Medical/biological study (observational study)

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

By: Hintzsche H, Stopper H

Published in: Toxicol Lett 2010; 193 (1): 124-130

Aim of study (acc. 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

- microwaves
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- not extractable

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: unspecified Exposure duration: up to 15 hr/week for up to 10 years and more	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	unspecified
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	up to 15 hr/week for up to 10 years and more

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

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<sub3> staining; fluorescence microscope)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. 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

Replicated studies

Yadav AS et al. (2008): Increased frequency of micronucleated exfoliated cells among humans exposed in vivo to mobile telephone radiations

Banerjee S et al. (2016): Analysis of the Genotoxic Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation using Buccal Micronucleus Assay: A Comparative Evaluation
Souza LCM et al. (2014): Assessment of nuclear abnormalities in exfoliated cells from the oral epithelium of mobile phone users
Ros-Llor I et al. (2012): Effect of mobile phones on micronucleus frequency in human exfoliated oral mucosal cells
Sekeroglu V et al. (2012): Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields (GSM 1800MHz) on immature and mature rats
Cam ST et al. (2012): Single-strand DNA breaks in human hair root cells exposed to mobile phone radiation
Garaj-Vrhovac V et al. (2011): Assessment of cytogenetic damage and oxidative stress in personnel occupationally exposed to the pulsed microwave radiation of marine radar equipment
Gurbuz N et al. (2010): Is There Any Possible Genotoxic Effect in Exfoliated Bladder Cells of Rat Under the Exposure of 1800 MHz GSM-Like Modulated Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR)?
Ziemann C et al. (2009): Absence of genotoxic potential of 902 MHz (GSM) and 1747 MHz (DCS) wireless communication signals: In vivo two-year bioassay in B6C3F1 mice
Vijayalaxmi et al. (2008): Genetic damage in mammalian somatic cells exposed to radiofrequency radiation: a meta-analysis of data from 63 publications (1990-2005)
Yadav AS et al. (2008): Increased frequency of micronucleated exfoliated cells among humans exposed in vivo to mobile telephone radiations
Zeni O et al. (2008): Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human leukocytes after in vitro exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS radiofrequency field
Juutilainen J et al. (2007): Micronucleus frequency in erythrocytes of mice after long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation
Vijayalaxmi (2006): Cytogenetic studies in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to 2.45 GHz or 8.2 GHz radiofrequency radiation
Stronati L et al. (2006): 935 MHz cellular phone radiation. An in vitro study of genotoxicity in human lymphocytes
Gandhi G et al. (2005): Cytogenetic damage in mobile phone users: preliminary data
Winker R et al. (2005): Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields
Zotti-Martelli L et al. (2005): Individual responsiveness to induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes after exposure in vitro to 1800 MHz microwave radiation
Zeni O et al. (2003): Lack of genotoxic effects (micronucleus induction) in human lymphocytes exposed in vitro to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields
Vijayalaxmi et al. (2003): Genotoxic potential of 1.6 GHz wireless communication signal: in vivo two-year bioassay
Garaj-Vrhovac V (1999): Micronucleus assay and lymphocyte mitotic activity in risk assessment of occupational exposure to microwave radiation
Garaj-Vrhovac V et al. (1990): Comparison of chromosome aberration and micronucleus induction in human lymphocytes after occupational exposure to vinyl chloride monomer and microwave radiation