Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Apoptosis: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies on Mammalian Cells

2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 897

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Apoptosis: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies on Mammalian Cells Romeo S, Zeni O, Scarfì MR, Poeta L, Lioi MB, Sannino A. Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Apoptosis: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies on Mammalian Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(4):2322. 2022 Feb 19. doi:10.3390/ijms23042322 Abstract In the last decades, experimental studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of radiofrequency (RF, 100 kHz–300 GHz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure on the apoptotic process. As evidence-based critical evaluation of RF and apoptosis in vitro is lacking, we performed a scoping literature review with the aim of systematically mapping the research performed in this area and identifying gaps in knowledge. Eligible for inclusion were in vitro studies assessing apoptosis in mammalian cells exposed to RF-EMF, which met basic quality criteria (sham control, at least three independent experiments, appropriate dosimetry analysis and temperature monitoring). We conducted a systematic literature review and charted data in order to overview the main characteristics of included studies. From the 4362 papers retrieved with our search strategy, 121 were pertinent but, among them, only 42 met basic quality criteria. We pooled data with respect to exposure (frequency, exposure level and duration) and biological parameters (cell type, endpoint), and highlighted some qualitative trends with respect to the detection of significant effect of RF-EMF on the apoptotic process. We provided a qualitative picture of the evidence accumulated so far, and highlighted that the quality of experimental methodology still needs to be highly improved. Excerpt We have overviewed the main characteristics and outcome of the included studies. The majority of them did not find significant alterations of the apoptotic process due to RF-EMF exposure. Looking at the experiments extracted from the studies, when a statistically significant effect was observed it mainly occurred at frequencies above 6 GHz, and for acute (≤ 1h) exposure durations. However, since the number of studies reporting effects is very small, and the considered experimental conditions are highly heterogeneous, further investigations are needed, together with replication studies, to confirm or confute these results. Moreover, even though the included studies met the basic quality criteria, most of them still presented flaws in the experimental methods (lack of blind analysis and/or positive control, assessment of single endpoints). It can be stated that, to be of value, future studies that investigate the effect of RF-EMF in mammalian cells should aim to be of high methodological quality and be sufficiently powered by performing an adequate number of experiments. Conclusions This scoping review sought to systematically map the research regarding the effects of RF-EMF on apoptosis in mammalian cells, and to identify any existing gaps in knowledge within health risk assessment of RF-EMF exposures. This will definitely facilitate to gain reliable information on the effects of RF exposure on the apoptotic process when in a next step, a quantitative analysis of the papers included in this scoping review will be carried out by mainly addressing questions on the direction of the effect (induction or suppression of apoptosis), effect size, possible dose–response relationship, possible association of the effect size with the quality score of the experiments, and possible major capability of certain exposure parameter ranges to exert an effect. The major gap in knowledge from the qualitative analysis conducted here is the lack of a systematic approach based on quality of the experimental methodologies adopted in the studies retrieved and analyzed in this scoping review. Therefore, the evidence here presented is a further confirmation that, in spite of the large amount of relevant papers available in the literature, a huge effort still needs to be made in bioelectromagnetic research towards the improvement of experimental quality, which is crucial to guarantee the reliability, robustness and reproducibility of results. Open access paper: 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 typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size42

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Scoping review of in vitro mammalian cell studies assessing apoptosis after RF-EMF exposure found that most included studies did not report significant alterations in apoptosis. When statistically significant effects were reported, they mainly occurred at frequencies above 6 GHz and for acute (≤1 h) exposure durations, but the number of such studies was small and experimental conditions were heterogeneous.

Outcomes measured

Apoptosis in mammalian cells (in vitro)

Limitations

Only 42 of 121 pertinent papers met basic quality criteria (sham control, ≥3 independent experiments, appropriate dosimetry analysis, temperature monitoring).
Very small number of studies reporting significant effects; high heterogeneity of experimental conditions.
Methodological flaws remained common (e.g., lack of blind analysis and/or positive control; assessment of single endpoints).
Authors indicate need for replication and improved methodological quality; qualitative mapping only (quantitative analysis planned as a next step).

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 42,
  "outcomes": [
    "Apoptosis in mammalian cells (in vitro)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Scoping review of in vitro mammalian cell studies assessing apoptosis after RF-EMF exposure found that most included studies did not report significant alterations in apoptosis. When statistically significant effects were reported, they mainly occurred at frequencies above 6 GHz and for acute (≤1 h) exposure durations, but the number of such studies was small and experimental conditions were heterogeneous.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Only 42 of 121 pertinent papers met basic quality criteria (sham control, ≥3 independent experiments, appropriate dosimetry analysis, temperature monitoring).",
    "Very small number of studies reporting significant effects; high heterogeneity of experimental conditions.",
    "Methodological flaws remained common (e.g., lack of blind analysis and/or positive control; assessment of single endpoints).",
    "Authors indicate need for replication and improved methodological quality; qualitative mapping only (quantitative analysis planned as a next step)."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "apoptosis",
    "in vitro",
    "mammalian cells",
    "dosimetry",
    "temperature monitoring",
    "scoping review",
    "6 GHz",
    "acute exposure"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Effects, when observed, mainly reported at frequencies above 6 GHz (range relevant to higher-frequency RF)."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3390/ijms23042322
PubMed: Not supplied

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