Impact of Mobile Phone Specific Electromagnetic Fields on DNA Damage Caused by Occupationally Relevant Exposures: Results of ex vivo Experiments with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Different Demographic Groups

Mutagenesis · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 412

Study snapshot

PublicationMutagenesis · 2023

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Impact of Mobile Phone Specific Electromagnetic Fields on DNA Damage Caused by Occupationally Relevant Exposures: Results of ex vivo Experiments with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Different Demographic Groups Mišík M, Kundi M, Worel N, Ferk F, Hutter HP, Grusch M, Nersesyan A, Herrera Morales D, Knasmueller S. Impact of Mobile Phone Specific Electromagnetic Fields on DNA Damage Caused by Occupationally Relevant Exposures: Results of ex vivo Experiments with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Different Demographic Groups. Mutagenesis. 2023 Jul 7:gead022. doi: 10.1093/mutage/gead022. Abstract Aim of this study was to investigate if age and body mass of humans have an impact on the DNA damaging properties of high-frequency mobile phone-specific electromagnetic fields (HF-EMF, 1950 MHz, UMTS signal) and if this form of radiation has an impact on the genotoxic effects of occupationally relevant exposures. Pooled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three groups (young normal weight, young obese and older age normal weight individuals) were exposed to different doses of HF-EMF (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 W/kg specific absorption rate - SAR) and simultaneously or sequentially to different chemicals which cause DNA damage (CrO3, NiCl2, benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide - BPDE, and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide - 4NQO) via different molecular mechanisms. We found no difference in regard to the background values in the three groups but a significant increase of DNA damage (81% without and 36% with serum) in cells from old participants after radiation with 1.0 W/kg SAR 16 h. In combined treatment experiments we found no impact of the UMTS-signal on chemically induced DNA damage in the different groups in general. However, a moderate decrease of DNA damage was seen in simultaneous treatment experiments with BPDE and 1.0 W/kg SAR in the young obese group (decline 18%). Taken together our findings indicate that HF-EMF cause DNA damage in PBMC from older subjects (69.1 years). Furthermore, they show that the radiation does not increase induction of DNA damage by occupationally relevant chemicals. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPooled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three human demographic groups: young normal weight, young obese, and older age normal weight individuals

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1950 MHz · 1 W/kg · 16 h (for reported significant increase at 1.0 W/kg SAR)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

No differences in background DNA damage were observed between the three demographic groups. A significant increase in DNA damage was reported in PBMC from older participants after 16 h exposure to UMTS HF-EMF at 1.0 W/kg SAR (reported as 81% increase without serum and 36% with serum). In combined-treatment experiments, UMTS exposure did not increase chemically induced DNA damage overall; a moderate decrease in DNA damage (18%) was observed in simultaneous BPDE + 1.0 W/kg SAR exposure in the young obese group.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage (genotoxicity) in PBMC
Modification of chemically induced DNA damage (CrO3, NiCl2, BPDE, 4NQO) under simultaneous or sequential HF-EMF exposure

Limitations

Ex vivo experiment using pooled PBMC rather than in vivo exposure
Sample size not reported in the abstract
Limited demographic grouping (three pooled groups)
Serum conditions affected magnitude of observed DNA damage (with vs without serum)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1950,
    "sar_wkg": 1,
    "duration": "16 h (for reported significant increase at 1.0 W/kg SAR)"
  },
  "population": "Pooled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three human demographic groups: young normal weight, young obese, and older age normal weight individuals",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage (genotoxicity) in PBMC",
    "Modification of chemically induced DNA damage (CrO3, NiCl2, BPDE, 4NQO) under simultaneous or sequential HF-EMF exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "No differences in background DNA damage were observed between the three demographic groups. A significant increase in DNA damage was reported in PBMC from older participants after 16 h exposure to UMTS HF-EMF at 1.0 W/kg SAR (reported as 81% increase without serum and 36% with serum). In combined-treatment experiments, UMTS exposure did not increase chemically induced DNA damage overall; a moderate decrease in DNA damage (18%) was observed in simultaneous BPDE + 1.0 W/kg SAR exposure in the young obese group.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Ex vivo experiment using pooled PBMC rather than in vivo exposure",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Limited demographic grouping (three pooled groups)",
    "Serum conditions affected magnitude of observed DNA damage (with vs without serum)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "HF-EMF",
    "RF-EMF",
    "UMTS",
    "1950 MHz",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "peripheral blood mononuclear cells",
    "PBMC",
    "DNA damage",
    "genotoxicity",
    "age",
    "obesity",
    "occupational exposures",
    "CrO3",
    "NiCl2",
    "BPDE",
    "4NQO"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study tests whether UMTS HF-EMF modifies genotoxicity from occupationally relevant chemicals (e.g., CrO3, NiCl2)."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gead022
PubMed: 37418160

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