Medical/biological study (experimental study, observational study)

Effects of acute exposure to the radiofrequency fields of cellular phones on plasma lipid peroxide and antioxidase activities in human erythrocytes med./bio.

By: Moustafa YM, Moustafa RM, Belacy A, Abou-El-Ela SH, Ali FM

Published in: J Pharm Biomed Anal 2001; 26 (4): 605-608

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of acute exposure to radiofrequency fields of cellular phones on some parameters indicative of oxidative stress in healthy male subjects.

Background/further details

Radiofrequency fields of cellular phones may affect biological systems by increasing free radicals, which appear mainly to enhance lipid peroxidation, and by altering the antioxidase activities of human blood thus leading to oxidative stress.

Endpoint

oxidative stress

Exposure

- TDMA
- mobile communications
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 1, 2 and 4 h	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1, 2 and 4 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	TDMA

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	The cellular phone in standby position was placed in the pocket of the test person with the keypad facing the body.

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposed system:

human
partial body: cellular phone was placed in the pocket

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

oxidative stress (plasma level of lipid peroxide; activities of superoxide dismutase, total glutathione peroxidase and catalase in erythrocytes)

Investigated system:

blood samples

Investigated organ system:

blood

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The findings showed that the plasma level of lipid peroxide was significantly increased after 1, 2 and 4 h of exposure to radiofrequency fields of the cellular phone in standby position. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase and total glutathione peroxidase showed significant reduction while the activity of catalase did not decrease significantly.
These data indicate that acute exposure to radiofrequency fields of cellular phones may modulate the oxidative stress of free radicals by enhancing lipid peroxidation and reducing the activation of superoxide dismutase and total glutathione peroxidase, which are free radical scavengers. Therefore, these findings support the interaction of radiofrequency fields of cellular phones with biological systems.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
observational study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Kazemi E et al. (2015): Effect of 900 MHz Electromagnetic Radiation on the Induction of ROS in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Hamzany Y et al. (2013): Is human saliva an indicator of the adverse health effects of using mobile phones?
Xu S et al. (2010): Exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation induces oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA in primary cultured neurons
Gumral N et al. (2009): Effects of Selenium and L-Carnitine on Oxidative Stress in Blood of Rat Induced by 2.45-GHz Radiation from Wireless Devices
Zeni O et al. (2007): Formation of reactive oxygen species in L929 cells after exposure to 900 MHz RF radiation with and without co-exposure to 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone
Elhag MA et al. (2007): Effects of electromagnetic field produced by mobile phones on the oxidant and antioxidant status of rats
Aweda MA et al. (2003): Effects of 2.45 GHz microwave exposures on the peroxidation status in Wistar rats