Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Reactive Oxygen Species Formation and Apoptosis in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Induced by 900 MHz Mobile Phone Radiation med./bio.

By: Lu YS, Huang BT, Huang YX

Published in: Oxid Med Cell Longev 2012: 740280

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the extent of reactive oxygen species formation and oxidative DNA damage as well as cell apoptosis caused by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Endpoint

oxidative stress: reactive oxygen species formation, apoptosis and DNA damage

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h or 8 h	SAR: 0.43 W/kg electric field strength: 43.42 V/m

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h or 8 h

Modulation

Modulation type	cf. additional info
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	RF emitter
Setup	cells were exposed in culture plates

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.43 W/kg	-	estimated	-	-
electric field strength	43.42 V/m	-	-	-	-

Additional parameter details

The SAR was chosen to mimic the situation that people usually may absorb in an environment within a distance of 20 meters from mobile phone base stations, or occupationally in an equipment room of microwave communication, or around a surveillance radar. It is also the occupational exposure limit value suggested by ICNIRP.

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA and protein damage (Raman spectroscopy)
molecular biosynthesis: reactive oxygen species formation (dichlorofluorescein staining; flow cytometry)
cell function: caspase 3 enzyme activity (colorimetry); mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 staining; fluorescence microscopy)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: apoptosis (FITC-annexin V/propidium iodide staining; flow cytometry); cell number

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that apoptosis could be induced in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by exposure of 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (SAR 0.4 W/kg) when the exposure lasted longer than two hours. The apoptosis was induced through the mitochondrial pathway and mediated by reactive oxygen species (increase after 2-6 h exposure) and caspase-3 (increase after 4-6 h exposure), and by a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (after 2-6 h exposure). The formation of reactive oxygen species was triggered by the conformation disturbance of lipids, protein, and DNA induced by the exposure.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Marjanovic AM et al. (2015): Cell oxidation-reduction imbalance after modulated radiofrequency radiation
Kazemi E et al. (2015): Effect of 900 MHz Electromagnetic Radiation on the Induction of ROS in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Wang X et al. (2015): 8-oxoG DNA Glycosylase-1 Inhibition Sensitizes Neuro-2a Cells to Oxidative DNA Base Damage Induced by 900 MHz Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation
Kang KA et al. (2014): Effects of combined radiofrequency radiation exposure on levels of reactive oxygen species in neuronal cells
Sefidbakht Y et al. (2014): Effects of 940 MHz EMF on bioluminescence and oxidative response of stable luciferase producing HEK cells
Naziroglu M et al. (2012): 2.45-Gz wireless devices induce oxidative stress and proliferation through cytosolic Ca(2+) influx in human leukemia cancer cells
Hong MN et al. (2012): Effects of 837 and 1950 MHz radiofrequency radiation exposure alone or combined on oxidative stress in MCF10A cells
Joubert V et al. (2008): Apoptosis is Induced by Radiofrequency Fields through the Caspase-Independent Mitochondrial Pathway in Cortical Neurons
Hoyto A et al. (2008): Proliferation, Oxidative Stress and Cell Death in Cells Exposed to 872 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation and Oxidants