Medical/biological study (observational study)

Hsp70 is an independent stress marker among frequent users of mobile phones med./bio.

By: Balakrishnan K, Murali V, Rathika C, Manikandan T, Malini RP, Kumar RA, Krishnan M

Published in: J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 2014; 33 (4): 339-347

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of frequent mobile phone use on stress marker levels in the blood should be investigated.

Background/further details

A total of 120 frequent users of mobile phones (111 men, 9 women; exposure group) and 102 infrequent users of mobile phones (77 men, 25 women; control group) volunteered for this study. Subjects of the exposure group were employees of an IT company with exposure to mobile base stations and a mobile phone use of more than 5 hours/day. Subjects in the control group had a maximum mobile phone usage of 30 minutes/day.
For parts of the analysis, the exposure group was further divided into subgroups, according to the total number of years of mobile phone usage: 1) mobile phone usage for 1-5 years (n=50), 2) 6-10 years (n=65) and 3) for >10 years (n=5).

Endpoint

stress marker levels in the blood

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: RF (≥ 10 MHz) Exposure duration: daily mobile phone > 5 hours for 1-5 years	-
Exposure 2: RF (≥ 10 MHz) Exposure duration: daily mobile phone > 5 hours for 6-10 years	-
Exposure 3: RF (≥ 10 MHz) Exposure duration: daily mobile phone > 5 hours for > 10 years	-

General information

In the method section, the authors write: "The make and specific absorption rate of the mobile phones were noted in a questionnaire." However, these data are not presented or mentioned in the further course of the study.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	RF (≥ 10 MHz)
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	daily mobile phone > 5 hours for 1-5 years

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	subjects working in an IT sector company and beeing exposed to mobile base stations

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	RF (≥ 10 MHz)
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	daily mobile phone > 5 hours for 6-10 years

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	RF (≥ 10 MHz)
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	daily mobile phone > 5 hours for > 10 years

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposed system:

human

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: stress marker levels in serum (C-reactive protein and Hsp70, ELISA, and gene expression of hsp70, RT-PCR)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA
serum
investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The serum levels of C-reactive protein and Hsp70 as well as the gene expression of hsp70 were significantly increased in the exposure group compared to the control group.
The authors conclude that frequent mobile phone use might elevate levels of the stress markers C-reactive protein and Hsp70 in the blood.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India
Ministry of Science and Technology, India

Wang Z et al. (2016): Effects of electromagnetic fields on serum lipids in workers of a power plant
Wang Z et al. (2016): Effects of electromagnetic fields exposure on plasma hormonal and inflammatory pathway biomarkers in male workers of a power plant
Singh K et al. (2016): Effect of electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone base stations on general health and salivary function
Kücer N et al. (2014): Self-reported symptoms associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields: a questionnaire study
van Dongen D et al. (2014): Symptom attribution and risk perception in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance to electromagnetic fields and in the general population
Redmayne M et al. (2013): The relationship between adolescents' well-being and their wireless phone use: a cross-sectional study
Buchner K et al. (2011): [Modification of clinically important neurotransmitters under the influence of modulated high-frequency fields - A long-term study under true-to-life conditions]
Augner C et al. (2009): Are people living next to mobile phone base stations more strained? Relationship of health concerns, self-estimated distance to base station, and psychological parameters
Blank M (2008): Protein and DNA reactions stimulated by electromagnetic fields
Hocking B (1998): Preliminary report: symptoms associated with mobile phone use

Hsp70 is an independent stress marker among frequent users of mobile phones med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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