Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study, review/survey)

[Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA, proteins, and DNA-protein-complexes] med./bio.

Wirkung hochfrequenter elektromagnetischer Felder auf DNA, Proteine und DNA-Protein-Komplexe

Published in: Edition Wissenschaft 1996; 8: 3-38
Journal not peer-reviewed

Aim of study (acc. to editor)

To study the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on biological material (DNA, protein, DNA-protein complexes, virus, bacterium). The study consists of a database investigation, a numerical calculation of the distribution of the field in the samples, and an experimental investigation. Here, only the experimental investigation is presented.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for about 100 days or about 30 days
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 week
Exposure 3: 1,750 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 week
Exposure 4: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for approx. 3 min or up to 12 min depending on the sample
Exposure 5: 1,750 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for approx. 3 min or up to 12 min depending on the sample
Exposure 6: 900–1,750 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for approx. 3 minutes
  • power: 8 W mean (power during the burst was varied from 33 dBm via 36 dBm to 39 dBm equivalent to approx. 8 W)

General information

This article not only describes several biological experiments (part 1) but also the creation and thorough analysis of the RF exposure system as well as calculations of electric field strengths and SAR values (part 2). All exposure parameter values given are valid during the burst.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for about 100 days or about 30 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Up to 30 glass ampoules in three lines containing 0.1 ml (or 1 ml?) of the culture medium were positioned inside the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 8 W mean measured - set power level during the burst; the mean power being approx. 25 - 35% below 1 W (e.g. 0.67 W)
electric field strength 729 V/m mean calculated - during the burst and in the boresight of the waveguide
SAR 47 mW/kg mean calculated - during the burst; the mean SAR being 6 mW/kg

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for 1 week
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 42.2 %
Repetition frequency 730.2 Hz
Additional info

Pulse repetiton rates of 2/ 8.3/ 217/ 730.2 Hz with duty factors of 1:867/ 1:209/ 1:8/ 1:2.37 were used.

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Up to 30 glass ampoules in three lines containing 0.1 ml (or 1 ml?) of the culture medium or petri dishes (8 cm, 25 ml) were positioned inside the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 8 W mean measured - -
electric field strength 729 V/m mean calculated - in the boresight of the waveguide
SAR 47 mW/kg mean calculated - -
power 2 W mean measured - -
electric field strength 364.5 V/m mean calculated - in the boresight of the waveguide
SAR 11.75 mW/kg mean calculated - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,750 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for 1 week
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Up to 20 glass ampoules in two lines containing 0.1 ml (or 1 ml?) of the culture medium or petri dishes (8 cm, 25 ml) were positioned inside the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 1 W mean measured - set power level during the burst; the mean power being approx. 25 - 35% below 125 mW (e.g. 97 mW)
electric field strength 484.5 V/m mean calculated - during the burst and in the boresight of the waveguide
SAR 87 mW/kg mean calculated - during the burst; the mean SAR being 11 mW/kg

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for approx. 3 min or up to 12 min depending on the sample
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 42.2 %
Repetition frequency 730.2 Hz
Additional info

Pulse repetiton rates of 2/ 8.3/ 217/ 730.2 Hz with duty factors of 1:867/ 1:209/ 1:8/ 1:2.37 were used.

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Quartz cuvettes were enclosed in parallel-plate waveguides and inserted in the sample holder of a photometer.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 0.75 W mean measured - -
electric field strength 577 V/m mean estimated - in the measuring cell

Exposure 5

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,750 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for approx. 3 min or up to 12 min depending on the sample
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 42.2 %
Repetition frequency 730.2 Hz
Additional info

Pulse repetiton rates of 2/ 8.3/ 217/ 730.2 Hz with duty factors of 1:867/ 1:209/ 1:8/ 1:2.37 were used.

Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • same setup as in E4
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 0.88 W mean measured - -
electric field strength 625 V/m mean estimated - in the measuring cell

Exposure 6

Main characteristics
Frequency 900–1,750 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for approx. 3 minutes
Additional info Tests were performed at 900 and 1750 MHz.
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 8.3 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • same setup as in E4
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 8 W mean measured - power during the burst was varied from 33 dBm via 36 dBm to 39 dBm equivalent to approx. 8 W

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The results revealed no detectable effects in any of the biological systems.

Study character:

Study funded by

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