• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (observational study)

Micronucleus frequency in buccal mucosa cells of mobile phone users. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To investigate the effect of mobile phone use on genomic instability of the human oral cavitiy's mucosa cells.
Background/further details:
The study of Yadav et al (2008) in which increased numbers of micronuclei among mobile phone users were found should be replicated. In the present study a higher number of participants (n=131) was examined and a double amount of cells (2000 cells/individual) was counted to increase the statistical power. Furthermore a different, DNA-specific staining procedure was applied.
Each participant filled out a questionnaire about mobile phone use including duration of weekly use, overall period of use and headset usage for exposure assessment. The participants were divided into eleven groups: no use of mobile phones, 0-3 h/week, >3-6 h/week, >6-9 h/week, >9-12 h/week, and >12-15 h/week; <5 years, 5-10 years and >10 years period of mobile phone use; use and non-use of headsets.
Cells of four patients after four weeks of radiotherapy served as positive controls for the micronucleus test.

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: frequency of micronuclei

Exposure
mobile phone, microwaves
detailled exposure not extractable (no details given in article)

FIELD View further expo parameters

Exposed system:
human

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: frequency of micronuclei (micronucleus test), frequency of binucleated cells and fragmented nuclei (anti-alpha-tubulin-antibody and chromomycin A staining; fluorescence microscope)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
No differences in micronucleus frequencies were found between persons with different periods of duration (in years) of mobile phone use. No differences in micronucleus frequencies were observed between head set users or persons without headset use. No influence on the micronucleus frequencies was found for different duration of daily mobile phone use (h/week).
The authors concluded that mobile phone use did not lead to significantly higher number of micronuclei. The results of study by Yadav et al (2008) could not be confirmed.

(Study character: medical/biological study, observational study, replication/reproduction study, blind study)

Study funded by

• Elite Network of Bavaria (Elitenetzwerk Bayern), Germany

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