Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Individual responsiveness to induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes after exposure in vitro to 1800 MHz microwave radiation med./bio.

By: Zotti-Martelli L, Peccatori M, Maggini V, Ballardin M, Barale R

Published in: Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2005; 582 (1-2): 42-52

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess the capability of microwaves to induce genotoxic effects.

Background/further details

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from nine different healthy donors were evaluated to investigate also the possible inter-individual response variability. Reproducibility was tested by repeating the experiment three months later.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: micronucleus frequency

Exposure

- microwaves

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: CW Exposure duration: continuous for 60, 120, and 180 min	power density: 5 mW/cm² unspecified power density: 10 mW/cm² unspecified power density: 20 mW/cm² unspecified

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 60, 120, and 180 min

Modulation

Modulation type	CW

Exposure setup

Exposure source	trumpet-like aerial
Setup	Three millilitres of whole blood were exposed at room temperature (21-22 °C). Sample tubes were placed in a supporting frame, made of anechoic material, at an aerial distance ensuring continuous field conditions.
Additional info	Temperature variation was measured in water samples under the same experimental conditions of culture irradiation.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	5 mW/cm²	unspecified	measured	-	-
power density	10 mW/cm²	unspecified	measured	-	-
power density	20 mW/cm²	unspecified	measured	-	-

Measurement and calculation details

Two power sensors were connected to a microwatt meter, one for the irradiation line and the other for the reflection line. Power flux density was measured with field meters.

Exposed system:

blood samples

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
chromosomes

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

It was shown that lymphocyte proliferation indices were significantly different among donors and between experiments, whereas the applied power density and the irradiation time did not have any effect on them.
Both spontaneous and induced micronuclei frequencies varied significantly among donors and between experiments. A statistically significant increase of micronuclei, although rather low, was revealed dependent on exposure time and applied power density. A considerable decrease in spontaneous and induced micronuclei frequencies was found in the second experiment.
The data show that microwaves are able to induce micronuclei in short-time exposures to medium power density fields. The data analysis highlights a wide inter-individual variability in the response, which was confirmed to be a characteristic reproducible trait by means of the second experiment.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Centro italiano di Studi sull'alto medioevo (CISAM; Interforces Center for Studies and Military Applications), Italy

Waldmann P et al. (2013): Influence of GSM Signals on Human Peripheral Lymphocytes: Study of Genotoxicity
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