Effects of mobile phone emissions on human red blood cells

Journal of biophotonics · 2021 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1170

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of biophotonics · 2021

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of mobile phone emissions on human red blood cells Aniket Chowdhury, Yashveer Singh, Uttam Das, Deepak Waghmare, Raktim Dasgupta, Shovan Kumar Majumder. Effects of mobile phone emissions on human red blood cells. J Biophotonics. 2021 Apr 19;e202100047. doi: 10.1002/jbio.202100047. Abstract Raman spectroscopy was performed on GSM 900 MHz and 1800 MHz mobile phone signal exposed red blood cells (RBCs). The observed changes in the Raman spectra of mobile signal exposed RBCs compared to unexposed control suggest reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity for the exposed cells. The possible mechanism may involve activation of the voltage gated membrane Ca2+ channels by the mobile phone emissions resulting in an increase in the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in cells via altered metabolic activities. Further studies carried out with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator confirmed increased intracellular Ca2+ level in the exposed cells. Since intracellular ATP level influences the shape and mechanics of RBCs, exposed cells were studied using diffraction phase microscopy and optical tweezers. Detectable changes in shape and mechanical properties were observed due to mobile signal exposure. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts The RBC samples were exposed to mobile phone signal by keeping a commercial mobile handset (Nokia 105) in close proximity (~ few mm) of the glass cover slip. The handset was kept on call mode throughout the exposure time. In the present study the SAR for the handset used is 1.501 W/kg which is less than the permissible limit of 1.6 W/kg prescribed in most parts of the world. The power density level from the typical GSM handsets is ~ 10-4 mW/cm2 [33] and our mobile handset has no additional features like Global Positioning System (GPS), WiFi, Bluetooth etc. that may unwantedly add to the effect of basic GSM signals. ... thermal effects on blood samples due to low level microwave radiation from the handset should be negligible. Further, an estimate of the power density at a distance of 100 meters (R) from a mobile network tower, typically emitting (Pt) ~ 100W, shows the radiation density is about 10-4 mW/cm2. Such radiation exposure from network towers for people residing nearby will be of con- tinuous nature [34] and closely resembles the pattern and level of exposure considered in present experiments. Such radiation exposure from network towers for people residing nearby will be of continuous nature [34] and closely resembles the pattern and level of exposure considered in present experiment.

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AI evidence extraction

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationHuman red blood cells (RBCs)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1.501 W/kg

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Raman spectroscopy of RBCs exposed to GSM 900 MHz and 1800 MHz mobile phone signals showed spectral changes versus unexposed controls, interpreted as reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity in exposed cells. Fluorescent Ca2+ indicator measurements showed increased intracellular Ca2+ in exposed cells. Diffraction phase microscopy and optical tweezers detected changes in RBC shape and mechanical properties after exposure.

Outcomes measured

Raman spectral changes in RBCs
Hemoglobin-oxygen affinity (inferred from Raman spectra)
Intracellular Ca2+ level (fluorescent indicator)
RBC shape (diffraction phase microscopy)
RBC mechanical properties (optical tweezers)

Limitations

In vitro study on isolated RBCs; not a clinical or epidemiologic human health outcome
Exposure duration not stated in the provided abstract/excerpts
Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/excerpts
Mechanistic statements (e.g., Ca2+ channel activation, ATP/2,3-DPG changes) are described as possible mechanisms; ATP and 2,3-DPG levels are not explicitly reported as measured in the provided text

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 1.501,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Human red blood cells (RBCs)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Raman spectral changes in RBCs",
    "Hemoglobin-oxygen affinity (inferred from Raman spectra)",
    "Intracellular Ca2+ level (fluorescent indicator)",
    "RBC shape (diffraction phase microscopy)",
    "RBC mechanical properties (optical tweezers)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Raman spectroscopy of RBCs exposed to GSM 900 MHz and 1800 MHz mobile phone signals showed spectral changes versus unexposed controls, interpreted as reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity in exposed cells. Fluorescent Ca2+ indicator measurements showed increased intracellular Ca2+ in exposed cells. Diffraction phase microscopy and optical tweezers detected changes in RBC shape and mechanical properties after exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study on isolated RBCs; not a clinical or epidemiologic human health outcome",
    "Exposure duration not stated in the provided abstract/excerpts",
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/excerpts",
    "Mechanistic statements (e.g., Ca2+ channel activation, ATP/2,3-DPG changes) are described as possible mechanisms; ATP and 2,3-DPG levels are not explicitly reported as measured in the provided text"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone emissions",
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "1800 MHz",
    "red blood cells",
    "Raman spectroscopy",
    "intracellular calcium",
    "optical tweezers",
    "diffraction phase microscopy",
    "SAR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study exposes RBCs to GSM mobile phone signals (900/1800 MHz) using a commercial handset and reports cellular/biophysical changes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/jbio.202100047
PubMed: 33871929

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