Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Single-strand DNA breaks in human hair root cells exposed to mobile phone radiation med./bio.

By: Cam ST, Seyhan N

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2012; 88 (5): 420-424

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the short-term effects of radiofrequency exposure on DNA single-strand breaks in human hair root cells.

Background/further details

Hair samples were collected from eight healthy subjects (six women, two men) immediately before and after using a 900 MHz GSM mobile phone for 15 and 30 minutes (experiments were separated by two weeks).
About 6 or 7 hair roots were plucked behind the right ear (side of mobile phone exposure) within a 60 mm x 60 mm area. Additionally, the same subjects served as their own controls (hair samples were taken 5 and 15 minutes apart without exposure in between).

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA single-strand breaks

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 15 min or 30 min	power: 2 W maximum SAR: 0.974 W/kg (in the head - manufacturer's data)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 15 min or 30 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone GSM
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	1.5 cm
Setup	handset fully charged before exposure; subjects held the mobile phone at the right ear and spoke into the phone's microphone

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	maximum	-	-	-
SAR	0.974 W/kg	-	-	partial body	in the head - manufacturer's data

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human
partial body: right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA single-strand breaks (alkaline comet assay)

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
hair root cell preparations respectively lysates

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that exposure to a mobile phone for 15 or 30 minutes significantly increased DNA single-strand breaks in hair root cells close to the cell phone. Additionally, significantly more DNA single-strand breaks were found after 30 minutes than after 15 minutes of mobile phone use.
The authors conclude that a short-term mobile phone exposure (15 and 30 minutes) caused a significant increase in DNA single-strand breaks in human hair root cells located around the ear which was used for the mobile phone exposure.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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