Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro testing of cellular response to ultra high frequency electromagnetic field radiation med./bio.

By: Pavicic I, Trosic I

Published in: Toxicol In Vitro 2008; 22 (5): 1344-1348

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether low-level, ultrahigh frequency irradiation of 935 MHz influences the cell structure and growth of lung fibroblasts of the Chinese hamster.

Background/further details

Colchicine treated cells were the positive controls.

Endpoint

morphol./histopathol. changes: microtubules structure

Exposure

- 935 MHz
- RF field
- microwaves
- UHF fields
- CW continuous wave

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 935 MHz Modulation type: CW Exposure duration: continuous for 1, 2, and 3 h	electric field strength: 8.2 V/cm (± 0.3 V/cm) SAR: 0.12 W/kg mean

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	935 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	guided field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1, 2, and 3 h

Modulation

Modulation type	CW

Exposure setup

Exposure source	GTEM cell
Chamber	Temperature inside the GTEM cell was measured every 10 min and maintained at 37 °C.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	8.2 V/cm	-	-	-	± 0.3 V/cm
SAR	0.12 W/kg	mean	calculated	-	-

Measurement and calculation details

SAR was calculated by averaging the individual parameters of the cell components in accordance with their volume fraction in live cells according to Steffensen's mathematical model (WHO, 1993 and COST 244, 1995).

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
V79 (Chinese hamster fibroblast cells)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation (cell count 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after exposure: light microscopy)
morphol./histopathol. changes: cell morphology (e.g. cytoplasm membrane knobs, bubbles), structure of microtubule proteins (immunocytochemical method)

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Structural differences apparent in grainy fluorescent clusters comparable to those found in positive control cells were observed in cells exposed for 3 hours. These grainy structures suggest that microtubule fibers are highly dissipated.
Significantly decreased growth was seen in cells exposed for 3 hours three days after irradiation.
These results indicate that the 935 MHz, low-level ultrahigh frequency irradiation for 3 hours affects microtubule proteins, which consequently may obstruct cell growth.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study

Study funded by

Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Republic of Croatia

Ballardin M et al. (2011): Non-thermal effects of 2.45GHz microwaves on spindle assembly, mitotic cells and viability of Chinese hamster V-79 cells
Trosic I et al. (2009): Disturbance of cell proliferation in response to mobile phone frequency radiation
Pavicic I et al. (2006): Influence of 864 MHz electromagnetic field on growth kinetics of established cell line
Capri M et al. (2004): In vitro exposure of human lymphocytes to 900 MHz CW and GSM modulated radiofrequency: studies of proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential
Trosic I et al. (2004): Blood-forming system in rats after whole-body microwave exposure; reference to the lymphocytes
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Donnellan M et al. (1997): Effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz on growth, morphology and secretory characteristics of a mast cell analogue, RBL-2H3
French PW et al. (1997): Electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz changes the morphology and inhibits proliferation of a human astrocytoma cell line
Ortner MJ et al. (1983): The effect of 2450-MHz microwave radiation during microtubular polymerization in vitro