Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Effects on Human Keratinocytes Exposed to 900 MHz Electromagnetic Field med./bio.

By: Duranti G, Rossi A, Rosato N, Fazio G, Sacerdoti G, Rossi P, Falsaperla R, Cannelli V, Supino R

Published in: Environmentalist 2005; 25 (2-4): 113-119

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To elucidate the effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields on the skin.

Background/further details

The experiments on human keratinocytes were performed in triplicate.
In order to investigate whether a reduction in cell proliferation of exposed cells was due to the activation of a differentiation process, the expression of two markers of differentiation (keratin 1 and involucrin) were examined.

Endpoint

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation, cytotoxicity

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: CW Exposure duration: continuous for 18 h	electric field strength: 50 V/m effective value SAR: 0.08 W/kg mean (0.032-0.122 W/kg for 59% of cells in lateral samples) SAR: 0.04 W/kg mean (0.015-0.065 W/kg for 73% of cells in central sample)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Charakteristic	guided field
Exposure duration	continuous for 18 h
Additional info	publication 14367: Weiland, T., 1977, A Discretization Method for the Solution of Maxwell's Equations for Six-Component Field, Electronics and Communications AEÜ 31(3), 116-120.

Modulation

Modulation type	CW

Exposure setup

Exposure source	GTEM cell
Chamber	A parallelepiped PVC container with front and rear sides open and hollow top and bottom walls passed through by thermostated water at 37°C was placed inside a GTEM chamber.
Setup	Three 25 cm² (T25) flasks with 5 ml of medium were placed in the central zone of the PVC container.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	50 V/m	effective value	-	-	-
SAR	0.08 W/kg	mean	calculated	-	0.032-0.122 W/kg for 59% of cells in lateral samples
SAR	0.04 W/kg	mean	calculated	-	0.015-0.065 W/kg for 73% of cells in central sample

Measurement and calculation details

Numerical dosimetry was performed based on the Finite Integration Technique (FIT) [Weiland, 1977]. All materials were characterised on the basis of literature [Chou et al., 1996]. A linearly polarised plane wave was assumed incident on the PVC box with the EF orthogonal to the surface of the samples and the propagation direction parallel to the major side of the flasks. Local spatial and total average SARs for all samples were computed from EF values.

Reference articles

Chou CK et al. (1996): Radio frequency electromagnetic exposure: tutorial review on experimental dosimetry

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
HaCaT cells (human keratinocytes cell line)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: involucrin, keratin 1 expression (Western blot)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation (hemocytometer), cytotoxicity (trypan blue staining)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A reduction in the number of exposed keratinocytes in comparison to sham-exposed ones was found. However, the number of dead keratinocytes was not significantly different in exposed and sham-exposed samples.
Both keratin 1 and involucrin expression was increased in the exposed keratinocytes.
These results suggest that this protocol of exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field can trigger a differentiation program in keratinocytes.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro (ISPESL; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention), Italy

Ceyhan AM et al. (2012): Protective effects of beta-glucan against oxidative injury induced by 2.45-GHz electromagnetic radiation in the skin tissue of rats
Sanchez S et al. (2008): Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. III: Expression of heat shock proteins
Sanchez S et al. (2007): In Vitro Study of the Stress Response of Human Skin Cells to GSM-1800 Mobile Phone Signals Compared to UVB Radiation and Heat Shock
Gurisik E et al. (2006): An in vitro study of the effects of exposure to a GSM signal in two human cell lines: monocytic U937 and neuroblastoma SK-N-SH
Sanchez S et al. (2006): Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. II: 12-week chronic exposures
Masuda H et al. (2006): Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. I: 2-hour acute exposures
Sanchez S et al. (2006): Human skin cell stress response to GSM-900 mobile phone signals. In vitro study on isolated primary cells and reconstructed epidermis
Pavicic I et al. (2006): Influence of 864 MHz electromagnetic field on growth kinetics of established cell line
Ayata A et al. (2004): Oxidative stress-mediated skin damage in an experimental mobile phone model can be prevented by melatonin
Özgüner F et al. (2004): Prevention of mobile phone induced skin tissue changes by melatonin in rat: an experimental study
Pacini S et al. (2002): Exposure to global system for mobile communication (GSM) cellular phone radiofrequency alters gene expression, proliferation, and morphology of human skin fibroblasts