Oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity GSM 1800 MHz microwave radiation

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1929

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity GSM 1800 MHz microwave radiation Yakymenko I, Burlaka A, Tsybulin I, BrieievaI, Buchynska L, Tsehmistrenko I, Chekhun F. Oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity GSM 1800 MHz microwave radiation. Exp Oncol. 2018 Dec;40(4):282-287. Abstract AIM: Despite a significant number of epidemiological studies on potential carcinogenicity of microwave radiation (MWR) from wireless devices and a bulk of experimental studies on oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity MWR, the discussion on potential carcinogenicity of low intensity MWR is going on. This study aims to assess oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity MWR from a typical commercial model of a modern smartphone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The model of developing quail embryos has been used for the assessment of oxidative and mutagenic effects of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) 1800 MHz MWR from a commercial model of smartphone. The embryos were exposed in ovo to 0.32 µW/cm2, discontinuously - 48 s - On, 12 s - Off, during 5 days before and 14 days through the incubation period. RESULTS: The exposure of quail embryos before and during the incubation period to low intensity GSM 1800 MHz has resulted in expressive statistically significant oxidative effects in embryonic cells, including a 2-fold increase in superoxide generation rate and 85% increase in nitrogen oxide generation rate, damages of DNA integrity and oxidative damages of DNA (up to twice increased levels of 8-oxo-dG in cells of 1-day old chicks from the exposed embryos). Finally, the exposure resulted in a significant, almost twice, increase of embryo mortality. CONCLUSION: The exposure of model biological system to low intensity GSM 1800 MHz MWR resulted in significant oxidative and mutagenic effects in exposed cells, and thus should be recognized as a significant risk factor for living cells. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpt These findings are in line with our previous research data [8, 14, 24, 25] and data from the other laboratories over the world on expressive oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity MWR exposure [18, 26-28]. A huge pathogenic potential of oxidative stress in the cell, including its role in carcinogenesis [29, 30], allowed us to hypothesize that overproduction of free radical species, namely superoxide and nitrogen oxide, in MWR exposed living cells is one of the key mechanisms for the next pathological transformation of cells [24]. The persistent oxidative damages of DNA could be a first step of mutagenic and carcinogenic processes [30]. Thus oxidative damages of DNA resulted in alters of transcription rate, replication errors and genomic instability [31]. In turn these processes are associated with carcinogenesis. And in different cancer tissues, an increased level of oxidative damages of DNA were reported [30]. Recently we have demonstrated that oxidative effects of low intensity MWR significantly depend on the GSM modulation of the signal [25]. Thus, except of urgent necessity to reevaluate current out-of-date official safety limits on RFR/MWR intensity, additional biologically proven restrictions on different types of modulated signals should be elaborated and implemented by international and national regulatory bodies. In conclusion, statistically significant persistent oxidative and mutagenic effects in model biological system, a developing quail embryo, as well as significantly increased embryo mortality have been detected under low intensity GSM 1800 MHz MWR from a typical modern commercial smartphone. Thus the data confirm that modulated MWR from modern wireless devices should be recognized as a significant risk factor for living cells, and out-of-date official safety limits should be urgently reevaluated in line with current biological research on the issue.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationDeveloping quail embryos (in ovo)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · Discontinuous exposure (48 s on/12 s off) for 5 days before and 14 days during incubation period; in ovo exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Quail embryos exposed in ovo to low-intensity GSM 1800 MHz radiation from a commercial smartphone (0.32 µW/cm2; 48 s on/12 s off) showed statistically significant oxidative effects, including ~2-fold increased superoxide generation and 85% increased nitrogen oxide generation. The study reports DNA integrity damage, increased oxidative DNA damage (up to ~2-fold higher 8-oxo-dG in 1-day-old chicks), and an almost two-fold increase in embryo mortality.

Outcomes measured

Oxidative effects in embryonic cells (superoxide generation rate, nitrogen oxide generation rate)
DNA integrity damage
Oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-dG levels)
Embryo mortality

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Dosimetry reported as power density (µW/cm2) without SAR
Animal/embryo model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Discontinuous exposure (48 s on/12 s off) for 5 days before and 14 days during incubation period; in ovo exposure"
  },
  "population": "Developing quail embryos (in ovo)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Oxidative effects in embryonic cells (superoxide generation rate, nitrogen oxide generation rate)",
    "DNA integrity damage",
    "Oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-dG levels)",
    "Embryo mortality"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Quail embryos exposed in ovo to low-intensity GSM 1800 MHz radiation from a commercial smartphone (0.32 µW/cm2; 48 s on/12 s off) showed statistically significant oxidative effects, including ~2-fold increased superoxide generation and 85% increased nitrogen oxide generation. The study reports DNA integrity damage, increased oxidative DNA damage (up to ~2-fold higher 8-oxo-dG in 1-day-old chicks), and an almost two-fold increase in embryo mortality.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Dosimetry reported as power density (µW/cm2) without SAR",
    "Animal/embryo model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "1800 MHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "radiofrequency",
    "smartphone",
    "quail embryos",
    "oxidative stress",
    "mutagenic effects",
    "DNA damage",
    "8-oxo-dG",
    "embryo mortality"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure described as GSM 1800 MHz radiation from a commercial smartphone."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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