Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz on growth, morphology and secretory characteristics of a mast cell analogue, RBL-2H3 med./bio.

By: Donnellan M, McKenzie DR, French PW
Published in: Cell Biol Int 1997; 21 (7): 427-439
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

A mast cell line was used to determine effects of exposures to electromagnetic radiation at a frequency used by mobile communication on a range of cellular processes.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 835.1 MHz
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 3 x 20 min/day at 4-h intervals, for 7 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 835.1 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 3 x 20 min/day at 4-h intervals, for 7 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber The exposure chamber consisted of an aluminium box of 1.10 m internal side length. The antenna was mounted horizontally at the centre of the mid-plane of the chamber.
Setup Sealed flasks containing the sample cultures were placed 4 cm above the mid-plane on a wooden platform.
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info The cavity had a resonant frequency of 818.2 MHz and was not strongly resonant at 835.1 MHz. 1% of the power was reflected back into the source.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 175 V/m maximum measured - -
electric field strength 30 V/m minimum measured - -
power density 8.1 mW/cm² maximum measured - ± 3 mW/cm²
power density 2.4 mW/cm² spatial average measured - -
power density 4.2 mW/cm² mean cf. remarks - ± 2.1 mW/cm² derived from temperature rise
Measurement and calculation details

Multiple measurements of the electric field strength were made using two broad band field strength meters and a 15-cm diameter probe consisting of three orthogonal dipole antennas that yielded a weighted average over an approx. spherical volume of space. The power density in the flask was also calculated from the temperature difference (0.8 ± 0.4°C) between the exposed and control cell cultures.

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure of RBL-2H3 cells elicits alterations in cell proliferation (the rate of DNA synthesis and cell replication increased), F-actin distribution, cell morphology and secretion. The amount of β-hexosaminidase released in response to a calcium ionophore was significantly enhanced, in comparison to unexposed cultures. After 7 days of exposure the morphological rearrangements persisted through subculture in the absence of exposure to electromagnetic field. The authors propose that this frequency may be affecting molecules associated with the signal transduction pathway in these cells.

Study character:

Study funded by

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