation does not significantly affect ornithine decarboxylase activity, proliferation, or caspase-3 activity of fibroblasts in different physiological conditions
Velizarov S et al. (1999): The effects of radiofrequency fields on cell proliferation are non-thermal
Robinson JE et al. (1981): The effects of microwaves on cell survival at elevated temperatures