Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro exposure of human lymphocytes to 900 MHz CW and GSM modulated radiofrequency: studies of proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential med./bio.

Published in: Radiat Res 2004; 162 (2): 211-218

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the nonthermal effects of radiofrequency fields on human immune cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) exposed to a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) signal generated by a commercial cellular phone and by a sinusoidal non-modulated signal (continuous wave).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day during 48 h or 72 h of culture
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day during 48 h or 72 h of culture
Exposure 3: 900 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: repeated daily intermittent exposure, 30 min on/30 min off/30 min on per day, see add. info

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day during 48 h or 72 h of culture
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber The TEM cell (107 x 51 x 51 cm, septum height 23 cm) was positioned vertically inside a thermostatic room maintained at 37°C.
Setup Microplates were located in the middle section of the cell on the right and on the left side of the septum on a thin plastic shelf (2 mm).
Additional info A 96 well microplate (127 x 84 x 15 mm) or two 24 well microplates (127 x 84 x 22 mm) placed one upon the other were used. Well diameters and volume of culture medium were 6.4 or 16 mm and 200 µl or 2 ml, respectively.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 76 mW/kg mean calculated unspecified -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Waveform
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 1 h/day during 48 h or 72 h of culture
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 70 mW/kg mean calculated unspecified -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Waveform
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration repeated daily intermittent exposure, 30 min on/30 min off/30 min on per day, see add. info
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Additional info The first hour of exposure took place immediately after cell seeding and treatment with mitogenic or apoptosis inducers, the second and third hours took place after 24 or 48 h of culture.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 70 mW/kg mean calculated unspecified -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Results obtained from cells exposed to a GSM-modulated radiofrequency field showed a slight decrease in cell proliferation when the cells were stimulated with the lowest mitogen concentration. Cell cycle phases, mitochondrial membrane potential and susceptibility to apoptosis were found to be unaffected by the radiofrequency field.
When cells were exposed to a continuous wave radiofrequency field, no significant modifications were revealed in comparison with sham-exposed cells for all the endpoints investigated.

Study character:

Study funded by

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