EMF Database abstract: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO GENETIC EFFECTS OF MICROWAVES FROM MOBILE TELEPHONE FREQUENCIES IN HUMAN AND RAT PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES.

EMF Database sample abstract

Last modified on: Monday, July 31, 2000
Copyright © 1994-2008, Information Ventures, Inc. IN VITRO AND IN VIVO GENETIC EFFECTS OF MICROWAVES FROM MOBILE TELEPHONE FREQUENCIES IN HUMAN AND RAT PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES.
(Eng.) Verschaeve, L.; Slaets, D.; Van Gorp, U.; Maes, A.; Vankerkom, J. [VITO, Afdeling Leefmilieu, B-2400 Mol, Belgium (RR/A.M., M.C., L.V.); Gezondheid en Arbeid, Brussels, Belgium (D.S.)] Proceedings of Cost 244 Meetings on Mobile Communication and Extremely Low Frequency Field Instrumentation and Measurements in Bioelectromagnetics Research, Plzen, Chech Republic, 17-18 April, p. 74-83; 1994

The authors reported preliminary results from a series of in vitro and in vivo studies of the cytogenetic effects of 450 and 954 MHz microwave exposure on rat and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. For in vitro experiments with human cells, blood samples were collected in heparinized tubes from 29 male and 3 female healthy donors (age range 21-63 yr, mean 39 yr) between 08:00 and 08:30. Each sample was divided into replicate aliquots and exposed or sham exposed in a controlled temperature box (17 +/- 1.0 C) for 1-2 hr to 954 MHz microwaves from a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) base station located in Neerpelt, Belgium. Exposed samples were placed 5 cm from the antenna, while sham-exposed samples were placed in the same box but inside a metallic can that shielded the field. In some experiments additional samples were placed in the box at distances of 12.5 or 22.5 cm from the antenna, or were located 10 m from the antenna in another room (at the same temperature). The antenna had a nominal 15 W emission power and produced electric field (E-field) levels, as measured with a Rhode and Schwarz ESN 1027300730 meter and Anritsu MP 651A antenna, of approximately 49 V/m at 5 cm from the antenna, 15 V/m at 12.5 cm, 11 V/m at 22.5 cm, and 30-450 mV/m at 10 m from the antenna. After exposure, samples were transported a distance of about 35 km to the Genetic Effects Laboratory of the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) for testing and cell culture. Blood samples were also collected from 22 "mobile telephone maintenance personnel" who were routinely exposed to different frequencies (450 MHz, 900 MHz, and others) as they worked on network antennas. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated no more than an hour after sampling and were analyzed for single-strand DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet test) described by Singh et al. (Exp Cell Res 175:184-191, 1988). Classical cytogenetic methods were also used to analyze the samples, but only results for sister chromatid exchange was reported in this paper. Mean comet tail lengths were increased relative to unexposed controls for cells from 30 out of 32 subjects with exposure for 1 or 2 hr to 954 MHz GSM radiation at a distance of 5 cm from the antenna (p<0.001). The magnitude of the response was variable however with the largest number of exposed samples showing mean comet tail length increases of 131-140% (9 subjects), samples from 2 subjects showing increases of 181-200%, but 2 subjects showing no increase in DNA damage (83.5 and 99.5%). There was no apparent difference between samples exposed for 1 or 2 hr. Samples placed at greater distance from the antenna showed no increase in DNA damage, suggesting a threshold rather than a dose-related response. The authors indicated significant increases in sister chromatid exchange frequency comparing microwave-exposed to control cells after culture with 0.05, or 0.1 ug/ml mitomycin C in the medium [they provided only minimal quantitative details in a figure]. Lymphocytes from maintenance workers occupationally exposed to network base station radiation showed a slightly longer tail length on the comet assay (mean of 41.7 um compared to 40.1 um in controls) but this difference was not statistically significant. In vivo experiments conducted with rats caged for 1 to 5 wk in proximity to a 954 MHz antenna [no additional experimental details were given] produced ambiguous results. Comet tail lengths were greater in lymphocytes from exposed relative to unexposed rats, but similar increases were observed in lymphocytes from rats transported to the VITO facility twice. For example, at 1 wk mean comet lengths (arbitrary units) were 5.55 in 2 controls, 6.08 in 5 rats exposed to 0.7 V/m, 6.83 in 3 rats exposed to 22 V/m, but 6.44 in a control transported 70 km rather than 35 km. The authors suggested that stress resulting from transportation rather than microwave exposure may have contributed to observed DNA damage. The authors concluded by noting that the mechanism of DNA damage detected by the comet assay is not well understood, and commented that the lack of effects at lower energy levels (below 49 V/m) and in workers with long-term occupational exposure "are rather reassuring." (8 Refs). [Copyright 2000, Information Ventures, Inc.]

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